International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is more than just a computer hardware tech giant; the firm engages in tech consultancy, in-house design, middleware, software, hosting, cloud computing, nanotechnology, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.
- IBM serves 177 countries and is one of the largest global employers, with over 350,000 full-time employees as of 2022.
- IBM ranks high on the retention score rating as the company prefers to retain current employees instead of having to train new ones; this makes IBM jobs highly coveted if you are instead in a company that will support you throughout your career growth process.
- IBM employee benefits include health benefits, legal assistance, company social outings, paid holidays, and tuition reimbursement.
- The most in-demand tech jobs at IBM are software developers, web developers, database architects, information security analysts, software engineering, and network systems administrators.
Over the last 111 years, IBM has grown from a fledgling computing tabulating recording company (CTR) to one of the leading tech companies. Unlike most tech companies focusing on a single platform or technology, IBM is highly diversified. This is one of the reasons why employees work so long in the company that a substantial number of them have their entire careers within the company’s five business segments.
Let’s take a look at IBM background, how to get a job at IBM, how to improve your chances of landing a job at IBM, and available tech jobs at IBM;
IBM background
IBM was founded in 1911 by Charles Ranlett Flint as the CTR company based in New York before rebranding to IBM in 1924. IBM sells computer software, middleware, and hardware. The company also offers hosting and cloud solutions. IBM consultancy services cover a wide range of industries from nanotechnology to Artificial intelligence, software engineering, and quantum computing.
The IBM brand comprises hundreds of products and services in the tech industry, analytics, blockchain, business operations, cloud, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, supply chain, and industries.
What do employees say about working at IBM?
Current and former IBM employees praise the company’s compensation package and advancement opportunities. IBM employees are ranked high as some of the most fulfilled tech workers and rate the organization high on location and time flexibility. The firm also offers the ability to upskill and learn new things and aid employees in meeting their personal career goals. Employee perks include healthcare benefits, flexible spending accounts, paid time off and vacations, a 401K plan, supplemental life insurance, and a health savings account (HSA).
IBM employees rate the work environment at the company as highly positive. The garage work culture makes it easy for team-based projects to succeed with positive interactions between team members and stakeholders. This creates an overall fun work environment which boosts productivity and cuts wastage of time, hours, and company resources.
How to get a job at IBM
To get a job at IBM, you have to apply for the available roles, go through the IBM hiring process, and, if you pass, you will receive an employment offer. Due to the large number of applicants that IBM receives each year, it’s recommended that you perfect your application and ace the interview process to qualify for the advertised role. Here are the steps you can take to get a job at IBM;
Research the available roles
The most critical step in applying for a job at IBM is picking the right role for your qualifications and capabilities. Visit IBM’s careers page and search for an available role that perfectly matches your skills. Remember that an IBM career is an investment in your future, so you need a proper kick-off to propel you through the vast array of global IBM career opportunities.
Draft the best fitting application documents
After identifying the position you want to apply for, you will need to craft the best cover letter and resume that shines a light on your qualifications and competency. The resume should list your skills and how you have been able to apply them to solve particular issues. The resume should also clarify that you are ready to expose yourself to new learning opportunities and your interest in new technologies.
You should then apply for the role using the updated resume and cover letter. In most cases, the application process will require you to sign up for the IBM Talent Network.
Prepare for the IBM interview process.
The best way to prepare for the IBM interview process is by researching the possible questions you can expect to be asked during the interview. These questions vary depending on the role; however, most of them often follow a similar phrasing. You can expect to be tested on your core competencies, including personal drive, passion for IBM, adaptability, client focus, creative problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and ownership during the hiring process.
Pass the interviews
Successful applicants will get contacted by IBM recruiters to schedule the screening and assessment interviews. Depending on the role you are applying for, you can expect to go through three to five interviews throughout the entire IBM hiring process.
CV screening
During the first screening call with an IBMer, they will go through your application, and you will be asked general questions regarding the content you have included in your resume. The CV screening interview is a formality to confirm that you possess the skills indicated in the application. The real IBMers participating in this application process are specialists in the respective field you are applying for, and experts in screening resume for quality control.
Phone call screening with IBM recruiter
Depending on the role you applied for, you may have to go through a second phone call screening with IBM recruiters. The call involves reviewing the job description, identifying your strengths, and evaluating your previous experience. During this call, you should be honest and think on your feet instead of giving general answers. Keep your answers concise and remain positive, as some questions might throw you off.
Online assessments
IBM may require you to take a couple of online assessments to evaluate your skills depending on the position you applied to. “the cognitive ability online assessments test a candidate’s cognitive ability, and you may be required to join a WebEx conference call with a proctor who monitors the tests. These tests are often in the form of games that test a candidate’s problem-solving skills.
Depending on the position you applied for, you may also be asked to undergo a coding interview. This consists of time allotted coding questions that test your knowledge of data structures and algorithms based on the coding language of your choice.
