We recently caught up with Lottie about how she secured a graduate role with Accenture, how she built up her commercial awareness before the interview and her top tips for Bright Network members looking to follow in her footsteps.
What stood out to you about Accenture before securing your role?
Accenture’s outstanding values were what stood out to me in particular. You spend a large chunk of your time at work and I therefore wanted to be in an environment where I felt my values aligned. After research, the progressive targets such as the 50:50 gender balance by 2025, the Accent on Groups and I&D targets made it obvious that compared to other companies Accenture was exactly the place I wanted to work and spend my time.
What is the culture like at Accenture?
Accenture is very open-minded and driven, a culture that I really enjoy. I love how this is channelled by how everyone’s skills and differences are celebrated in different teams, collaborating so that the best outcome possible can be achieved.
How did you show you have a passion for Accenture at the interview?
I made sure that I read a couple of the Tech Trends reports that are published annually and followed up by completing my own research in the areas discussed. These are chunky documents but by taking the time to read the documents it solidified my interest in the particular tech that the company is focusing on and allowed me to demonstrate my aligned passion in these areas as I was able to speak fairly fluently about different topics.
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
I attended some of the Bright Network experience days or online events and it allowed me to speak to the different companies offering graduate schemes. Having a space where all these companies were in one place gave me the ability to speak to real employees and ask questions about things I was particularly interested in and compare the answers and culture. By having this opportunity, it allowed me to narrow my interests and really focus on the companies I wanted to apply for, ultimately helping me really know where I wanted to work…Accenture.
How did you build your commercial awareness before the interview?
Read, read, read! Some areas I built my awareness from that were helpful: The Financial Times (keep persisting it is very dense and seems to make no sense at first), Bloomberg Youtube (same advice as the FT, keep persisting), analyst insight blogs on the Accenture website, Accenture Tech Trends reports, having a vague eye on the FTSE 100 to see how the market was doing.
What's been the toughest interview question you've faced and how did you tackle it?
‘How would you demonstrate your Accenture core values in your daily work’ – firstly before the interview I made sure I was aware of these values and the areas that were particularly important to the company. I was allowed a pen and paper in the interview and jotted the 5 down and noted what I thought I would do in a couple of words. Importantly in this case I made sure that I stayed true to what I would actually say as I wanted to make sure my answer was as genuine as possible and not just something I thought the interviewer wanted to hear. There is no need to really rush in interviews so make sure your take your time, plan your answer in your head and on paper if you are allowed so that you don’t waffle and are straight to the point.
How have you adapted to working virtually?
Before Accenture I was not working virtually, I was in the office full time throughout the pandemic and therefore working virtually was a big change. Prior to joining there was a session with a coach about Working From Home which was invaluable; from this, I took away a couple of things that changed my outlook. I made sure to tailor my set-up to separate it from the rest of my bedroom so it felt like I was more in ‘work mode’. Secondly, I approached the situation with a really proactive attitude, maybe more keen than I would have in person, as those introductions at the coffee machine or in the hallway do not come naturally. I realised that everyone else was in the same situation so sending what I previously thought of as a ‘cringy’ Teams message to network or ask for help was actually not and something really positive. I have learnt to love working from home and am very used to the virtual calls, socials and networking events and look forward to the Omni way of working to meet more people.
What has been your working ‘highlight’ thus far?
My client now really encourages an Omni way of working so I am based at home, at our London FCS office and at the client offices across the Midlands. I have had the opportunity to travel for a couple of larger client showcase events (and there are a few more coming up) and I was tasked with developing and coordinating the materials along with some other senior members of the team. It was great to meet the client and work with people I do not normally have the chance to speak with, as well as see my work presented on the large screen with great feedback from both my team and some key business stakeholders.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- Attend the Bright Network experience days and speak to the various companies so that you can compare different aspects and identify what is important to you
- Make sure you really research Accenture, understanding the company values and interests so you feel confident knowing what they stand for
- Read past consulting case studies from Accenture – available on the website
Let us know where you've secured your work experience, internship or graduate role. We want to celebrate your success with a gift from us and exclusive invitations to evening networking drinks throughout the year.
