Sales Support Review

by IBM

Best Student Employer

This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.

Rating

3.5/5
  • The Role
    4.1
  • The Company
    2.9
  • The Culture
    3.5

    The Role

  • 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

    • On average it was a very enjoyable experience. Obviously, as with any job there were highs and lows.

    4/5
  • 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

    • My manager worked remotely, I found this very hard to deal with at first. I do not believe this is common within IBM but during the initial phases of the placement it was hard to cope with. At the same time, I gained a great deal by working in other areas of the business. Had my manager not worked remotely this may not have been possible.

    4/5
  • 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

    • Support and guidance was absolutely fantastic. IBM makes you feel like you are the company's priority.

    5/5
  • 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

    • This hugely varied. On occasions I felt like I only needed to be in the office 3 days a week. In contrast I could also work until midnight.

    4/5
  • 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

    • Within IBM you definitely have to earn responsibility. I was fortunate enough to have developed strong working relationships and gained a positive relationship. As a result, work I completed was submitted to clients which was fantastic.

    4/5
  • 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

    • My technical knowledge of how IT systems work has transformed. Furthermore, my basic computer skills have also dramatically increased.

    5/5

    The Company

  • 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

    • It varied. When I worked in Southbank there was no atmosphere as my team worked remotely. In contrast, Sampson house offered a fantastic team environment. I would stress that this was unique to my role. Most other placement students sat with their teams.

    3/5
  • 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

    • To IBM's credit they invest substantial time and effort in Foundation.

    5/5
  • 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

    • There was continually online courses available. In terms of useful training there was however relatively little

    2/5
  • 10. What were the perks on your work placement?

    • Working from home
    2/5
  • 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

    • I would hope that I have a good chance of returning to IBM. Unfortunately, the alignment of Foundation and your business unit means that no matter how hard you work you must play the political game. Slightly frustrating...

    4/5

    The Culture

  • 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

    • Very good.

    4/5
  • 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

    • Very Expensive, purely from a rent perspective.

    2/5
  • 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

    • Excellent variety of bars and clubs in London. If you find the right places you can get drinks at reasonable prices.

    5/5
  • 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

    • Occasionally.

    4/5
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Details

Placement (10 Months+)

Sales

London

June 2012

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