Discover the
Difference
There are so many different ways to make a difference at Accenture. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve created 10 scenarios that let you see what we do and help you imagine working with us. There’s no right or wrong answer – choose the one that makes sense to you and hear about each of our programmes from someone who thinks the same way you do.
Consulting scenario
You’re working on a project for a major global transport company. They’re completely reimagining how customers interact with them, from how they book to how they pay. They need to transform as an organisation. Your manager asks you to get stuck in prioritising what to do. Do you:
Great answer, that’s what Tolu did during his first year here.
Watch his video to understand what his role in Consulting has been like so far.
Explore Consulting Graduate Programme
Tolu
Consulting

Great answer, that’s what Tamara did on one of her first projects.
Read Tamara’s story to discover how she got stuck into creating change.
Read story Explore Consulting Graduate Programme
Tamara Hammad
Consulting
'I’ve always been interested in a lot of things - consulting was the best option for me because of that. You're exposed to so many practices, communities, and industries. It's exactly what I was looking for.'
I studied a degree in Food Science, which included some business courses, and that piqued my interest in business. I have a broad range of interests, so I decided that consulting was for me. I wanted a job where I could delve into a wide range of experiences, and then later pick what I wanted to do. Accenture offered that.
Consulting is very hands-on, which suits me as I like to be there implementing the new change. Essentially, that's where you can build stakeholder management skills and create strong relationships with clients and others within the project.
On my last project, for example, I was part of a huge team introducing a lot of new technology and processes to a telecoms client to simplify and enhance their network delivery and ultimately improve their performance. My specific role was thinking about how to translate those new processes into documents and content that would help the people who would actually do the work, enabling them to understand how to do it well.
After supporting in a few different areas, I took the lead on the design and development of one key training piece focussed on a changing process. We needed to think about the best way to impact over 2000 employees with different levels of training. This started with analysing their different skill sets, then I learned how to use a programme to create the content we then tested on different groups.
It’s really interesting because you have to know the processes inside-out so you learn a lot about what the entire project team are doing, but you have to balance that with thinking it through from an employee perspective so it will land effectively. It’s a good education in how to make change happen.
Before I joined, I was nervous about being overwhelmed by the amount of information to learn. But, thankfully, you don't have to be an expert in technology to excel, you just need to be a good communicator and problem solver. Most importantly, you need to be proactive and curious to learn.
That’s down to the people you work with. When you join, you're assigned a buddy who is a huge asset. They provide you with all of the information you need and are happy to help answer your questions. They can also introduce you to people who could be in a business practice or area you're interested in.
I was interested in joining Payments, so I reached out to my buddy, expressed my interest and they introduced me to someone in the team, so now that will be my next placement. That’s what's great about Accenture, you can talk to anyone in the company, express an interest in a topic, and they’ll provide you with the necessary tools to get stuck in.
Consulting is really varied so you can rotate around projects, and then pick something you're interested in. It definitely provided me with the exposure I needed to make the best decision for me.
Strategy scenario
You’re in a meeting with a leading energy company. They want our help to transform how they use technology in their business so they can improve the way they work. They want to know where to start. Your manager is interested in your fresh perspective. Do you:
Sounds great. Alya recently worked with a company to reset their governance structure and build a transformation plan to help them become more sustainable.
Watch her film to find out more.
Explore Strategy Graduate Programme
Alya
Strategy
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Sounds great. That’s what we call organisation design and Sheikh did that and a lot more on his first project.
Read his story about helping a national infrastructure company with a project that’s going to impact everyone in the UK.
Read story Explore Strategy Graduate Programme
Sheikh Azim
Strategy
'I get to work on projects that will impact almost everyone in the country.'
Even though I hoped it would be the case, I’m really surprised by just how much impact you can have here. I studied Engineering and when I was thinking about what to do, the way I thought about it was ‘I could be the most incredible engineer, but my impact would be limited to a specific area or sector’. I hoped Accenture would offer the opportunity to make a difference on multiple projects in multiple sectors, but the extent to which that’s true has really surprised me.
I applied to Strategy because I liked the idea of doing that ‘bigger picture’ thinking where you can solve problems on a huge scale. Strategy teams are often the first interaction a client has with us so we get to think about what they need to achieve over the next five to ten years. I’m atypical in the sense that I’ve been working with the same client since I joined rather than jumping around, but I do a lot of different projects within that and take on a lot of responsibility as I have a manager who has seen me grow.
