IBM (formally International Business Machines Corporation) is a multinational computer technology and consulting corporation (for the consulting division, see IBM Global Services). IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and offers infrastructure services, hosting services, and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology.
IBM has been known through most of its recent history as the world's largest computer company; with over 388,000 employees worldwide, IBM is the largest information technology employer in the world. The firm has engineers and consultants in over 170 countries and IBM Research has eight laboratories worldwide.
IBM employees have earned three Nobel Prizes, four Turing Awards, five National Medals of Technology, and five National Medals of Science.
IBM employs around 500 students and graduate trainees at any one time. Each year, IBM recruit around 200 new graduates, at start dates throughout the year.
IBM recruit graduates from a variety of different graduate programmes, including: Business, Finance, IT and Sales. Graduates from any degree discipline are able to apply for less technical roles, such as those in Sales or Business programmes.
There are several graduate programmes available in Business at IBM. These include:
The IBM Finance organisation is an integral part of the IBM Corporation. It comprises over 10,000 employees worldwide, covering every geography and business unit within IBM. IBM sponsor graduate trainees to complete their CIMA or ACCA qualifications.
analysis; financial planning and forecasting; accounting; and working with bid teams on major projects.
Software Engineering - As a Software Engineer you will work in the heart of IBM’s software innovation and get involved in the design, test, implementation, delivery, integration, and support of IBM's software products.
Throughout your first two years with the firm, you will be rotated through a variety of product areas and roles, giving you the opportunity to enhance your experience, network and product knowledge.
Software Engineers work in IBM Hursley, Hampshire - a 100 acre estate with a flexible work environment and lively social network.
Graduate applicants to IBM need to have a minimum of a 2.1 at degree level and exhiit the following key competencies:
The IBM selection process varies slightly depending on which role you are applying for. However, generally speaking the application and assessment process at IBM is as follows:
You’ll need to complete the IBM standard online application form and attach a copy of your CV to complete your graduate scheme application. IBM are looking for people who have the key competencies and skills to be successful at IBM, and provide a competencies based CV template on their application form for you to complete.
IBM allow applicants a week to take their online numerical reasoning and verbal reasoning aptitude tests.
First Round Selection/Assessment Day
If you pass the IBM online aptitude tests, you will be invited to attend a first round selection/assessment day. This will be held at one of the firm's offices in either London
or on the South Coast.
This day primarily focuses on your team working skills and IBM will assess how you work and interact with other people throughout this assessment period. If you are successful on this day then you will be invited to an assessment centre.
The IBM assessment centre has been designed to give you the opportunity to demonstrate a broader range of skills than you would be able to if you just had an interview. You will complete a number of different exercises and interviews aimed at giving you the chance to show a range of the skills you possess.
It is the assessment centre section of the IBM assessment process that is most different for each graduate scheme programme applied for.
The assessment centre for IT and technical graduate schemes is as follows:
Technical Interview
Some of the questions you may be asked during the IBM technical interview are as follows:HR Interview
This interview will be primarily competency based. You will be asked questions such as:The IBM eXtreme blue selection process varies drastically depending on where you are applying to. Each different locale can interview very differently. This is based on the UK method of assessment for eXtreme blue.
You’ll need to complete the IBM standard online application form and attach a copy of your CV to complete your application. IBM are looking for people who have the key competencies and skills to be successful at IBM, and provide a competencies based CV template on their application form for you to complete. Some find this quite restrictive, however it is very useful for you as it provides an exact framework in which to talk about their key competencies.
IBM allow applicants a week to take their online numerical reasoning and verbal reasoning aptitude tests. This is called the IPATO test. It comprises of Sequence matching, Matrix Manipulation (tables, not horrific matrix maths) and some numerical / verbal reasoning questions. Be aware that is unlikely that you will be able to finish each section within the time given to you. Also be aware that cheating will be found out, see below.
If you pass the IBM online aptitude tests, you will be invited to attend a first round selection/assessment day. This will be held at IBM Hursley.
This day primarily focuses on your team working skills by means of a single group activity. There will also be a written test comprising of either multiple choice questions based on a mixture of algorithms, small programs and SQL / Data or an essay based test depending on your application (ie, business or technical). If you are successful on this day then you will be invited to an assessment centre. This is the last part of the very technical questions for applicants.
The IBM assessment centre has been designed to give you the opportunity to demonstrate a broader range of skills than you would be able to if you just had an interview. You will complete a number of different exercises and interviews aimed at giving you the chance to show a range of the skills you possess.
There are a mixture of group activities, a presentation, a problem solving - role play activity as well as an interview. If you have got to this stage they already know your technical skill level and will not be assessing this as heavily as you might expect. At this stage of the assessment process they are much more interested in how well you fulfil the key competencies they have outlined on their website. You will not be asked to recursively program the Fibonacci sequence for instance, however you will be expected to show understanding of software engineering practices in the group activities etc.