Entry-level positions for aspiring Solutions Specialists at IBM
IBM offers entry-level roles such as Consulting (via a "Consulting by degrees" program) and Sales ("Global sales all"), with training programs providing "exposure to different Industries and clients" and "mock sales calls." Other options include product or offering management, involving "shaping the software" based on client feedback via a "request for enhancement" system.
Sales, Consulting, Technical Skills, Training Programs, Client Interaction
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Dylan Evans
Solutions Specialist
IBM
Lehigh University Class of 2010
UCLA Anderson MBA
Computer Science
Technology
Sales and Client Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. IBM offers Consulting by Degrees, a two-year rotational program exposing participants to various projects, industries, clients, and IBM teams.
2. A six-month Global Sales program at IBM provides training through mock sales calls, shadowing experienced sellers, and learning CRM and prospecting techniques.
3. Entry-level roles at IBM after these programs include Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) focusing on identifying new opportunities and technically-oriented roles involving client demos and product demonstrations
Transcript
What entry-level positions in this field might an undergraduate college student consider?
As I mentioned in the first question, I've had two different roles at IBM. The first was in Consulting, and the most recent one I'm in now is sales-focused. IBM provides training programs for each.
On the Consulting side, they had a program called "Consulting by Degrees." This was a two-year rotational program where new hires would rotate into different projects every six months. The goal was to learn about the projects, the roles within them, and gain exposure to different industries, clients, and teams within IBM. This helped individuals understand their strengths and potential fits within the company.
Within sales, the equivalent program was called "Global Sales." This was a six-month training program. It included mock sales calls with former IBM sales managers acting as clients, where participants were graded on their performance. We also shadowed existing sellers for six months, observing how they conducted sales calls, updated CRM systems, and performed prospecting.
Typically, for undergrad hires at IBM, after Global Sales School, they are placed into roles depending on their technical background. If not technical, they might become a Sales Development Representative, helping experienced sellers identify new opportunities within their accounts. If they have a more technical background, they might do client demos.
There's also Product Management, or "Offering Management" as IBM calls it. This role focuses on shaping the software sold to ensure it meets market demands. IBM has a "Request for Enhancement" program where existing clients can submit and vote on desired features for the software. This crowdsourced feedback helps the offering management team prioritize which requests to pass to the development team.
These are three major areas with training programs within IBM that I'm aware of, but this isn't an exhaustive list for Tech roles. I'm happy to answer any questions about these entry-level positions.