We’re helping a national infrastructure organisation prepare to overhaul their assets, equipment and network while expanding their coverage across the country, which could directly or indirectly affect everyone in the UK. I started off doing project management and from there, I’ve helped write business cases, developed data products and taken on a lot of other responsibilities.
There’s a lot of crossover with consulting, especially on this project because we’re a lot more involved in implementation. But I do a lot of strategic work on organisational design projects, where we’re helping the client envision what their teams should look like and how they collaborate to effectively deliver the product. Writing business cases also requires strategic thinking as it involves speaking to different experts and demonstrating how we’re going to create value.
Everyone in the team has their own projects. My recent one was a data analytics product that brings together multiple different data sources and cleans them up to then automate engineers’ reports. I’m heavily involved in the actual building of it, which meant mastering a new tool but my team have supported me throughout.
I think the support is a key part of the culture and why you’re able to have such a big impact. I sometimes think ‘I shouldn’t have this level of responsibility on a graduate programme’, but the culture here is very trusting and everyone is ready to help. I’m always surprised by how willing very busy colleagues are to take 15 minutes to help you or share what they’re working on.
That support means you’re able to grow and develop at your own pace and see the impact you have increase. I often see my client’s engineers’ vehicles driving around and there’s something exciting about knowing their work will appear on my screen tomorrow and that my work has a tangible, intrinsic value. It gives your work real meaning.
Analytics scenario
A global healthcare company has approached your team to modernise their data analytics strategy. They want to increase the quantity and quality of data they work with. Your team plans a few initiatives and your manager wants you to work on whichever you think has more potential. Do you:
Great minds think alike. Remmy has been working on a similar project during his first year.
See what else he’s been up to alongside his client work.
Explore Analytics Graduate Programme
Remmy
Analytics
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Great minds think alike. Arpita did exactly this and helped save a lot of time for human operators to focus on different tasks.
Read her story and discover what she thinks makes Accenture different.
Read story Explore Analytics Graduate Programme
Arpita Patnaik
Analytics
'I think a career in analytics is for anyone, as long as you’re interested in thinking logically.'
I’ve always thought of unstructured data as an unsolved puzzle. There’s a mystery rooted in it. You investigate the problem to pick up clues and hints, apply methodologies, and then bring it all together to solve the elusiveness of it.
I knew Accenture was a global company and noticed its strong presence in the analytical world. But what really attracted me was that it felt like they had a real perspective on the power of technology, specifically on the power of analytics.
I think analytics helps you identify where and how you can make real change happen. I get to work on a wide range of projects, but I really love the ones where you can directly see the impact of your work. I recently worked on improving the efficiency of a chatbot. We identified benefit areas using a broad set of analytical tools and techniques to develop quantitative and qualitative insights, which we then shared with other teams including the experience design team and build team to integrate suggested improvements. You could see how our analysis translated into real changes to the product, enabling the human operators to focus on more satisfying and complex tasks.
Working with the experience design and build teams allowed me to see different sides to the project and better understand the impact of my work in the grand scheme of things. That kind of collaboration has defined my time here. Even though I joined Accenture for the analytics capabilities, I’ve realised that what really gives us the edge is our culture of learning and support alongside our advocacy for social issues.
From the day I joined it’s been really easy to get involved in social issues including mental health allies, LGBT+ allies, cross-cultural diversity champions, amongst many others. You get a lot of support to find issues you care about and then the structures and resources to deliver positive change.
That spirit carries over into our work as well. Everyone is incredibly supportive, genuinely going the extra step when they don’t necessarily have to. For example, there’s a lot of training available to support our certification journeys in areas like Amazon Web Services, Tableau and Microsoft Power BI. But colleagues also run regular learning series that provide guidance and support to gain those qualifications.
It’s truly inspiring. On top of that, there are always internal ‘lunchtime learning’ sessions about the latest technology and its application to various client projects. I actually transitioned into my current project after connecting with a panel member from one of these events, and eventually joined his team in developing a data strategy for the client to enable predictable planning and delivery for external stakeholders.
That culture means that even though what we do is challenging, you’re always ready to take it on. I honestly think there’s a space for anyone here who is curious and excited about the range of possibilities that the power of data analytics brings.
