Pros: Great people were willing to take the time and interest in helping me develop as an intern. The z/OS mainframe OS is a complex and challenging system to work with, and it is very interesting. Many young people and interns starting brought lots of new ideas and a younger culture into the company. The company was undergoing a transformation, which was fun to be a part of. Managers allowed time for us to explore career options outside of our normal workday, and there were always many extra-curricular different things happening on-site, ranging from: * A 3D printer building contest * Chances to meet with executives * Luncheons * Education * Field days * Starbucks coffee breaks * And more. The internship allowed me to get the best out of my time and learn a great deal in just a short summer.

Cons: It would be nice to have free coffee, but they have many drinks you can buy with pocket change.

Pros: - Flexible work hours. - Access to a lot of technology and tools.

Cons: Problem #1: My personal profile caused me problems. There was very little "diversity" in the team I worked with (all French Canadians). My roots are different, and my co-workers regularly reminded me that I was not one of them. A manager even told me once: "You are a particular person. You have an accent..." (I am in a more diversified environment now, and I fit in much better). I believe this first problem does not affect IBM employees in general (it was specific to the team I was in, and the fact that I was an outsider). Problem #2: End-of-year evaluations were completely uncorrelated with the work I accomplished. When I worked very hard, that is when I got the worst evaluations. Other times, when I did "regular work", without too much effort, I was often thanked for my great work! Advice to others: Be careful when you are in this type of environment, because it can lead to mental problems if you do not realize that there is great inconsistency in the way you are treated. I believe this second problem affects many IBMers, all around the world (being treated with great inconsistency).

Pros: Very supportive and collaborative work environment, great people, fun projects.

Cons: Not as competitive pay-wise, although benefits sort of make up for it.