Applying

Ok, so we've whetted your appetite and now you want to know what happens next. Questions are buzzing around your head.. What are they looking for? How do I apply? What happens at the assessment centres?

In this section we'll give you all the 'must have' information to help make your application to IBM successful.

You should be attending University and on target for at least a 2:1 honours degree. You'll need to be in your penultimate year if you are on a 3 year course (MBA, Bachelors, PhD, Masters etc) or 2 years left if they you are studying a 4 year Masters degree. You also must be eligible to work in the UK for the duration of the placement

You'll need an extreme attitude. You don't wait for things to come to you. You understand technology and you're often ahead of the game. You will need energy and creativity, combined the mental agility to analyse and solve problems, and the intellect and confidence to challenge accepted practices.

To apply for a business role you need to be studying a business type degree and have excellent leadership, communication, planning and team working skills.

To apply for a technical role you need to be studying a technical/scientific/numerical degree and have excellent analytical, problem solving and team working skills along with an aptitude for programming.

The skills we look for in all potential employees are called the IBM Foundational Competencies - these are the skills you need to be successful at IBM. When you apply think about these skills and how you can demonstrate them when completing your application form and at interview. You can use examples from your education, work experience, voluntary work, involvement in clubs and societies or hobbies.

• Adaptability

  We look for people who are flexible when things change. How do you cope with changing demands, uncertainty and stress? Do you remain calm and composed? Can you demonstrate that you have successfully completed several projects or assignments with competing deadlines?

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• Teamwork & Collaboration

  How do you work with others to achieve shared goals? Do you respect and value others' differences? Do you easily build and maintain relationships with others? Do you offer support and help others and share your expertise with them to enhance the effectiveness of the team?

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• Communication

  This competency focuses on how you communicate with others. Do you present oral and written information clearly, precisely and succinctly? Do you match the way you communicate with the requirements of the situation and your audience? Do you listen carefully to others, asking questions when necessary to ensure understanding?

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• Drive to achieve

  You need to be committed to success and accomplishing challenging goals. Do you take the initiative to learn new skills that will be useful for your future career? Do you learn about things beyond the scope of your current job or assignment? Are you prepared to put in as much additional time or effort as is necessary to ensure high quality results?

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• Creative problem solving

  This is all about using ingenuity, supported by logical methods and appropriate analysis, to propose solutions to problems. Do you conduct thorough fact-finding and analysis, anticipating any potential problems and then plan accordingly? Do you think 'outside the box' when proposing solutions to problems? Do you put forward new ideas for activities at university or work and offer innovative ideas to overcome challenges?

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• Client focus

  We're a client focussed organisation so we need people working with us who share this focus and can anticipate their needs and respond appropriately. Don't think about 'clients' just in the sense of 'customers' - clients' can also be colleagues, study groups, maybe even lecturers. Do you build rapport quickly and easily and think about a situation from their point of view? Do you recommend solutions that meet their needs? Do you act with their satisfaction as top priority?

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• Passion for the business

  This is all about being able to demonstrate a passion for our company and the industry in which we operate. Do you know what IBM does, and what recent achievements we have had? Can you demonstrate knowledge of recent trends within the IT & Consulting industry? Do you understand the message behind our current 'Smarter Planet' TV advertising campaign?

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• Taking ownership

  This is all about identifying and taking responsibility proactively for tasks and decisions in a timely manner. Can you demonstrate when you've accepted responsibility for mistakes and worked to correct them? Do you focus on resolving difficult situations rather than finding someone to blame? Do you anticipate potential problems with a project and then plan accordingly, implementing decisions with speed and urgency?