Have you ever heard a real estate agent say “Location, Location, Location!” over and over again? It is their mantra, their key to success. Here at Accenture, it’s all about “networking, networking, networking.” That is the bedrock of those who get ahead and stay successful at our company.

Jackie’s post below references networking as one of the most positive aspects of her time at the Q Center. I attended Core Analyst School within my first two months at the company, and I know that I did not get enough out of my networking opportunities. I was overwhelmed by the amount of people and their geographic origins… yes, it was cool to sit next to someone from Germany, but it’s not like we’d ever work together, right?

Wrong. I work at a client site where we have Accenture resources from South Africa, Ireland, Australia, China, the Netherlands, and Germany. My professional and personal network now extends overseas, and the exchange of knowledge and staffing opportunities can flow both ways. For those that don’t enjoy international travel, you will still benefit from our networking culture when you are trying to figure out how other clients have configured their SAP modules, because you’ll be able to reach out to past co-workers and contacts from your training programs.

Networking happens in groups and through proactive, take-initiative behavior. When I was looking for my first role, I literally rang up a senior executive in the field that interested me and asked if we could meet for coffee one morning at 7 am. That coffee break helped me get staffed within this software and this client and it has helped me create the path that I’ll follow at Accenture. By taking control of my career, I ensured that I would be working in the industry most interesting to me.

If you are starting with Accenture this summer, you should attend every office event that you can. Whether it’s a women’s initiative event, an Asian-American networking event, a diversity initiative group, get out there and meet everyone you can. (Note: At Accenture, you are welcomed at all these events, even if you are not female, Asian, etc.) Meet analysts, meet HR reps, meet senior executives, and meet everyone! This is the best way to be staffed on a role that interests you and the best way to learn about opportunities in the company. If you’re like me and move to a new city when you start with the company, it is also the best way to learn about great places to eat or to discover hidden spots to visit on weekends.

Here is a link to the Wall Street Journal's Career Networking tips and articles. I found the first article about recent graduates building new ties to be applicable to many in the analyst community. Good luck - and get out there!