Amelie Appleby, Application Developer

What made you decide to come to IBM as a school leaver?

When it came to knowing what I wanted to do after A-levels I knew I didn't want to go to university but was worried about committing to an apprenticeship if it turned out the corporate lifestyle wasn't for me. I grew up near IBM Hursley and they were very active with my school, holding talks and tours at the office for the students which I found interesting. So when thinking about next steps I looked into their school leaver opportunities and found the Futures scheme which seemed like the perfect opportunity to try out working in a corporate environment at a company that I found exciting.

What hints or tips would you pass to those who are interested in applying to IBM as a school leaver?

Don't panic about not having any prior experience in the corporate world they know you're a school leaver no one is expecting you to know the same amount as someone who has years of experience, just show that you are willing to learn.

What's the best thing about your current role?

It's given me the opportunity to grow not just professionally but also personally. I have strengthened my knowledge and learnt new skills that will help me to progress in my career as well as becoming so much more confident in myself as I've had to push myself out of my comfort zone to talk to key stakeholders and clients for my project team.

What support was available to you when starting at IBM?

My intern and apprentice foundation managers were both really supportive and helpful whenever I have any issues or questions. As well as my managers the Interns and apprentices in my cohort were also a big help, you're all learning together and there will definitely be someone that knows the answer to your question is having the same issue as you, so you don't feel alone.

What's the best thing about being at IBM?

The culture, we're encouraged to network within the company and meet new people. Whether that's reaching out to people in job roles you're interested in and asking for a chat to talk about their role or going to one of the many social events held by the communities there are so many ways to do it and it makes being in office really enjoyable.