Reply to: Working for IBM

[KJH]

Yes, it is in London.

And yes, I have been to the depressing South Bank building.

[Francko]

Dear Francko

Haven’t made up my mind yet whether to go perm or not. They are offering a package between 70K-80K (+ the usual benefits) for a senior consultant.

Don’t fancy sitting around waiting for work (though it’s better then being sent to the Afghanistan border), so unless they can put me on a project straightaway plus if their reputation is not that good, I can’t be bothered…!

Would imagine it's London. Then it's good I think. Would consider on a par with a 450-500 a day contract. Especially if you are not forced to do any management role and you can negotiate something extra should you go for that side.

[KJH]

Dear Francko

Haven’t made up my mind yet whether to go perm or not. They are offering a package between 70K-80K (+ the usual benefits) for a senior consultant.

Don’t fancy sitting around waiting for work (though it’s better then being sent to the Afghanistan border), so unless they can put me on a project straightaway plus if their reputation is not that good, I can’t be bothered…!

[darmstadt]

I worked at IBM in Böblingen as an S/390 DB2 UDB Technical Consultant for about 4 months in which I did diddley squat. I used to go into the office in the morning, read mail, internal IBM databases and bulletin boards and then go back to my hotel in the evening. After a while I got a bit peeved, particularly as they didn't have any S/390 DB2 systems for me to use either! They eventually found me a project, for the Pakistani Airforce which was based on the Afghanistan border, just as it was all about to kick-off over there. Said no thanks and went onto another company. IBM like to have people just sitting there so that when they do have something they don't need to advertise and go through the whole find a person process. I still do a lot of work with IBM though worldwide.

[Francko]

Well, of course the permanent offer is less than what I'm getting at the moment as a contractor, but otherwise they've put together a very good package (as you'd expect from a large corporation like IBM).

Can I be indiscreet and I ask you what you consider a good package (60-70-80-100) and what was the trade-off from contracting to perm?

[Pondlife]

Work/life balance - non-existent of what I've heard from other sources
Business Consulting - haven't heard much positive comments about this practice
SAP - ?!

http://www.sap.com/company/index.epx

[dmini]

Contractor side at IBM fine - doing system support, work my hours then finish
Permie roles can be different - if you are standard systems support etc, they do work ordinary hours, get paid callout etc (but are called out regularly). their service management and project managers do tend to work very long hours though - and I don't think they get paid for it.
Fair amount of red tape, but almost all of the long term IBMers I've come across, on various contracts have been very professional, and good to work with. That can be different if the people have been TUPEd across from another co, due to outsourcing.

[KJH]

Well, of course the permanent offer is less than what I'm getting at the moment as a contractor, but otherwise they've put together a very good package (as you'd expect from a large corporation like IBM).

Work/life balance - non-existent of what I've heard from other sources
Business Consulting - haven't heard much positive comments about this practice
SAP - ?!

[Zippy]

I did a contract with them on a client site last year and really enjoyed it.
It would be a cold day in hell before I signed up as a permie though - the consequences of being 'on the bench' are stressful and potentially expensive.

[Pondlife]

AFAIK all of IBM's solution build team are now in India and a fair number of their big UK projects are using contractors. In my arena (SAP) anyway.

[swamp]

I know someone who used to work in IBM writing parts of websphere. That sounded interesting, but I suspect most of the IBM jobs are glorified body-shopping.

[Pondlife]

I think he put that quite nicely fleetwood, i would have told you to to fckoff, but going back to that IBM , you might get lucky mate. You know how it goes. Just make sure you get a tour of the office, and if they look like a miserable bunch of cnts they probably are!!

The problem is that the ones in the office are all admin or on the bench whilst everyone else is out at clients site on billable time. If you work for a big consultance and are spending any time in the office then you'll be doing pre-sales crap that is the bain of any consultant.

[Cowboy Bob]

Had an interview once to contract through IBM at Camelot in Watford. Turned up in Watford. Camelot people were there. I was there. IBM people nowhere to be found.

They wanted to know if I could come back the next day. Given I'd travelled about 150 miles to get there in the first place, the answer was "feck off".

These were managers (plural - it wasn't just one who did a no show) who are, you know, in charge or organising things. If the managers don't even know what day of the week it is, imagine how they organise projects. I'd steer well clear...

[Francko]

Dear Fleetwood

I am contracting at the moment. Just wanted to know what people think about working for IBM in general.

Tnx

I have heard the business consulting unit is reasonably good. It's a huge company so you might end up quite well or bad depending who will be your line managers. However, they would certainly give you lots of training and it's a great name on your CV. I am actually surprised that their permanent offer is great. i b m is on my list but I am just afraid that they don't pay that well above a certain level.

[gingerjedi]

Just make sure you get a tour of the office, and if they look like a miserable bunch of cnts they probably are!!

Feck me that’s the best bit of careers advise I’ve ever had!

I had a boss once who hired and fired on the basis that if someone walked fast they were efficient and hard working, I've got to admit he was probably right.