Technical interview
Applicants who clear the online assessments and qualify for the next round will be contacted to set up an in-person technical interview with IBM recruiters. Technical interviews are all about evaluating your technical skills in your line of work. You can also expect questions about your problem-solving skills, dealing with stressful situations, and using technology to solve problems. If the position requires coding skills, you can expect questions on object-oriented programming systems and basic computer fundamentals.
HR interview
THE IBM HR department will contact successful candidates for the final in person interview round to assess their personalities, strengths, shortcomings, and background. HR interviews also evaluate whether you are the perfect fit for the position you applied for or not. You will also be asked questions about your resume, ranging from your motivations to professional interests.
Offer and negotiation
After the rigorous interviewing process, qualifying candidates will receive a job offer and feedback on the interview. This marks the beginning of the onboarding process, and you may be required to submit appropriate documentation before you can begin negotiating the employment terms. If you have applied for an entry-level role, you can negotiate the base compensation structure and the signing bonus, but senior roles also include target bonuses and equity.
Tech jobs at IBM
Data scientist
National median wage (2021): $100,910
Data scientists use statistics and machine learning models to unlock business insights that companies can use to make data-driven business and technology decisions. IBM’s data science department analyzes the ever-growing volume of data sources and subsequent data to guide strategic planning by providing insights on future performance.
As a data scientist, you can work on data ingestion using various methods to collect data, from manual entries to real-time data streams and web scraping. The data science role also involves deciding appropriate structures and formats for data storage that optimize data processing rates during the analysis part. Data scientists must communicate their findings using data visualizations to display the sights.
To qualify for the data scientist role, you need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related fields and technical coding skills in Python or R.
Software engineer
National median wage (2021): $131,020
A software engineer designs and codes computer programs. IBM hires a wide range of software developers, including systems software developers who work on operating system-level software such as network distribution software and compilers.
As an IBM software engineer, you get to work alongside the software development teams and software engineers to design flowcharts, write code, and map out the software development path for each application.
Education qualifications for the software developer position vary depending on the role you are applying for, and IBM is not keen on education qualifications during the hiring process. Instead, it focuses on expertise and experience in software development. You will need to possess deep knowledge of computer science fundamentals and your programming language choices, such as Java, Python, SQL, and javascript.
Machine learning engineer
National median wage (2021): $128,031
Machine learning engineers focus on using algorithms to analyze data by imitating how humans gradually learn to improve prediction accuracy. IBM has a long and deeply rooted connection with machine learning going back to as early as 1962 when Robert Nealey lost a game of checkers to IBM computers that relied on machine learning algorithms.
IBM has one of the largest data science departments, and it’s always looking to hire new talent in machine learning engineering. This role involves applying statistical methods to train algorithms in classifying data and making predictions. You can also work in data mining projects within IBM to uncover key insights that impact growth metrics.
To become a machine learning engineer, you require a bachelor’s degree in computer science and provable experience building or managing test automation and designing AI algorithms.
Cloud engineer
National median wage (2021): $120,520
Cloud engineers build and maintain cloud computing infrastructure. The role involves cloud architecture design for organizations and coding cloud applications. A cloud engineer’s role is to help companies migrate their computing applications to the cloud and configure networking and cloud security services.
IBM has over 60 data centers globally and is always hiring cloud engineers to design solutions for their cloud partners. IBM cloud engineers work on various tasks, from integrating custom apps to the cloud API to designing integration flows and troubleshooting cloud environments.
To become a cloud engineer, you need to develop deep knowledge of cloud platforms such as IBM Cloud and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Provable experience working on networking, operating systems, data security, and storage will also come in handy in this role. As a cloud engineer, you need coding skills in various programming languages such as Ruby, Golang, Java, and Python.
Cyber security specialist
National median wage (2021): $102,600
Cyber security analysts specialize in information technology and network infrastructure security in a company. The cyber security specialist must thoroughly understand cybercriminal behaviors, cyberattacks, and malware in the tech industry. With this knowledge, they can then anticipate potential attack vectors and prevent cyberattacks before they happen.
Cyber security specialists configure security tools such as password projectors, vulnerability management tools, and antivirus software in the organization. They also evaluate the company’s network and report on possible weak points and unusual network activities.
To become a cyber security specialist at IBM, you require a deep understanding of IT fundamentals and cybersecurity. Provable experience working on cybersecurity specialization and expertise in penetration testing, digital forensics, and cybersecurity best practices are required.
Conclusion
IBM offers a great work environment that allows tech workers to translate their skills in designing and developing advanced information technology into value for the company and its clients through consultation services.
Having a job at IBM gives you a front-row seat on innovation projects that matter, ranging from cloud computing to quantum and AI counting. The company also offers great benefits and career progression paths with in-house job training programs.