Hi all,I am going to start my graduate career at IBM as a consultant in finance, risk and fraud. I wanted to know more information about everything I would be doing.I wanted to know what the 4 week intensive training is like, what I will be doing? Will I have to travel to Hursley everyday or do they arrange for hotels for us? What consulting is like?How will i succeed in a career in consultingWhat are your favourite things about being a consultant?Regards,An excited IBMer-to-be

It sounds so goodIBM is such a big company with so many career opportunities

You'll also be entitled to wear navy suits to honor 'Big Blue' title!Makes us feel sartorially challenged...

sarcasm?

[i]I will not cease from Mental Fight,Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand:Till we have built Jerusalem (or at least an off the shelf, cloud enabled solution which can aggregate religious population data)In Englands (well, Southbank's) green & pleasant Land[/i]

Chorus: [i]Lager lager lager lagerShoutingLager lager lager lagerShouting...Lager lager lagerShoutingMega mega white thingMega mega white thingMega mega white thingMega megaShouting lager lager lager lagerMega mega white thingMega mega white thing[/i]

[quote]Chorus: [i]Lager lager lager lagerShoutingLager lager lager lagerShouting...Lager lager lagerShoutingMega mega white thingMega mega white thingMega mega white thingMega megaShouting lager lager lager lagerMega mega white thingMega mega white thing[/i][/quote]Dont you mean Mega mega [i]blue[/i] thing Mega mega [i]blue[/i] thing

I can't believe the stalwarts of this forum are quoting songs in an IBM thread without quoting THE IBM song.IBMer to be: You should learn this before starting grad training. Sure to impress your new corporate overlords!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9oh3gqOEKUTranscript:here's a thrill in store for all,For we're about to toast,The corporation known in every land.We're here to cheer each pioneerAnd also proudly boastOf that "man of men," our friend and guiding hand.The name of T. J. Watson means a courage none can stem;And we feel honored to be here to toast the "IBM."EVER ONWARD -- EVER ONWARD!That's the spirit that has brought us fame!We're big, but bigger we will beWe can't fail for all can seeThat to serve humanity has been our aim!Our products now are known, in every zone,Our reputation sparkles like a gem!We've fought our way through -- and newFields we're sure to conquer tooFor the EVER ONWARD I.B.M.EVER ONWARD -- EVER ONWARD!We're bound for the top to never fall!Right here and now we thankfullyPledge sincerest loyaltyTo the corporation that's the best of all!Our leaders we revere, and while we're here,Let's show the world just what we think of them!So let us sing, men! SING, MEN!Once or twice then sing againFor the EVER ONWARD I.B.M.The four week training will be to network, get indoctrinated and get drunk. Your hotel will be paid for (or expensed) if it is not your base location.

elementary my dear Watson. Which makes me wonder, couldnt Wipro do better than to come up with Holmes?? right I'm off to the lab at Mars Estates to start work on MORIARTY.

hahaha I will learn this word for word.. any other advice before joining?

Accept that everything takes 4 years at IBM.

And that a man-year is 730 people trying to get a project done before lunchtime hehe ;)

GREAT! More ways of putting me off hahahaKeep these coming I'm loving it... It excites me more :)

Don't be put off.Read between the lines and what you are seeing is evidence of IBM continuing to have a strong identity in the market. We are a witty lot on here, and like to demonstrate that every opportunity we get. If we really thought going to IBM was anything other than a good move, we would tell you straight.

Yes, IBM is an excellent place to launch a career... The R&D they do is astonishingly good and it's a very safe, well-respected brand. They invented the PC!

Thank you for your replies, I appreciate them.Anything I should do before I start??

Buy a couple of good(ish)m suits in dark grey and 7 blue or white shirts, couple of pairs of shoes. A good travel case would be useful. Other than that, relax and enjoy your time off. Better to arrive prepared, rested and excited than having exausted yourself with research only to arrive and realise if was A. all for nothing - you'll soon learn how much you dont know and B. tempts you to want to show what you've learned, becoming insufferable in the process. They will expect you to arrive with an empty head and act as a sponge. Just go with it - they've been onboarding graduates since God was in short trousers.

Thank you, and empty headed I will be!! :)

[quote]Buy a couple of good(ish)m suits in dark grey and 7 blue or white shirts, couple of pairs of shoes. A good travel case would be useful. Other than that, relax and enjoy your time off. Better to arrive prepared, rested and excited than having exausted yourself with research only to arrive and realise if was A. all for nothing - you'll soon learn how much you dont know and B. tempts you to want to show what you've learned, becoming insufferable in the process. They will expect you to arrive with an empty head and act as a sponge. Just go with it - they've been onboarding graduates since God was in short trousers. [/quote]More great advice from Mars. I'd go with a navy suit, but that's just me ;). Whatever colour it is make sure it's not shiny. Echoing the others, it's a great place to start your career.