Technology Delivery Client Delivery scenario
You’ve been helping a government department digitise their services to make them more accessible to more people. You’ve tested the services and realised they will need extra features that the client hasn’t accounted for and could mean the project won’t be ready on time. Do you:

Now you’re thinking like ’Tomi. He’s been working client-side so he knows his clients inside-out.
Read why joining Accenture and choosing Client Delivery were easy decisions for him once he’d done his research.
Read story Explore Client Delivery Graduate Programme
‘Tomi Ajayi
Client Delivery
'If there’s something you want to do, always ask. If there’s a business case for you to learn something, it’s always a yes.'
I did my research before I joined and Accenture stood out because of its commitment to development and how diverse it is. The fact they work with leading clients across so many different sectors combined with the amount of training you get made me confident I’d acquire the versatility I was looking for. The diversity is important to me because I could see people who look like me and who can relate to my background represented across the organisation. It lets you know you’re not alone and it’s motivating; if they can do it, you know you can too.
Client delivery was an obvious choice for me as well. I want to be involved in the thick of things and in delivery you get to actually see the impact you have on the client and their customers or service users. You’re often involved in the process from start to finish so you do a range of project management, business analysis, product management and delivery management. It’s not just about delivering the solution, you use your expertise in that to shape the development of a product right from the beginning.
I’ve been working with the same client in the telecoms industry for two and half years and have done a lot of different projects for them. Right now, I’m a Test Analyst so I’m the last person the product we’re working on goes to before the customer. I have to really think like a user and look for the weaknesses that they might find when they use it. That can involve a bit of coding or performance testing and the client uses a lot of platforms so I could be testing a piece of software, a mobile, a tv device or a set top box.
That variety extends to the type of work we do as well. I recently just finished a project working on this client’s digital store, where I developed an automation framework for test cases. I didn’t have any experience coding before I joined but I was able to do training in robotic automation and codeless automation tools so that I could scope out requirements and work with an automation team to deliver it. We halved the workload of a specific job from 40 days to 20.
It’s really up to you how you want to manage your career. Some people aim to get exposure with a variety of clients, whereas I enjoy working with my current client and building my understanding through different roles. You’re supported to follow your interests in the way you want.
Everyone says it, but it’s true; the best resource at Accenture is its people. You’re surrounded by colleagues who want to help you and every project is about different mindsets coming together to deliver something great. There is a learning curve when you join, but you’ll get all the help and support you need to succeed.
Now you’re thinking like Yetunde. She’s an expert in end-user research to create the best products.
Watch her film and learn how she’s applying her knowledge to projects well beyond the nine-to-five.
Explore Client Delivery Graduate Programme
Yetunde Animashaun
Client Delivery
'I feel like I’m fulfilling a purpose in this role.'
I was drawn to a career in technology as soon as I saw the impact it could have. When I worked with statistics on my master’s, I saw how you could use technology to discover useful insights from data. That sparked my interest because I started to think and read about how technology could be applied to other aspects of life. I attended Accenture’s Women’s Insight Day and I saw that it was somewhere I could learn new skills, grow my network and build my career, so I applied.
Initially, I was worried that I didn’t have enough of a background in technology since I didn’t have a degree in computer science or something similar. But once I looked into Accenture more, I realised that you don’t have to come from a STEM background. As long as you’re interested in technology, driven and willing to learn, there are plenty of options for you here.
When it comes to technology, I’m drawn to instances where you can use technology to benefit people’s lives. That’s why I enjoy my role as a Product Business Analyst; it’s focused on solving problems with tech. It can be in the public sector, it can be in the financial services industry, or somewhere else completely, but as part of the Client Delivery programme, it’s all about delivering a solution that addresses a specific problem.
My most recent project was with a public sector client who provides essential services to a huge network of users – it’s so satisfying knowing that this work will have a widespread impact on society. We’re helping the client digitise their services, which will improve the experience for their service users and, ultimately, free up more resources for their operations. My role is to gather and analyse the behavioural data from service users to uncover insights that will help us improve the product.
It’s incredible to know that I’m part of something bigger than me, and bigger than one project – my work on this technology is helping people across the UK. And it’s exciting to think about that in the context of how the wider world is changing, too, and how technology and innovation could play a role in our collective future.
