Frequently asked questions

The Extreme Blue™ program is an incubator for talent, technology and business innovation. You'll participate on a small team to conceive and deliver the technology, business plan and go to market strategy for an emerging business opportunity. Extreme Blue project teams mix business and technical disciplines with a variety of experience from undergraduate and graduate student interns--all lead by IBM's technical and business experts. Our cutting-edge work environment fosters innovation and collaboration. In short, The Extreme Blue program delivers on our key message by empowering our interns to do exactly that--start something BIG!

For more information, download the Extreme Blue program brochure (PDF, 733KB)

United States: Austin, Texas, Raleigh, North Carolina and San Jose, California
Canada: Toronto and Ottawa
China: Beijing
Europe: Dublin, Ireland, Böblingen, Germany, Amsterdam, Netherlands, La Gaude, France, and Hursley, United Kingdom
India: Bangalore

United States: Late May - August
Canada: May - August
China: July - September
Europe: July - September
India: May - July
Each program runs approximately 10-12 weeks and varies by location.

The recruiting process varies for each geography.

United States:
Who is eligible?
Students enrolled in a full-time degree program at an accredited U.S. university are eligible to apply. Preference is given to candidates within 12 months of their graduation date.
When can I apply?
The interview and selection process takes place from September - March.
How do I apply?
Submit an application online (all programs).

Canada: Applications are taken December through January for the summer term.
China: IBM University Relations will work with local schools to nominate students for next summer.
Europe: Recruiting is organized at the country level and varies by region. Please watch this space for updated details on applying to the European Extreme Blue Laboratories.
India: IBM University Relations will work with local schools to nominate students for next summer.

If you have advanced computer science and/or business skills, experience and passion for technology, the Extreme Blue program is designed for you. Hiring criteria varies by region. Review the criteria for your region: United States, Canada, Europe, India.

Hint: You will obtain a quicker response from our recruiting team if you differentiate your skills and experience from your peers by answering the optional questions on the application submission form.

United States

Technical student profile
Skills:

• Object-oriented design methodologies, design patterns, component architectures, complex systems analysis and design skills, embodied in debugging and optimizing systems.
• We target specific skills and knowledge for our project portfolio which varies by semester. Current focus areas include: Cloud, embedded systems, Web services, database internals, and human computer interaction.

Experience:

• A minimum of three months software development experiences (programming in Java™, C or C++) in an open source, commercial or research setting
• Complex independent software projects (open source, freeware, shareware).

Passion:

• Active participation and leadership roles in professional communities and/or in academic or professional competitions. (IEEE, ACM, Thinkquest, NSBE, SHPE, SWE, UPE).
• Significant contributions in team-based organizations and software development situations, excluding core academic course work.
• History of giving back to the technical community through teaching, mentoring and tutoring experiences.

MBA student profile
Skills:

• Skilled at business concept innovation with an emphasis on leveraging technology.
• Skilled at synergisizing information from a plethora of market research and competitive analysis resources.
• Skilled at developing and driving the project deliverables into a concise business plan, championing a project into the appropriate IBM business areas.

Experience:

• A technical background is not required, but the ideal candidate will have demonstrated their ability to work business issues in a highly dynamic, technology based, environment.
• Positions utilizing fundamental marketing processes, strategy formulation and business planning.
• Significant contributions in team-based situations both as a team player and a team leader.
• Significant participation in a leading edge new product development initiative.

Passion:

• Active participation in organizing events and playing a leadership role involving technology.
• Business concept innovation in a technology intensive environment demonstrating creativity and organizational adeptness.
• History of a personal initiative for exploring technology, illustrated by an understanding of key topical Information and technology business trends.
• A relentless desire to explore and broker appropriate relationships with other development and business organizations.
• Knowledge and high level understanding of IBM's business mission and key externally stated business strategies.

Canada

Technical student profile
Skills:

• Object-oriented design methodologies, design patterns, component architectures, complex systems analysis and design skills, embodied in debugging and optimizing systems.
• We target specific skills and knowledge for our project portfolio which varies by semester. Current focus areas include: Cloud, embedded systems, Web services, database internals, and human computer interaction.

