IBM's Oldest Intern
I have a MS, BA, Graduate Certificate, and more than 12 years of experience in applying communication theory to marketing. Why, then, am I applying for an internship at IBM? I have shared the tweet below to help answer this question.
I sent this tweet in response to watching a keynote address by Johnny Earl, wherein he shared that his 2,000 “super fans” ALL have the Johnny Cupcakes logo tattooed somewhere on their body and openings of his pop-up shops often draw crowds larger than those at Apple stores’ new product releases.
As impressive as these anecdotes were, the one thing that resonated with me was that Johnny attempted to convince the crowd they were never too old to be an intern. He was, in fact, very convincing, as I looked around and saw many nodding in agreement. However, I wondered how passionately any of my fellow digital marketing professionals would pursue an internship.
I can assure you, if given the chance to start on the ground floor at IBM as an intern, despite my formal education and professional experience, I would jump at the opportunity. And, I would do so for these reasons:
- Socially Minded - As discussed in a recent live Google Hangout with Julie Severance (#WomenatIBM), IBM has created a systematic approach to empowering their female employees. This shows me that IBM is serious about both profitability and growing a socially minded culture.
- Globally Minded - IBM has created an effective remote-work program. A virtual arrangement connects the brightest and most talented individuals in a given industry, regardless of their locations. In other words, IBM's remote-work program acknowledges that the best team members for any given project, especially globally orientated projects, are not all going to be living in the same city.
- Growth Minded - While in hot pursuit of IBM, I have been researching its current employees on LinkedIn. One prevalent theme in those LinkedIn profiles is that IBM retains high talent. This is evident by reading the work history of current employees who have been consistently promoted within IBM’s teams during a long career.
- Data Minded - I am energized when I read about how IBM is rapidly collecting data and applying insights from that data to improve integrated marketing communication. I want to work for an organization that is proactively using technologies, such as Adaptive Listening, to help marketers automatically capture and act on search and social signals. This is the future of the marketing industry -- I want to contribute to the pioneering team that leads the effort.
It is because IBM empowers female leaders, connects the best people for the job regardless of their location, consistently grows its own internal talent, and is leading the way in data driven marketing that I am in hot pursuit of IBM. Although it is my goal to convince IBM that I would add value to the organization as a full-time employee, if I have to start as an intern to prove that value, I only have one question: Where do I sign?
How you can help me become IBM's 'oldest intern'?
Please Share This Story with Your Network. The more people who see this, the more likely it is to reach the right person at IBM.
If You Work with IBM, PLEASE, PLEASE tell your recruiters HOW BADLY I want to work for IBM and to check out my resume for Job IDs:
SEC-0734424
SWG-0770207
WAT-0761094
Disclaimer: No, those aren't my hands in the photo.
Scientist at rajagiriya
8ymai fins replai
MBA, PMP®
8yGood Luck! I actually got my bachelor's degree when I was 34 and I started at IBM as a student 5 months before I graduated. So it can be done!
Hospitality Sales Professional
8yGreat article...and one, I'm sure, that has garnered a good deal of notice. How is the search progressing? Any response?
XaaS Engineering and DevOps Manager, with proven record in delivery and support of enterprise grade services on Cloud and on-premises
8yGood article Anna Seacat. Good luck to you. .. btw. you don't need tattoo a logo somewhere on your body.
Director, Health Innovation Talent at Alberta Innovates
8yI completed an Internship at IBM last summer at the age of 35. The opportunity came my way after a series of events that had nothing to do with getting an internship: First, I went to a tech conference in Silicon Valley on a topic related to my dissertation research (Cloud Labor). I frequently asked questions at the end of talks, prefacing them with "I am a sociologist and here is what strikes me as particularly [interesting, new, unclear] about..." I have never had so many people introduce themselves to me at a conference to follow up on my comments. It was a gold mine! It turns out there was a sociologist from IBM's Almaden Research Centre in attendance; he introduced himself to me and we had a great conversation. Second, when I returned home I followed up with my IBM contact. He let me know his team was hosting a paper session/workshop at the ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing and encouraged me to submit something. I did and it was accepted. I got to meet most of his team/unit at the workshop and spend the whole day talking shop. It was heaven! Finally, months later I received an email from my contact who let me know his team had posted an internship and encouraged me to apply. I would have missed it otherwise. I got my application in and that started the whole grueling internship screening process. Not to knock my application, but I think there is a good chance I would not have made it past the first screening with such competition from talented data scientists and programmers if the first two events did not occur -- they gave me a lot of face time with the team and opportunities to display my analytic capabilities. I strongly recommend looking for such opportunities, especially if you are a bit unconventional. Here is what I would say about the experience: IBM takes interns seriously in that it is well organized in bringing in large cohorts, it treats them very well, includes them in all sorts of wonderful opportunities, and engages them in really meaningful work. If you do get in, it is an experience you will cherish. Additionally, there are so many extremely talented people in the company who are so committed to making the world a better place - from researchers all the way up to senior managers and fellows - that I sleep better at night knowing they are tackling some of the greatest challenges facing our planet.