I’ve already developed skills that allow me to have an impact, but there are always more opportunities to shape your career – I’m hoping to start my Amazon Web Services certification training soon. And it’s not just opportunities for qualifications: I also co-lead the African & Caribbean Network within the Technology Analyst Group, which is a great way to meet new people and work on issues of inclusion and diversity.
I’m excited about my career here because even at an early stage, I’m working on projects that I’m passionate about. I would love to work on projects that tackle diversity in our society, and I’m already building the skills I need to achieve that. It goes to show that this is a firm where you’ll always have the opportunity to learn, grow and make an impact.
Technology Delivery Software Engineering scenario
A global pharmaceutical client has emailed to say they’re having trouble with their call system. Your manager wants you to start developing a strategy for how to respond. Do you:
Great, Deniz thinks the same way too. She loves getting stuck into clients’ challenges and finding technical solutions.
Watch her film and hear how she’s found the Software Engineering programme.
Explore Software Engineering Graduate Programme
Deniz
Development Analysis
Story goes here.

Great, Martha thinks the same way too. She recently designed a testing strategy for a major telecoms provider.
Read Martha’s story to hear how her confidence has grown since joining us and what that’s enabled her to take on.
Read story Explore Software Engineering Graduate Programme
Martha Smith
Software Engineering
'When I first joined, I would ask a lot of questions for reassurance, now I’m confident handling much more responsibility.'
I joined Accenture’s Technology degree apprenticeship programme straight from school, and once I had completed my apprenticeship I went on to join the Software Engineering graduate programme. I decided that I’d rather learn in an environment where I could apply my knowledge, but I still wanted to get a degree; that’s why Accenture was the natural choice.
I realised early on that I didn’t want to be a software engineer. I’ve learned a bit of Java and understand the field, but my first role was as a functional tester and I loved it. I’m quite an analytical thinker and have always been very organised, so this side of the role suited my skills a lot more as it’s more about managing people than delivering the technical work yourself.
On my most recent project, which is currently at the go-live stage, we helped a major UK telecoms company bring in a new system for their tills across the country. The new system is a lot more user-friendly and integrates better with the third-party systems that need to access it. I was leading on the reconciliation, the process that ensures the entire company’s accounts are reliable by matching the transactions to the money spent.
My role was to oversee our testing process that made sure the integration was working and to make sure the data being produced was accurate. I organise our testers so all tests are completed, then liaise with relevant third parties to ensure the data is correct before working with the client directly to review everything.
When I first started, I would never have imagined having this kind of oversight over a team so early on the graduate programme. My confidence has grown massively and that’s definitely because of the collaborative, ‘can-do’ culture of the company. Everyone is supportive, but they also push you to keep improving and taking on more responsibility and that’s something I try to pass on to the people I’m now managing.
Another important aspect of the culture is that we’re always asking ourselves what we can do differently to deliver more value to the client. There’s a focus on getting better and delivering better results. Because of that, some of the work you see is unbelievable. The amount of innovation that I just wasn’t aware of on something as simple as an insurance website really surprised me.
Innovation goes beyond our day-to-day work as well. I help out with our Corporate Citizenship initiatives, and recently took part in a virtual volunteer session where we helped plot villages in Botswana on maps so emergency services can reach them quicker. I never realised this kind of thing was so important before I joined.
The support, plus the dedication to innovation, is why I tell people that if you’re interested in applying, don’t worry if you feel some of your skills aren’t as strong right now as they will be developed.
Technology Delivery Technology Architecture scenario
You’re helping a mobile network get ready to increase their 5G coverage across the UK. A competitor has just implemented a new system using technology they’ve never heard of. Your client wants to do the same, but you’ve read industry research about the technology and know that it’s not right for their network. Do you:

Good call. It’s exactly what Zainab would do. For her, this role is all about helping clients get what they need from systems.
Read why someone else’s interview inspired Zainab to join Accenture and what made her ask herself ‘how did I get here?’
Read story Explore Technology Architecture Graduate Programme
Zainab Ottun
Technology Delivery Technology Architecture
'I wanted to work somewhere I could be myself and meet people from different backgrounds.'
The first time I even considered a career in tech was during my undergraduate degree – up to that point, it hadn’t even crossed my mind as an option. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to work somewhere I could use my knowledge to make a difference. Accenture seemed like the perfect fit, because the technology focus meant that I could apply the analytical skills I’d developed on my degree and the large-scale projects meant I could make a big impact with my work.