Experience:

• A minimum of six months software development experiences (programming in Java™, C or C++) in an open source, commercial or research setting
• Complex independent software projects (open source, freeware, shareware).

Passion:

• Active participation and leadership roles in professional communities and/or in academic or professional competitions. (IEEE, ACM).
• Significant contributions in team-based organizations and software development situations, excluding core academic course work.
• History of giving back to the technical community through teaching, mentoring and tutoring experiences.

MBA student profile
Skills:

• Skilled at business concept innovation with an emphasis on leveraging technology.
• Skilled at synergisizing information from a plethora of market research and competitive analysis resources.
• Skilled at developing and driving the project deliverables into a concise business plan, championing a project into the appropriate IBM business areas.

Experience:

• A technical background is not required, but the ideal candidate will have demonstrated their ability to work business issues in a highly dynamic, technology based, environment.
• Positions utilizing fundamental marketing processes, strategy formulation and business planning.
• Significant contributions in team-based situations both as a team player and a team leader.
• Significant participation in a leading edge new product development initiative.

Passion:

• Active participation in organizing events and playing a leadership role involving technology.
• Business concept innovation in a technology intensive environment demonstrating creativity and organizational adeptness.
• History of a personal initiative for exploring technology, illustrated by an understanding of key topical Information and technology business trends.
• A relentless desire to explore and broker appropriate relationships with other development and business organizations.
• Knowledge and high level understanding of IBM's business mission and key externally stated business strategies.

Europe

Skills:

If you're a computer science or engineering student, we look for strong skills in object-oriented design methodologies, design patterns, component architectures, complex systems analysis and design--all of which are embodied in debugging and optimizing systems. We also target specific skills and knowledge for our project portfolio, including Linux kernel, distributed systems, net work protocols, database internals, Web technology (Enterprise JavaBeans™, JavaSever Pages, servlets, XML, XSL), and human/computer interaction.

If you're a business student, you must be skilled at business concept innovation and experienced in market research methodologies--especially as they relate to new product development. Although project scopes vary, you'll likely be asked to develop a comprehensive business plan with financials.

Experience:

• If you're a computer science or engineering student, you must have experience in C, C++ or Java software development.
• If you are an Business student, you should have business experience in a technical or technology-related industry in such areas as corporate law, negotiations, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, and sales and marketing.

Enthusiasm:

We're looking for people to work on projects and technologies about which they are passionate, so enthusiasm is critical. We find that this is often the critical factor in determining how effectively an individual or team functions on a project. As with any school assignment, sport or hobby, when you work on projects that really interest you, you tend to work harder and more effectively on these activities and enjoy the experience more. Indicators that we seek in both technical and business applicants include:

• Active participation and leadership roles (in professional communities or academic or professional competitions)
• Significant contributions in team-based organizations and software development situations, excluding core academic course work
• Extensive teaching or tutoring experience, or both
• Business concept innovation in conjunction with team leadership conceptualizing new applications and creativity

The bottom line: Anything you can do through your correspondence and interview with us that accentuates or highlights these three characteristics will improve your chances of becoming an Extreme Blue student.

India

Technical student profile
Skills:

• Object-oriented design methodologies, design patterns, component architectures, complex systems analysis and design skills, embodied in debugging and optimizing systems.
• We target specific skills and knowledge for our project portfolio which varies by semester. Current focus areas include: Grid, Linux®, Autonomic Computing, Web services, database internals, and human computer interaction.

Experience:

• A minimum of six months software development experiences (programming in Java™, C or C++) in an open source, commercial or research setting.
• Complex independent software projects (open source, freeware, shareware).

Passion:

• Active participation and leadership roles in professional communities and/or in academic or professional competitions. (IEEE, ACM, Computer Society of India).
• Significant contributions in team-based organizations and software development situations, excluding core academic course work.
• History of giving back to the technical community through teaching, mentoring and tutoring experiences.

