What IBM Seeks In An MBA Hire

What do you look for in a resume and background that many candidates might not consider?

I’d say since a resume often introduce us to the candidate, we start with the basics. First, we look at their education. We greatly appreciate undergraduate technical majors that rounds out a candidate’s background and extends their knowledge base, and indicates an interest in technology. A resume that portrays a candidate with a sense of commitment and successful endeavors is a great source of interest. And that may be conveyed through tenure and progression in a prior job and a long-term involvement with an organization, perhaps a non-profit. Maybe they ran multiple marathons or traveled to multiple continents. Those are all indicators of passion, depth, and determination.

Additionally we look for candidates who exemplify the values of the company  as defined by IBMers in 2003 – and they are an underlying theme in our recruiting. We look for a dedication to every clients’ success…innovation for the company and the world, and  trust and responsibility in all relationships.

What kinds of skills does IBM anticipate needing in the coming years that you may not possess enough of now (Languages, Technical Skills, etc.)?

IBM will always be looking for ways to help our clients innovate. I think we’ll continue to anticipate a need for many of the skills we look for today. That includes a clear demonstration of leadership, taking initiative, innovative thinking, adaptability, and strong communication skills. These are imperative and will continue to be so in the future.

Language skills will be particularly important being part of a global company.  This will be absolutely essential in handling complex issues in terms of our key initiatives, such as cloud, data analytics, mobile, and security.

What advice would you give to students who have their hearts set on working for Big Blue? How can they enhance their job prospects?

Certainly, having a passion for technology is one of the most critical things they can do – and demonstrating that through their major, the activities they’re involved in, the clubs they belong to…all of that certainly is going to help.  What we do requires depth and breadth of experience. Someone who can demonstrate the ability to deal with difficult scenarios, ambiguity, [the ability to] defend their ideas from a point of view:  those things make for a very [attractive candidate].

Recruiting can be a two-way street. What has IBM done to make itself more appealing to MBA candidates? (i.e. new initiatives being rolled out)? What are some big developments happening in your firm that would excite MBAs?

We are at the forefront of so many leading edge business trends.  I mentioned the cloud, big data, analytics, security, our partnerships with Twitter and Apple, and our leadership in cognitive computing with Watson. I think that makes IBM a very exciting company.

The people and leaders at IBM are also a big attraction. I say it with great pride that IBMers are special to collaborate with; they represent the IBM value proposition backed by unparalleled expertise and access to experts from around the globe. No matter the size and scope of the problem, we have the resources for it.

In addition to our people, [another appeal] is our leadership in technology and our history. We have a 100-year history [of innovation]. We built the agenda for the areas I already mentioned. Over time, IBMers have taken on the toughest and the most complex situations and challenges. That’s true today and it’ll be true tomorrow. We’re committed to build better world and a better future. So if you’re inspired by exceptional creativity, leadership, and innovation, that’s IBM.

[One more thing]: We have the largest research and development program in the world, with 3000 scientists and an investment of six billion dollars a year in R&D.

What types of onboarding, training and ongoing support do you provide to incoming MBAs?

I’d say three things. First, the typical MBA comes into our program with specific training and development, whether that’s formal training sitting in a classroom, self-paced training, or working with experienced peers. Secondly, they have tremendous mentoring opportunities – both formal and informal. Third, they have access to senior executives providing them with tremendous visibility and the opportunity to learn and work side-by-side with them.

Many of the MBA hires have the opportunity to sit next to client executives during engagements and work in executive teams. These are all opportunities for a successful start and have a tremendous early impact.