It sounded great on paper, but it was a conversation with someone at Accenture that inspired me to apply. I was talking to an Analyst about the application process, and she told me about her interview where she had used an example of how her Pharmacy degree had taught her how to maintain her natural hair. It was so encouraging to hear the experience of another Black woman who was able to bring her full self to Accenture and be accepted and supported in her passion for technology.
Since I’ve joined, I’ve met so many people from such a range of diverse backgrounds. There’s always more work to be done for Inclusion and Diversity, including here, but I think Accenture is leading the way and I feel fortunate that I work somewhere I can be myself and meet other people who can do the same.
As a Technical Architecture Analyst, I’ve already learned so much about working with clients and building technical systems. Whether I’m coding, developing APIs or conducting business analysis, this role is about understanding how complex technical systems work and making sure they deliver what the client needs. These systems are built with emerging technology, including Cloud, Big Data or Internet of Things, and I ensure that they are structured and implemented in a way that achieves the client’s objectives.
Quite often, this means I’m working on the ‘bigger picture’ of the projects. Recently, I helped an international telecommunications company modernise their entire network. Even though I was nervous to take on this role for the first time, my team gave me the space, trust and support that allowed me to deliver the project from start to finish. There were certain points when I was advising the client on their technology infrastructure that I thought to myself ‘how did I get here?’ But I felt so proud to realise that I’d already grown so much in this role.
When you look at the management at Accenture, it’s easy to see why inclusivity is so important. Without a doubt, it’s the best management I’ve ever experienced – I was never left to figure it out by myself, and someone was always there to answer questions when I needed help. I never take for granted that I get to work for an organisation that invests in making sure I have what I need to succeed.
Good call. You’re on the same page as Kavishan. He’s spent a lot of time building solutions for clients that maximise their technology’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Watch his film and hear more about the type of work he’s been doing.
Explore Technology Architecture Graduate Programme
Kavishan
Innovation & Technology Engineering
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Operations scenario
You’re working on a major project for an insurance company. Your manager is on leave and the client calls you to say there’s something wrong with the projections on some work your team recently did. They want you to get to the bottom of it. Do you:
Smart choice. Isabel worked on a similar project recently where she monitored key data with Power BI.
Watch her story to see how she found her placements and which one she eventually chose.
Explore Operations Graduate Programme
Isabel
Operations
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Smart choice. Adam worked in the account team on his recent project which meant he was often the go-between for clients and colleagues.
Read his story to see the kind of innovation he’s been a part of.
Read story Explore Operations Graduate Programme
Adam Casey
Operations
'So much can change week to week. Suddenly something happens and we have a new focus and everyone just goes Right, let’s change tack. How can we get better? What can we do differently?'
I enjoyed studying Mechanical Engineering but after several internships, I started to wonder if I would find the type of work I was looking for. I wanted to work in a truly innovative organisation where I could make my mark creating new solutions to the current challenges faced by businesses across a broad range of industries.
When I started thinking about where to find that, Accenture ticked all the boxes. I chose the Operations programme because the rotation system meant I’d be able to get stuck in, actually delivering work, as well as coming up with solutions. Also, while I love technology, I didn’t want it to be 100% of my job.
I’m currently finishing my delivery rotation, the first of four we complete as part of the Operations graduate programme. Basically, this is where we actually deliver what was devised in strategy sessions. Six months is a nice amount of time to get your head around what you like and build up some skills. I’ve been working with one of the world’s largest insurance providers, as part of a huge contract where we help them with all their procurement operations.
I’ve been able to get involved in loads of different projects already and now lead my own client calls and am responsible for some of the deliverables to the client. You can see the commitment to innovating in every project. We’re constantly asking, ‘How can we deliver better, faster?’
Even projects you might not expect can be flipped and reimagined. I recently helped introduce robotics into the client’s invoicing process. What originally took a week now takes two days because of how we rebuilt the process and embedded cutting-edge automation technology at every stage. It means that a lot of people who worked on those manual processes can then be upskilled on more complex tasks.
That commitment to innovation really impacts every aspect of working here. A lot is expected of you, but you’re always given the support you need. Operations is a relatively small programme, so I’ve been able to have good discussions with a lot of people right up to a senior level, which is an opportunity I’ve found very valuable.
