Ibm Business Challenge

Irish Stamp

Irish Stamp

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Need more advice.
Have the final of this IBM Universities Business Challenge on Friday at the IBM Headquarters on the South Bank. Now aside from the £1,000 first prize per team member (that can get a fair few bottles of wine in if you shop around), i have an interview one on one with IBM's CEO.
Now i'm a bit confused mainly due to the fact i have no idea what to ask him/her (i haven't checked which it is yet). I don't want to look like a complete prat but really do need help on what to ask aside from the obvious one's about the various departments the company has and how to get a job with them and if my Geography degree (hopefully) will have any relevance to what they do or if i can put that to use in the business world and in particular at IBM.

All ideas appreciated

Martin
 
Well, FIND out who you're going to interview, for goodness' sake!

You could ask entirely different questions if it's a woman. Such as, "you're obviously a highly successful woman. Did you find shagging your married boss helped you get to the top, or was it down to your influential father wheedling you in over much better-qualified candidates?"

If it's a man, ask him how he's coping with the pressures of his job, as well as his extra-marital affair with his male PA, and his secret drinking problem. Does he enjoy horse-racing? Your account's a little low at the moment, so any regular additions would be most welcome.

Remember to thank your interviewees for their valuable time, and that you look forward to receiving the job confirmation within the next three days.
 
Ask him/her where they see IBM in 10 years time. CEOs love being given an opportunity to spout their blue-sky vision corporate stuff. With any luck you will be able to turn the tables so that it is he/she selling IBM to you which puts you in a nice position to point out how your skills could help them towards that aim.
 
:D JON...........Martin start from the bottom!!! and work up!! you'll possibly get a slap in the face though .................. :D just keep abreast!!! of the times..... :D

one thing you need to do if its written.....interview as well as oral.... always use the letter i as a capital when refering to ones-self, not being derogatary or trying to pick fault just a guidance for you.............. :rolleyes:
 
Martin, doesn't IBM have a website you can access? It must have. They probably have a section under 'Employment Opportunities' if that's what you're being interviewed for. What is the purpose of the interview? To see if you're suitable for hiring, or what? Are you expected to take a typed CV with you and to leave it with them (with your smiling photo)?

You don't sound as if any guidelines have been given to you for this rather special occasion, which is rather odd. You need to know how long you'll be allocated, too. If this is not a 'real' job interview, it could be pretty short.

If you're really angling for a job, then you need some background info about IBM to hand - what markets are hot, which might be getting colder for them. Or ask! What new products are in the pipeline, what's their target customer base, where are they getting them manufactured, etc. You will undoubtedly be asked what you already know about the company. That's why looking over their site could be useful.

If IBM doesn't give you an application pack, then ask for one before you see the CEO and check out what kind of education levels they expect from new employees. It'll probably also tell you what kinds of jobs are available. You need to arrive early so you can get this stuff from the reception area, and read it first. If any kind of degree looks like it's accepted to get you onto the first rung, make sure the CEO knows you have one.

Try to demonstrate that you've shown some actual interest in them and certainly ask them what their future plans are, and where they're planning expansion.

You may well be asked the sometimes tricky question "What do you think you have that we need?" Tell them they need your personal attributes: loyalty, integrity, the willingness to work hard and the desire to be part of a forward-moving company, as well as your demonstrated ability to see a project through to a satisfactory result (that is, your degree). Are you at all creative with ideas? Tell them! They'll look for people who don't just want to be an employee number, but who want to contribute to the evolving processes of the company. Tell them you enjoy a well-rounded social life, with a good mix of interests. (This indicates interpersonal abilities.)

Wear clean shoes, a plain shirt and a straight tie, shake hands firmly (without cracking their bones) and, smiling, thank them very much for their valuable time. Exit to nearest bar, and have a swifty! ;)

Good luck, Martin - let us know how things go for you, won't you?
 
shake hands firmly (without cracking their bones)
Click to expand...

Very wise words from Krizon. I would not employ someone with a limp handshake. It is just about the first impression you will get of someone too. In some parts of the world a weak handshake will get you a kicking.
 
Just realised i really am not very good at explaining this lol.
It's an IBM backed university business competition, IBM sponsor it though seemed to do their very best at the semi-final to plug and i've been told that we will get to ask IBM questions.
I know a fair bit about the recruiting process as my team-mates have applied for work placement's there with their courses being a 4 year Sandwich course as opposed to the one i'm on which is 3 years.

As part of the competition (which is held at IBM HQ) we have to run our business, first round was a vodka company i think, second a wine bar in Sheffield and the final is well i'll find out tommorow morning. The interview is just part of the final itself though it's a competition really not a job interview but i thought i may be able to make best use of the opportunity as i can start looking for a proper full-time job early (though won't graduate until November 2006).

Thanks for all advice and i'm certainly asking him where he see's IBM in 10 years time.

Martin
ps. will let you know how it all goes, need to make top 3 of 6 to get a cash prize.
 
What I wouldn't recommend you ask him is how IBM screwed up on August 12th 1981 when they signed a contract with a young software entrepreneur to operate their top-secret PC, code named Acorn.

As a sweetener, they agreed to let the young man retain ownership of the operating system, which meant he was free to license it to other hardware manufacturers eager to compete with IBM. He was also free to sell applications like word processing, accounting, and e-mail.

IBM went downhill to become a shadow of the "Big Blue" company that it was pre-1980. Oh, and the young software man? He made a bit of a name for himself.

He is called Bill Gates...
 
If IBM documentation is anything to go by, it doesn't really matter what you ask him, you won't be able to make any sense out of it anyway.
 
:lol: :lol:

Vodka factory, wine bar... what next? A betting shop? :o I'm aghast at the values they're setting the young... :)
 
The CEO cancelled on us and this time the scenario was a seriously cheesy, rip off version of Tomb Raider with Katherine-Zeta Smith fighting the evil baddy Devious Dylon.
We mucked up on the first round and consequently finished last (of 7), but hey we beat about 130 other teams to reach the final.

Did talk at length to a man from Proctor and Gamble about internship's for students, jobs for graduates etc. and to a fair few attractive ladies from IBM (all blonde, slim and looking under 30).
Greatly enjoy the whole experience to such an extent tha i plan on applying for a summer internship with Proctor and Gamble for Summer 2006 (the summer after i leave university :( ). We won the mini-quiz mind so got a miniature bottle of Champagne each and stayed in a Premier Travel Inn right next to the London Eye. Got to Covent Garden and Leicester Square last night and it was chocker, didn't get any partying done really though we (me and my team-mates) all plan on going back down to London for a proper weekend sometime soon.

Thanks for all the advice and IBM is a top company (i think though i'm not on commission - yet).

Martin
 
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