IBM Micro Internship & Career Preparation Notes

IBM Micro Internship and Career Preparation Notes

• Overview: IBM micro internship offered as an optional extra credit pathway after completing a certification. If you complete the final part and certification, IBM will place you with a company for a small project (~10 hours). Upon completion, you receive a check for $250$. This works out to about $\frac{250}{10} = 25$ dollars per hour, though actual hours may be less than ten.

• What to decide: The opportunity is optional, but presented as a potentially valuable ${25}$/hour equivalent with a short, concrete deliverable. Consider personal workload and whether the extra credit plus practical project aligns with your goals.

Getting to the IBM sign-up and AI assignment

• Location in Canvas:

  • Go to Canvas > Assignments > IBM skills bill artificial intelligence (AI).
  • Open the word document titled “Artificial Intelligence BUSP 100.” It is a write-up describing the assignment.

• Assignment expectations:

  • The document states the assignment will take about $5$ hours, but students typically spend less time.
  • It will be delivered in modules (three modules total). You don’t have to complete it all at once; you can work in shorter blocks (e.g., $20-30$ minutes per session, then resume later).
  • You should start by clicking the “Getting started with AI” hyperlink and open it in a new tab.

• Sign-up specifics (IBM ID and SUS email):

  • Sign up using your SUS email address; Google or other accounts will not work for sign-up.
  • You must choose the option to sign up with IBM ID (i.e., sign up with IBM ID login), not sign up with email directly.
  • Your IBM ID will be your SUS email address.

• Credly certification:

  • Credly is a certification platform that issues micro-certifications for completed credentials.
  • Sign up for Credly as part of the process so the micro-credential can be captured.
  • Credly badges can be linked to your LinkedIn profile, where employers can view your micro-certifications.

• Troubleshooting and class logistics:

  • If you have trouble getting into the IBM system, contact the instructor for help.
  • If you miss or are late joining, the instructor can move you to the proper class section (e.g., from section 14 or 12 to the current section, if you provide your U-number).
  • The instructor will stay around after the next activity to help students sign in and access the assignment.

• Scheduling and deadlines:

  • The assignment is broken into three modules (1, 2, and 3).
  • A tentative deadline was set for $October ext{ }15$ to have it completed, but you can phase the work and finish earlier.
  • You can save progress and return to where you left off later.

• Additional note on the sign-up process and engagement:

  • If you complete the IBM pathway, you may be eligible for the micro internship and a subsequent ${250}$ payment after the 10-hour project.
  • If you cannot access IBM or have sign-in issues, stay after class to work with the instructor on access and enrollment.

• Optional networking opportunity tied to IBM pathway:

  • The instructor occasionally references related opportunities and how to leverage the IBM micro-internship for resume and LinkedIn enhancement.

Tomorrow’s Procter & Gamble (P&G) networking event

• Event details:

  • Time: from $17:00$ to $18:30$ (5:00 PM to 6:30 PM).
  • Location: Computer Science Building and Engineering Building, adjacent to the Honors College.
  • Dress code: Professional attire is recommended (dress pants, dress shirt, or polo; no need for suit and tie).
  • Purpose: Networking with Procter & Gamble representatives; start building relationships now for potential future opportunities.

• Networking tips during the event:

  • Dress professionally to make a strong first impression.
  • Interview questions and conversation should show you’ve done your homework about the company.
  • The idea is to move beyond generic introductions and demonstrate knowledge about the company and its products.

• Questions to research about Procter & Gamble (P&G) before talking to reps:

  • What does P&G do? What products do they offer?
  • What is P&G’s revenue for the most recent year? How many employees do they have?
  • How large is the company relative to other employers? This helps you tailor questions and show initiative.

• Suggested initial findings (examples from the session):

  • P&G makes a wide range of consumer products, including laundry products (e.g., Tide) and many other brands.
  • Revenue (recent year) cited: $84{,}000{,}000{,}000$.
  • Number of employees: $109{,}000$.
  • Note: Some product names mentioned in the transcript were unclear due to transcription; verify exact brand names via quick online research.

• Why this research matters:

  • When you meet a recruiter at a job fair or interview, they’ll want to see that you understand what the company does, its product lines, and its market position.
  • Demonstrating research creates a two-way conversation: they learn about you, and you demonstrate you’re a thoughtful candidate who knows their target company.

Job fair preparation and guidance

• September 24 job fair details:

  • Location: Minidome.
  • Estimated attendance: about 140–150 companies.
  • How to prepare: use the Career Services site to view the list of participating companies.
  • Strategy: identify 2–3 target companies you might want to talk to and research them beforehand (products, services, key markets).

• Interview and networking philosophy:

  • The job interview is a two-way street: you are evaluating the company as well as they evaluate you.
  • Being prepared with knowledge about a company's products and strategic direction makes you stand out from candidates who rely only on generic questions.

• Reading and using the annual report to prepare:

  • One practical preparation step is to obtain the company’s annual report (e.g., via Google or ChatGPT, or the company site).
  • Read the front matter (the section before the numerical data) to learn about the company’s strategies, the businesses it operates in, and potential threats.
  • This front matter often includes strategic priorities and risk factors that are valuable talking points during conversations with recruiters.

• Practical tips for during the event and the fair:

  • Have a short, focused explanation of what you study and how it relates to the company’s lines of business.
  • Bring a concise list of questions showing you’ve done your homework, not generic questions.
  • Be prepared to discuss your relevant coursework and micro-credential experiences (e.g., IBM AI modules, Credly badges).

Quick math and numerical reference sheet (for quick recall)

• IBM micro internship value: $250$ after completing a $10$-hour project → $\frac{250}{10} = 25$ dollars/hour.
• IBM assignment estimate and structure:
  • Estimated time per assignment: $5 ext{ hours}$ (though actual time may be less).
  • Modules: 1, 2, and 3; progress can be saved and resumed.
  • Deadline reminder: $ext{October }15.$
• Procter & Gamble stats cited:
  • Revenue: $84{,}000{,}000{,}000$
  • Employees: $109{,}000$
• Event timing window: $17:00$–$18:30$ (5:00 PM–6:30 PM).
• Event date references: September 24 (job fair) and the Minidome location.

Practical implications and takeaways

• The IBM micro internship provides a low-risk, high-reward experiential learning opportunity with a tangible payout and resume/LinkedIn benefits through Credly.

• Sign-up requires careful adherence to the system (SUS email, IBM ID login) and avoiding alternative sign-up routes like plain email sign-up.

• Credly integration enhances professional branding on LinkedIn and may improve perceived credibility with employers.

• The three-module IBM AI assignment is designed to be completed in chunks, accommodating student schedules and encouraging consistent progress.

• The Procter & Gamble networking event is an early opportunity to practice professional networking, with emphasis on preparation and professional presentation.

• The job fair presents a broad landscape of potential employers and is best approached with targeted research and a two-way conversation mindset.

• Reading the front matter of annual reports can significantly improve company understanding and interview performance.

• Final reminders:

  • If you cannot access IBM, stay after class for assistance; the instructor can help with sign-up and placement.
  • Collect U-numbers and be ready to switch sections if needed to stay in the current class context.