3 lessons from my first year as an Accenture Consultant
January 8, 2020
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A new year brings you a fresh start—a chance to hit the reset button and open a new chapter in your life.
For me, a new year also means a golden opportunity to briefly look back on the past and see how we can create a better future.
My epic Accenture Consulting journey
As I celebrate my first anniversary as a Digital and Innovation Consulting Analyst at Accenture’s Innovation Hub in Singapore, I can’t help but remember how epic my journey here has been so far.
To say that I’ve learned a lot in the last 12 months is an understatement. Since joining the company, I’ve been able to acquire skills and knowledge in project management, business and technology strategy, effective communication and more.
Lessons from my first year at Accenture:
- An internship helps you ease into a full-time role.
To be honest, I hadn’t the faintest idea of what I wanted to do after college. I hadn’t yet mapped out my career path, so I joined various internship programs to help me find a job where I could make an impact and that would give me purpose.
What drew me to Accenture was the sheer size of the organization, which meant plenty of opportunities to explore and find out what I would like to do. I figured that while I am discovering more about my passion, Accenture would be a great place to kick-start my career.
Plus, I’d get a chance to learn from the best and get exposure to different industries.
- Be open-minded and willing to learn.
As Accenture works with a wide breadth of industries, you will have plenty of chances to take on different roles to help you find out what your passion is. Working at Accenture’s Innovation Hub in Singapore has opened doors to interesting projects that have allowed me to play multifaceted roles.
For instance, I got the chance to develop proof of concepts for new and disruptive digital solutions, lead innovation workshops for our clients and meet new potential start-up partners. I also supported the Innovation Consulting team with project proposals and other deliverables.
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help.
One of my core job functions includes dividing work among the interns. I must ensure that they all have equally loaded and challenging tasks to provide them with a fulfilling internship. This got especially demanding when we had up to 15 interns during the summer. With no management experience, I grappled with balancing between being a boss and a buddy.
I got by with the help of my amazing career counselor and managers, who imparted their leadership experiences. Despite their incredibly packed schedules, they never refused when I sought their advice. This is something that I admire most about the leaders in Accenture.
After managing different groups of interns, I eventually found the balance I was looking for. Thankfully, I also had the privilege to work with some of the best and brightest interns, making my job easier.
The year 2019 has been one of the biggest years in my life so far. Looking back, I realize how fortunate I am to work with the most brilliant professionals and be part of an organization where I can continuously learn and grow.
I’m excited to see what lies ahead for me in 2020!
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