CAREERS: What it's like to work for ... IBM

Sam Palmisano is chairman and chief executive officer of IBM Corporation. Janet Ang heads IBM's operations in Singapore.

How many staff?

Over 300,000 worldwide and about 2,000 in Singapore

Marketing responsibilities?

Support and work with the communications sector in IBM in Asia-Pacific, covering the telecoms, media and entertainment, and energy and utilities industries.

Provide marketing support for advertising, and all other integrated marketing activities targeting our customers in the above mentioned industries.

I also organise IBM's participation in customer and external industry events, such as ITU's Telecom Asia and Publish Asia.

Who's the competition?

Other IT companies.

How do you get a job at IBM?

Through the normal recruitment channels.

Department or office transfers?

Definitely. IBM offers multiple opportunities within one company, depending on aptitude, skills and the best person for the job.

Any training offered?

Training at all levels is available. One is encouraged to continually upgrade skills via on-the-job-training, by attending courses and through e-learning.

Pay and perks?

IBM offers the opportunity to work with the best and brightest in the industry, advanced technology, the ability to work with vast resources, global opportunities in over 160 countries and a creative and flexible environment.

IBM is recognised as one of the best places to work. In Singapore, for example, it won the Family Friendly Firm Award twice.

Long hours?

Sometimes. Work gets done when it needs to be done, and that can translate into working 'odd' hours and various different time zones.

But because our working arrangements are flexible, we are in a better position to balance work and family commitments. IBM supports and believes very much in balancing work and life.

Business travel?

Yes, when needed. IBM also makes extensive use of technology to collaborate and to share information, reducing the need to travel for meetings when face-to-face contact is not required.Team IBM is virtually everywhere!

Aileene Thangaveloo is Asia-Pacific marketing commmunications manager - communications sector at IBM.