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Gap Year with IBM

Would me doing a gap year with IBM improve my chances of getting into investment banking.
I know IBM is very specialised, but i will go for the finance division.

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Reply 1

Ben Dover the Lollipop Man

Definitely!

Reply 2

RObTRIP

only do this gap year if you're actually interested in what you'll be doing there.. a year is a long time and the benefits of doing a full year as opposed to a few months or even just a summer aren't much higher.. why not do a few months at ibm if you can?

Reply 3

szeles

JessHoney

Would me doing a gap year with IBM improve my chances of getting into investment banking.
I know IBM is very specialised, but i will go for the finance division.

It will, as long as you can 1) show that you acquired certain skills and 2) you can relate those to your chosen IB division - which, by the way, would be..?

Reply 4

Mos Def

szeles

It will, as long as you can 1) show that you acquired certain skills and 2) you can relate those to your chosen IB division - which, by the way, would be..?

Kissing Ass

Reply 5

YouAreWhatYouEat

^^^ what?

Reply 6

Mos Def

Nothing lol, a troll enjoyed it.

Reply 7

JessHoney

Its not the full year, it will be 9 months but the last 3 months you go on a charity programme. either based in the uk, or another country.
And ill like to get into trading

As this is going to be like a full time job i was wondering if there would be time for me to learn AS level further maths. As i wanted to also strenghen my Economics degree application

Thanks for the replies

Reply 8

aaaaz

As this will be your first real job, studying for an AS-Level could be difficult. Whilst the hours are more normal, I suspect you'll struggle to motivate yourself after work and on the weekends. However, it should be possible if your prepared to work for it.

In any case, I would do the gap year.

Reply 9

fuglyduckling2

Personally wouldn't do it. Unless you're interested in working for IBM, it's a waste of time. You can get a trading job w/o this and I don't think it would help you when applying to IB, in all honesty. Go straight to uni or spend a gap year doing something you enjoy (like seeing the world).

Reply 10

jjpp

i would recommend doing it. It'll give you real life business experience, stand out on your cv far more than any extra curricular could and provide you with many talking points at interview. I think it's a fantastic opportunity, if you find it interesting take it with both hands and make the most of it, IBM is a great company.

Reply 11

RObTRIP

you'll be working in the finance division of IBM, ok you'll learn a load about how a big business runs and gain business experience, but you could learn all that in a temp job for a few months during your gap year. you should realise that this is one of a few unique opportunities in your life for you to do whatever you want/enjoy for a year.
get a job to earn some money and some good work exp and then travel or work with kids or do whatever it is you won't be able to do easily later on if you're intent on getting into ib

Reply 12

coookies

does it pay? because like he said above ^ you should be enjoying yourself, but if it does pay then why not

Reply 13

tomoli

Wether it will help you get a job in IB is doubtful. It may well help you get an internship which could lead to a job, but in 4 years time your most recent work experience (i.e internships) will probably count for me. It will certainly bulk up your CV though.

However, you say you are studying Economics - well this gap year programme (especially in the Finance division) will aid your application without a doubt.

Go for it, its paid and a great experience.

Reply 14

JessHoney

I think i am going to go for it in the end.
The reason why im taking a gap year is because i didnt get into the uni i wanted. This i doubt was because of my grades so i want this gap year to boost my UCAS application and get time to study AS further maths.
Looking at the IBM website i think i could enjoy the 9 months there but i havent actually spoken to anyone that has done it. Im not really a person that wants to spend there gap year "travelling"
Oh and it pays £13,000 for 9 months which i think is alrite

Reply 15

steve2006

im not sure if this is the same scheme but dont u have to go travelling as part of the scheme. I swear you have to do a placement with Raliegh International or somthing like that.

Reply 16

N0va

JessHoney

Would me doing a gap year with IBM improve my chances of getting into investment banking.
I know IBM is very specialised, but i will go for the finance division.

Don't listen to the others about go and enjoy yourself. Do what YOU want, if you want to work for IBM for 9 months then do it, don't let random people on an online forum change your mind. It would be a great stepping stone for you to land a spring program, from then a summer internship then hopefully a graduate offer. People on here seems to think just because you're not working at an IB, the experience will be useless - RUBBISH.