Seconding Frio,People should not be allowed to wear gray unless they work in audit, and brown unless they work in Accounting. (save the armbands)Go with the color of the company, Blue/Navy.I think mr mars was aiming for 'Charcoal', which apparently US president wears instead of black, not to appear too formal and distant.

I'll buy lots of dresses then :P and navy Blazers. Got it!

For girls, it is relatively less restricting. No flashy colors and not too much revealing should be fine. Also a good skirt suit or dress + blazer should help for big meetings.The general rule in consulting for dressing can be summarised as 'One-up the client'. So if Client is business casual --> consultants go full business.

I don't think I'm too fussed about clothes.. I got that covered. Girls always have lots and lots of clothes as 'just in case' :p lool Just worried about what to expect and what to do. What opportunities should I make sure I don't miss out on. What you wished you knew before starting in IBM/consulting career. These kind of things. Thank you

Most important thing about your training is make sure you make connections and meet people! Networkkkkkk

[quote]What you wished you knew before starting in IBM/consulting career. These kind of things. [/quote]... That Accenture hire grads too!

Did you not know that or did you not get accepted on their grad scheme? :)

A sense of humour AND enthusiasm! You'll do well....If you must ask, and I'm such a modest chap I wouldn't otherwise tell, I bypassed the grad scheme stage.I met the UK Head of Recruitment for IBM at their Portsmouth HQ when I pitched an idea to him when I was in my last year at Uni. He bought the pitch and took my number as I left. A week later I got a surprise call from the UK Head of Sales who was in town and had been asked to look me up. He took me for a Chinese dinner and made me promise to apply when I graduated.At the time I was mega impressed, but by the time graduation came round I'd organised a role in the US with a fast growth tech firm, so I never did fill in the form.As for Accenture, great firm if you're a bright thing that needs direction. I've never been that sort of clever.Fraud, financial crime and risk is an area I know very well. It's huge growth, driven by the criminals and the regulators. IBM have some good things to offer, particularly in the data analytics and data visualisation side. However your competitors are also muscular but more focuse d. If you really want to do some pre- homework have a look at SAS, ACTIMIZE, DETICA (net reveal), FAIR ISAAC AND EXPERIAN.Of the Big4 EY have the most focus in this area. Take care when you get to your induction. A bright enthusiastic young lady in a decent suit might well scare the $hit out of the average IBM graduate boy. Scared young boys are not always the most pleasant of colleagues...

my understanding of humble was completely different, I've been wrong this whole time, teach me....so, I know you don't like to brag but, what was your amazing idea?

It wouldn't surprise me if Cool had pitched to them a revolutionary new graphical user interface concept called "WINDOWS" hehe. Or a revolutionary hypertext-based method of linking pages of text togetherMr Cool rules

Ah well, that's the great thing about an anonymous forum. You can share the truth without being truly big-headed. Who can be conceited when no one knows who they are? What would be the point when we can all simply make things up with impunity?The idea was not that great. It was a simple grad recruitment idea that I pitched to about 30 big companies. I did it not to progress the idea itself, but to get face time with senior grad rec people. I realised my academic results were very average and the grad scheme interview process was likely to be a cattle market for a B-student like me. My plan was to short circuit the process.The irony was that I started it as a way to get into a good grad scheme, but the process taught me I'd be better not going that route, but take a role that was heavily sales focused.I still use this strategy, for example in going for perm job interviews where I have no interest in the job, but want to meet the hiring manager because they are a potential future client...

Nice tactic, I like it! Out of interest though, how did you grab the interest of the HR bods with your idea, to the extent that they were willing to have a face to face meeting to discuss it with you? I wonder if I Could use a similar approach for getting new clients! Mr Cool rules

Very clever tactic indeed. It's not all about uni and grades etc, you've proved yourself way smarter than any B + grade students. Hats off to you :)

Also, let me add that you should put yourself out there from the first day. Consulting is all about connections. If you don't have connections, you'll either be on a project you don't enjoy it youll be waiting ages for a project to come along. Make the most out of your training period and talk to everyone!

Thanks for your advice! :)

Don't be put off.Read between the lines and what you are seeing is evidence of IBM continuing to have a strong identity in the market. We are a witty lot on here, and like to demonstrate that every opportunity we get. If we really thought going to IBM was anything other than a good move, we would tell you straight.

thanks for copying and pasting a previous comment lol :)On another note, my thread is on the 'top threads in the past month' *takes a bow*