You’re able to ask for advice about your future from people who were in your shoes not too long ago. And, because Accenture is always moving into new spaces, there is a real opportunity and expectation for you to make an impact. I’m really interested in sustainability, and that’s something Accenture is actively developing their expertise and experience in, to always offer more to our clients.
There’s a really clear pathway and a lot of colleagues ready to help me develop my skills and experience to become part of the next generation of innovators within the business. It’s a chance to sit at the table and help steer conversations with people that make the big decisions, which you don’t get in many places; it’s pretty exciting!
Cybersecurity scenario
You’re helping a technology company make sure that its customers’ data is safe. But you’ve realised that some of their processes aren’t up to scratch against some of the emerging threats in their sector. Your team are impressed with what you’ve found and ask you to show the client your findings. Do you:

That’s just what Toyin has been doing. She’s often researching new cyber threats to keep clients ahead of them.
Read her story to understand why she became interested in security and why she’s excited about the future.
Read story Explore Security Graduate Programme
Toyin Makinde
Cybersecurity
'You can advance your career in any direction, all you have to do is ask.'
The stakes are always high in Security – most of the time, you don’t get a second chance. And as technology evolves, so do the threats. That’s where we come in – as a Security Consulting Analyst, it’s my job to develop innovative defences that keep systems safe and locked down, whether that’s for Accenture or an external client.
In Security, we deal with all kinds of cyber threats, from common ones like phishing and malware to more unusual ones like DDoS attacks. I studied a lot of it on my master’s course, but I didn’t have a technical background in coding or anything like that. It was only after I joined that I realised you could do a lot of the Security roles without a background in STEM or programming.
The most important thing is to be genuinely interested in the Security sector. The first time I was really aware of it was in 2017 when there was a high-profile cyber breach in the public sector that affected thousands of people’s data. After that, I looked into the Security sector more deeply; the more I read the more interested I was.
My favourite project was earlier this year, where my team was responsible for the internal security quarterly report. Even though our team is relatively small, we had to calculate a company-wide threat baseline – a round-up of all cyber threats and trends we have seen per quarter, including some that may have affected our clients such as ransomware, and our predictions on threats we may see next. This was made more complicated by all the new threats that came with home working, but we still delivered the report successfully and met the tight deadline.
My day-to-day responsibilities vary a lot depending on the project I’m on, but generally, I spend my time researching threats that could affect our clients and talking to them to establish how we can fix their security needs such as reducing their exposure with technologies, techniques, two-factor authentication or Cloud security assessments, and creating new security solutions,
Cloud Security is something I’m very interested in for the future. Cloud is becoming more and more important, and that only makes Security more important. I’m looking forward to getting more experience on Cloud projects and completing the advanced training in Microsoft Azure offered by Accenture.
It’s great to know that my work makes a real difference. Clients come to us when they need someone to get it right first time, which is why you learn so much here – you get to work with security consultants at the forefront of the industry. With technology becoming more and more widespread, there’s only going to be more demand for security experts – and I’m excited to be part of that future.
That’s just what Dennis has been doing.
Watch his story to find out how he’s been using his people skills as much as his technical skills during his first year with us.
Explore Security Graduate Programme
Dennis
Security
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HR scenario
You’re in Argentina helping our South American recruitment team hire more software engineers. They’ve realised some people drop out of the hiring process because they don’t know if they’re right for the job. Your manager asks you to investigate a solution. Do you:

You and Lauren see eye-to-eye.
Read her story to discover why she thinks working here combines the benefits of a small business and a global firm.
Read story Explore HR Talent Accelerator Programme
Lauren Palmer
HR
'You’re given so much responsibility that it’s easy to forget you’re on a graduate programme!'
The best part of this programme is that you’re given real opportunities. The Talent Accelerator Programme involves five rotations, so I got to immerse myself in three different HR functions both locally and internationally – as well as a rotation in the business alongside our consulting teams and a rotation in another Corporate Functions team. Wherever I was, I got stuck in and took on responsibilities in each area whilst also having the support of my manager and team.
When you receive that level of responsibility on a graduate programme at a company of this size, you’re getting the best of both worlds – you have the autonomy that you’d expect to get at a smaller company with the opportunity and variety of work that comes from a global business.
The Talent Accelerator Programme enabled me to meet people from diverse backgrounds and work with a wide range of stakeholders. Broadly, my role was about finding innovative ways to attract, develop and retain talent, but that involved very different responsibilities depending on the specific project I was on.
