Advice from IBM Recruiters

So, it’s that time again to start looking for a new job (or maybe you’re looking for your first job!) But let’s face it, we’ve all probably been there before! The countless websites to browse through, all the new places to upload your CV or resume, the endless hours spent searching and filtering jobs, and then after all that, cramming for the interview trying to make a good impression with the recruiters and your potential manager; it’s a lengthy, time-consuming, sometimes frustrating, process with one goal – land your dream job!

We would like to help. With over three million job seekers applying to IBM each year, we asked some of our recruiters from around the world to offer some tips and tricks for applying to IBM and potentially interviewing for the job you spent so much time searching and preparing for.

Here’s what they had to say:

1. Get organized

First things first – get yourself organized! Before you even start looking for new opportunities, take a step back (and a deep breath), reflect on your prior experience and your strengths and weaknesses, and visualize the type of job you’re aiming for. Then, tailor your CV or resume according to every individual job you apply to.

What does this mean? Pick out specific keywords from the job descriptions and use them in your CV or resume. For example, if you apply to five different jobs, think about having five separate versions of your CV or resume, each tailored and slightly modified with keywords from each job description.

Be short, yet creative. Be consistent, and (probably most importantly) take some time to review your CV or resume before hitting the “Apply” button.

Here are some tips from our recruiters:

“Keep your CV or resume and LinkedIn profile updated with the main keywords that correlate with the types of jobs you’re interested in, as well as the skills you possess.” – Luis Eduardo, Brazil
“Organize your documents. Always keep the digital version of your CV or resume handy, but also have a few copies printed out, just in case the interviewer might ask for one. It might also be easier to look through a printed version of the document in a face-to-face interview. Plus, you can also use the printed papers to take notes.” – Sash, India
“Keep track of the jobs you apply to. Create a job tracker spreadsheet, Word doc, notepad, etc., so when the recruiter calls you and says they saw you applied to a certain position, you can easily pull up your job tracker with the information. Don’t forget to write down all the notes you and the recruiter talk about.” – Jessica, USA

2. Do your research and get to know IBM

Now that you applied to a job and are waiting to hear back from the recruiter, you have some time to prepare. Consider doing some research to get to know us a little better.

Here are some insights from our talent acquisition colleagues:

“Get a basic understanding of the kind of work we do at IBM by reading our Careers Blog articles or looking at external blogs and forums. These could include employer rating sites, job discussion forums (i.e., Reddit and Glassdoor), and other job board communities where former and current IBM employees provide their own personal account of the culture and work life at IBM.” – Charlie, Australia
“Apart from researching the role you applied to, make sure to also look into the culture of the company. An inclusive culture makes the work exciting and empowering!” – Diane, Philippines
“The best source of information is IBMers. Find them on Glassdoor, Reddit, and our Life@IBM social media channels, like Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter, and see what they say. They have first-hand experience about IBM’s values and culture.” – Luisa, Philippines
“The candidates who do their homework and come prepared for the interview always impress me. Make sure to do the research about the role you apply for. Your preparation will be noticed and set you apart from the other candidates.” – Artittaya, Thailand
“Look for companies that will provide not only an attractive salary, but also (and most importantly) an ‘emotional salary’. Things like company values, diversity and inclusion, work-life balance, growth opportunities, and an environment that prioritizes the health and well-being of its employees. These will be the ‘ingredients’ that will help you grow both as a professional and a person.” – Paola, Costa Rica
“Research IBM and decide how this role fits into your career goals. And most importantly, be ready to answer, ‘why do you want to work at IBM?’” – Jessica, USA

3. Come prepared!

You’ve got THE call you’ve been waiting for. You’ve been chosen for an interview! But now what? Well, after you finish celebrating (it’s okay to jump around with joy!) you should start to prepare for the interview. Review the job description again, make a list of your strengths, and think about what makes you the best candidate for the job.

Take a look at some advice from IBM recruiters:

“First, take a deep breath, and make sure to maintain your confidence regarding your experience and knowledge. Then, review the job description as many times as you can. And finally, organize your ideas, having three or four selling points that make you stand out from the crowd in your mind.” – Araceli, Peru
“Make sure you REALLY know why this role aligns with your career goals. Prepare examples of relevant work, including projects or work experiences that present and highlight the key skills that demonstrate why you’re a good candidate for the role.” – Charlie, Australia
“Ask yourself, ‘what will I bring to this company,’ and come prepared to give the answer during the interview.” – Paola, Costa Rica
“Considering the role you applied to, think about some questions the recruiter or hiring manager might ask you. Prepare your answers and practice them either in front of the mirror or with a friend. One great question to practice out loud is ‘tell me about yourself.’” – Fraser, Australia
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions throughout the process. Reach out to your recruiter to ask if there is anything you should prepare for the interview or if there is a specific format for the conversation so you can be ready.” – Melanie, Australia
“Attention to detail is important. If you have an in-person interview, check where it will be and take the safest way to get there. Don’t forget to arrive and connect at least 10 minutes in advance, either in-person or virtually.” – Pedro, Spain
“I’d recommend finding a clutter free space in your place of living where you can interview free from distraction and noise.” – Jessica, USA

4. Treat the interview as a conversation

Be curious and dare to ask your own questions to find out more about the role, manager, selection process, and company itself. This is not only the time to shine, but also to discover how this role fits into your career and whether the company’s values align with yours.

Here’s what some of our talent acquisition colleagues suggest:

“Treat the interview as more conversational, as if someone just wants to learn more about you and your previous working experiences” – Diane, Philippines
“An interview is a fantastic opportunity to not only ask questions about the job you applied to, but also about life at IBM, career growth plans, recognition opportunities, internal development culture, diversity and inclusion actions, corporate social responsibility activities, etc. Interviewers are always happy to answer questions.” – Angela, Spain
“Aside from questions about compensation and benefits, ask about trainings, certifications, technical badges, and other learning opportunities that are available to enrich one’s aspiration to be a leader, technical expert, etc.” – Luisa, Philippines
“Demonstrate your interest and explore more details about the challenges of the role, like technologies, clients, etc.” – Luis Eduardo, Brazil
“Dare to recognize that if you don’t have enough knowledge on a particular topic. Talk about how you have a growth mindset and a willingness to learn.” – Paola, Costa Rica
“Ask your recruiter for feedback to help you identify areas of improvement that you can make before your next interview.” – Sabhyasachi, India
“I’m a believer in understanding the scope of your role. Ask questions about who your key partners will be, what work life balance is like on that team, how your team supports each other, and what professional growth opportunities you’ll have access to. I always say, if there’s a question that you’ve been thinking about asking, just ask it!” – Heather, USA
“Try to find out more about the team you might be joining. Feel free to ask questions about the size of the team, how they work together, and what’s the culture like within the team.” – Didem, Germany

Wrapping Up

We hope these tips and tricks from some of our top recruiters and talent acquisition colleagues have been helpful and inspired you to think about applying to a new role and interviewing for your dream job!

If you’re interested in starting, or furthering, your career at IBM, check out our current job openings on our Careers Website.

If you don’t see any open roles that align with your skills and interests at the moment, you can also join our Talent Network to stay informed about new career opportunities.

Before closing, we would like to leave you with a few words from our colleague, Thando, from South Africa:

PS: Good luck!! 🙂

Like 90 Print