MBA student profile

Skills:

• Skilled at business concept innovation with an emphasis on leveraging technology.
• Skilled at synergisizing information from a plethora of market research and competitive analysis resources.
• Skilled at developing and driving the project deliverables into a concise business plan, championing a project into the appropriate IBM business areas.

Experience:

• A technical background is not required, but the ideal candidate will have demonstrated their ability to work business issues in a highly dynamic, technology based, environment.
• Positions utilizing fundamental marketing processes, strategy formulation and business planning.
• Significant contributions in team-based situations both as a team player and a team leader.
• Significant participation in a leading edge new product development initiative.

Passion:

• Active participation in organizing events and playing a leadership role involving technology.
• History of a personal initiative for exploring technology, illustrated by an understanding of key topical Information and technology business trends.
• A relentless desire to explore and broker appropriate relationships with other development and business organizations.
• Knowledge and high level understanding of IBM's business mission and key externally stated business strategies.

Because Extreme Blue students work in project teams, we're looking for complementary skills and interests that allow us to form the most effective teams. For this reason, acceptance to the program is not necessarily an indication of how we evaluated any single characteristic or how much we want you to work with us at IBM.

While industry experience proves to be the best way to sharpen your software development skills, we've designed an online self paced curriculum to assist with key areas where a majority of Extreme Blue projects hit on.

Visit our Roadmap for more information.

If you are applying for the North American labs, click here.

If you are applying for the European labs, click here.

For China, IBM University Relations will work with local schools to nominate students for next summer.

For India, IBM University Relations will work with local schools to nominate students for next summer.

Please know all applications submitted for U.S. and Canadian candidacy are screened individually. Due to the high volume of applicants, we're unable to respond to every individual directly. The Extreme Blue internship is an extremely competitive program and requires that you meet the minimum qualifications noted on this site in order to be considered.

Please visit: Extreme Blue or send an email to: exblue@us.ibm.com. Be sure to include the location of the program you are interested in applying for.

For the U.S. locations, we accept students attending U.S. colleges and universities. Opportunities for foreign nationals are limited. Consideration requires an advanced degree in a critical skill area with a minimum of one-year relevant work experience following the undergraduate degree. If you're interested in opportunities in your home country, please visit ibm.com/careers, and select your home country.

For the Canadian location, we accept students attending Canadian universities. Opportunities are limited to Canadian citizens or those with Landed Immigrant/Canadian Permanent Resident Status.

In Europe, employment laws vary by country. In general, we accept students who have a work visa for the country to which they are applying. This includes citizens and students studying in that particular country. Only the United Kingdom is able to consider foreign nationals not studying in the country, but please be aware these opportunities are extremely limited.

At present, the India location does not accept foreign nationals.

IBM's intent is to hire the best-qualified candidate for job opportunities within IBM, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and military status. However, applicant eligibility for employment-authorized immigration status, temporary or permanent, may be a factor in IBM's pre-employment decision process and any visa sponsorship is at the sole discretion of IBM management. IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

In general, the hours are flexible, but the work can be intense at times, as the teams strive to complete their project by the end of the summer. Individual teams decide together on their hours and schedule, but all students must work a minimum of 40 hours per week.

Each project will be extremely challenging, so we expect interns to focus on a single project during the program. Given the laboratory environment, you will be exposed to all projects and are expected to lend assistance when it is required or where you are uniquely qualified. You will also have personal access to all of the senior engineering team serving as project mentors.

In a nutshell, you will get challenging work experience on ambitious projects exercising your skills on in a great work environment. The Extreme Blue program will give you the opportunity to interact with both senior engineers, executives, and other exceptional students from across the country, access to scientists and business leaders as part of the ongoing lecture series, and a competitive compensation package.

Send us e-mail at: exblue@us.ibm.com

Please reference the Student Portal Web site to find out about student-oriented activities.

IBM is looking for smart people. Many other career opportunities exist at IBM. See for yourself.

What can I do to increase my chances of getting a full-time offer from IBM after my internship?

To increase your chances of finding a full-time position at IBM, you should leverage all the networking opportunities that you are presented with; identify and communicate areas of interest; be open to all the varied opportunities; and perform well during the program.