I'm Samantha Willington a Associate Package Consultant, Workday Transformation Technologies, IBM Consulting Graduate.
What made you decide to come to IBM as a graduate?
IBM’s outstanding reputation for delivering tech for good was the key driving factor for joining IBM as a graduate. My technical appetite grew on my placement year and in my final year of my degree in Business Management, and so I wanted a grad role where I would be involved in the delivery of world class tech, and IBM was a ‘no-brainer’ for this.
What hints or tips would you give to those who are interested into applying to IBM as a graduate?
Apply, with a good quality application, as soon as you can. I took the initiative to apply to graduate roles as early as possible, using Excel to track the opportunities I’d like to apply for, their closing dates and my progress. By doing this, you have a higher chance of securing a graduate role earlier on in your final year of university. This allows you to focus on your exams and dissertation at the end of your final year, instead of worrying about securing a graduate role.
As mentioned before, apply with a good quality application. Remember, this is a graduate role opportunity, no one is expecting you to have 10 years of tech experience under your belt. Emphasise your passion for IBM, show your technical appetite and most importantly, do your research.
What has your career journey at IBM looked like so far?
I joined in June as a Workday Package Consultant and before you can implement any Workday systems for clients, you must become Workday Partner Certified. So, after my initial induction and onboarding, I participated in 3-weeks of live classes and took my final exams to become core module certified. I took an interest in particular areas of the Workday system and I am now also certified in 2 other modules of Workday. IBM are continually investing in training and certifications, to ensure our practitioners are fully knowledgeable and have the best skills we possibly can to carry out our job roles.
I have been on a number of short-term and one long-term project since joining in June 2021. Each project varies and I learn something new on each project. My role varies between business and technical elements, depending on my deliverables for each project. For example, on one project I could be configuring elements of the Workday system according to client requirements, and on another I could be responsible for creating presentation decks with key KPI statistics for review with key client stakeholders. The variety is something I love, as no two weeks have been the same since joining IBM in my graduate role.
What hints and tips would you pass on to a student about to start the IBM Recruitment Process
For your CV and application form, it is always important to write these based on the job role you are applying for. For example, an application form for my graduate role should include your appetite to learn both business and technical elements of the role, why the role would be valuable to you, how your values match with IBM’s culture and values and also research the company which you are applying to.
With numerical tests, assessment centres and interviews, always be yourself, but always practice and participate. My university careers centre had multiple opportunities where we could drop in to get our CVs checked and gain advice on how to improve these. They also hosted mock assessment centres and interviews, so if your university career service does something similar, they are worth attending. IBM also occasionally hosts events online or at universities, so keep your eyes peeled and attend these also.
What’s the best thing about your current role?
The best thing about my current role is that no two weeks are the same. This may be because I am working on multiple projects, which require different elements of business and technical knowledge and skills. Or it could be because I am working with different teams and expanding my professional network as well as working with different management levels of practitioners in the business. I have worked with interns, executive leads, partners and everywhere in between, you will learn from every person you work with, and every project you work on.
What’s the best thing about being at IBM?
This is a common answer amongst most IBMers, but it’s the people. I have felt extremely welcomed by IBMers all across the world. Everyone has been willing to give their time to teach different concepts, share ideas and give invaluable advice as I have made my way through the first 6 months of my graduate journey.
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