There’s no better example of that variety than my international placement. I was working in the Recruitment Transformation team in our Singapore office to design a solution to reduce our time-to-offer for our South East Asia operations from 50 to 15 days. Collaborating with external technology specialists, I helped to create a new, interactive testing process that assessed candidates’ coding abilities and used data analytics to establish their strengths and weaknesses.
As a highly technical product, it required a lot of collaboration, and as the project manager, I was responsible for briefing the developers and ensuring that their work achieved the goals set by senior stakeholders. I’m proud to say that the project is now live across multiple locations, and it’s so satisfying to know that I helped deliver the project from start to finish.
That project shows how much more you learn when you’re given the responsibility to do real work. It meant that I developed new skills; as well as improving my stakeholder management abilities, I also developed a basic understanding of Java and the skills that our business looks for when hiring software engineers, both of which will be helpful for future projects.
The HR programme gives you a unique perspective of the company; I built up such a broad base of skills throughout my rotations because I got to see how the company works locally, internationally and across business functions. I think the responsibility you’re given is a key part of that because you know that the work you’re doing is making a real impact.
I’ve now finished the programme and have been a HR Career Advisor for a year. In this role I get to work very closely with business leadership and help them to balance their supply and demand to make sure one is not outweighed by the other at any time. It’s a challenging role which requires problem solving, creative thinking and conflict resolution but I love it and am excited to keep developing these transferrable skills for whatever future roles I may go on to.
You and Aisha see eye-to-eye. She’s been managing a project to empower better conversation around inclusion across Accenture.
Watch her film and see what else she’s been up to.
Explore HR Talent Accelerator Programme
Aisha
HR Internship
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Technology Apprenticeship scenario
You’re helping a public sector organisation improve the way they manage their databases full of sensitive records. Your manager saw your attention to detail on your last project so has asked you to analyse their current system. You notice that their employees are struggling to understand the system at the moment. Do you:
You’re on the same page as Selin. She helped create a learning platform for engineers to hugely improve their training process.
Watch her story to understand what she did and why she’s excited about life after her apprenticeship.
Explore Technology Apprenticeship Programme
Selin
Technology Apprenticeship
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You’re on the same page as Ben. He saw some trends in his client’s data and then developed a bespoke solution.
Read why Ben decided to do an apprenticeship and how his team in Newcastle have helped him develop.
Read story Explore Technology Apprenticeship Programme
Ben Waugh
Technology Apprenticeship
'The apprenticeship gives you real-world experience, a degree and a career.'
I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do when I finished my GCSEs, but I knew that in the end, I wanted to work in tech. I wasn’t sure how to get started, and I thought about whether I should do A-levels and go to university or find a different route. That was when I heard about Accenture for the first time.
It was actually in a school assembly; someone from the company gave a presentation about the apprenticeship programme, explaining how it helps people start a technology career right out of school. They explained that you spend anywhere from two to four years working and studying at the same time, and by the end, you’ll have a degree and plenty of real-world experience. It sounded like the best of both worlds.
I went home, did some research online and weighed up my options. Beyond some basic programming, I didn’t have many technical skills, but training was a huge focus of the programme. I realised that rather than getting a degree at university and then starting my career, with this, I could do both at the same time. So, I applied.
Now I have technical skills in areas that I didn’t even know existed! And the best part is, I know how to apply those skills to actual projects. As an apprentice in Live Support, I help solve problems with client data; whether it’s UNIX command line or SQL scripts, I have the skills to fix our products and make sure our solutions are working properly.
I think that support is a massive part of it, because you need encouragement to give you the confidence to learn new skills and take on more responsibility. And I think that comes from having an inclusive culture and a close group of people around you. For me, that’s my team in Newcastle and my mentors. We all get on together, have a laugh and help each other out. And they actively encourage me to be creative, try things out and speak up when I have an idea.
You can see this in my recent work with a public sector client. The challenge was to improve how they managed a huge database of important records. It wasn’t simple, but after I analysed the system they were using, I thought ‘I think I know how I could improve this’. It wasn’t about following rules or taking orders from my manager – I developed the solution, suggested it to the team, and that was what we ended up delivering. The project was a success and it was so motivating to see that even at an early stage of my career, I can influence projects and have an impact.
Moments like that show me that I made the right choice in applying for the apprenticeship.