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.

What we look for

To apply for the IBM Futures Programme, you must be taking a pre university gap year and either have a deferred place secured at university or be in the process of securing one. You do not need to have any previous work experience to apply for the IBM Futures Programme.

We look for people who have energy, creativity and who are passionate about the area they want to apply to as well as having great team skills and a clear focus on delivering an exceptional service to our clients.

The people who are most successful at IBM share a distinct set of characteristics. We've defined these characteristics as the IBM Foundational Competencies. These skills are essential for being successful at IBM. Take a look at the list below to find out more about each competency.

If you decide to apply for a gap year with IBM, 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. You may have excellent teamworking skills acquired through your participation in sports activities, or a passion for technology developed in your spare time through web design - these all demonstrate to us that you have the potential to become an IBM Futures Student.

• 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?

  ---

• 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?

  ---

• 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?

  ---

• 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?

  ---

• 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?

  ---

• 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?

  ---

• 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?

  ---

• 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?