got through IBM's campus loop for a new grad SWE role and they came back with a Band 6 offer in RTP (Research Triangle Park, NC). the base seems lower than what I see from other big companies.
my recruiter was kind but vague when i asked about flexibility. she said 'band ranges are fairly set' which sounds like a no but also feels like what every recruiter says.
i genuinely don't know if IBM is worth the negotiation energy or if it's a different kind of career move than, say, pushing for a Google L3. the stability/brand feels real but the comp gap is also real.
does anyone have recent new grad data points from IBM? and is the band actually negotiable or is she right that it's locked?
3 replies
contractor_kai
Band 6 new grad base in RTP is probably in the $95-115k range depending on the division. benefits are solid (pension-adjacent, good health), but total comp won't touch a FAANG new grad offer. that's just the tradeoff. IBM knows it and so does everyone who takes the offer.
negotiation: the band range has some room, maybe $5-10k, but signing bonus is often more flexible than base. worth asking once, politely.
careerveteran
IBM is a different career bet than Google or Meta for new grads. you're trading comp for stability, a brand name that still opens doors in enterprise, and in certain divisions (research, quantum, hybrid cloud) genuinely interesting technical problems. if you're on a visa or want a non-startup life it can make real sense. the 'band is set' line is mostly true but push once on signing, that's where there's flexibility.
alex_design
counterpoint: IBM also did multiple rounds of workforce restructuring over the last decade, some in high-profile ways. the 'stability' narrative is less certain than it was 15 years ago. just go in with eyes open, not assuming that the IBM name means what it used to mean in terms of job security.