Strategy Consultant Review

I sit in part of the organisation called iX. My role title is 'Strategy Consultant'. I work on project based work which means that I am either assigned to a particular project and client or I am on the bench. My responsibilities and role really vary depending on the project- I could be doing Business Analysis, Service Design, Scrum Mastering or many other roles depending on what is required so my day to day responsibilities can very much change each day. Things that remain pretty constant each day is that I'll likely be in some form of a meeting.

I've certainly learnt a fair few skills in my apprenticeship so far, particularly in the space of Design Thinking and User Experience design. In terms of more soft skills I've developed my time management, communication and organisational abilities. These are all really important from the get-go in doing a degree apprenticeship, but also skills which will undoubtedly be developed. Whilst at IBM I've had the opportunity to do a few externally recognised courses too, and even been flown to other countries to do them (super cool experience!).

I do really enjoy my programme, sometimes my role can be a bit difficult and quite challenging. You have to really have a 'get up and go' attitude to do this scheme. My industry is really competitive so you have to constantly find new ways to ensure you can stick out. Overall the company culture is very good- IBM is very diverse and inclusive. I do enjoy my programme, but don't get me wrong on occasion I feel like pulling my hair out but that should really be expected, I'm balancing a full time degree and a full time job on top of everything else in life!

Pearson College London provides the education (our degree) and despite some hiccups along the way, I think they're a brilliant training provider. The level of support and 1:1 mentoring with tutors isn't something that traditional uni's can offer, at least not to the extent that Pearsons can. The IBM programme is well organised- you have an allocated Early Professional Manager who is your 'go to' for anything career related be it advice, support or career guidance. You also have regular catch up's which is great.

There's a lot of support available from IBM- be it through your Early Professional Manager or external support (for example if you're struggling with Mental Health). Pearson also provide support in this area too. There's also various training programmes which can educate you on how to better manage stress, or learning about important work topics such as diversity and inclusion.

Lots of support from Pearson, as I've mentioned I think Pearson are very good and supportive. If you've got a problem they'll absolutely want to help you. I also really enjoy studying here, the general atmosphere at the Uni is great and the physical environment is a great place to study. Additionally the topics we study at uni are also really relevant to the actual work I do in my job which really helps reinforce the learning.

The modules covered at Pearson are very relevant to my job- for example in the Business Management degree we've studied Principles of Business, People Management and Leadership, Contract Law etc. and many of the key concepts and theories have come up in work too. It's really nice to finally learn things which are actually applicable in my role and life.

IBM is a huge organisation, and there's plenty of events and communities to get involved with from Yoga Sessions to becoming a member of LGBTQ+. As an apprentice there's also Foundation Think Together which you'll attend once in your three year course and is essentially a two day learning course and a 'Ball' which is a great and fun networking opportunity.

Yes

This is a great opportunity to kickstart your career and learn at the same time. When I compare my position to my peers I'm quite proud of where I am and IBM has been instrumental in getting me to this position. Many of my friends are in lots of debt from university, where as I'm earning a salary and able to have a lot of independence.

You really have to have the right attitude to do this scheme, it is hard but it is equally really rewarding. If you're a 'get up and go' kind of person and have relatively good time management skills then this is great for you. In the interview process, don't be modest- be confident in your abilities and also do your research- know the company and tell them exactly why you want to be a part of it. I was really nervous about choosing the right path between uni and this, and I'm glad I chose to do this. I really wanted financial independence and I was keen to get my career started and this scheme has allowed me to do that.