We recently caught up with Sammya about how he secured a Graduate Software Engineer role with Accenture, his top tips for the application process and how Bright Network helped him secure the role.
What stood out to you about Accenture?
I studied for a Master’s degree in electrical engineering with a strong interest in machine learning and AI. Therefore, I was looking for tech roles that would allow me to write computer code that would impact beyond the screen. Accenture works at the cutting edge of technology and undertakes projects that benefit society and businesses alike.
For example, Accenture used AI and computer vision to create coRAIL for monitoring fish populations in the Philippines. They also partnered with non-profits to create AI-based Artemis software to aid law enforcement agencies to crackdown on human trafficking. Being aware of the threats of climate change, declining human rights around the globe, working on projects with such an impact is a reward by itself. This made me realise that Accenture is the place where my career should start.
How did you build your commercial awareness before the interview?
Bright Network has a dedicated section on building commercial awareness, which came in handy during the preparation stage. It helped me to understand in-depth what firms like Accenture will be looking for in an employee. This goes beyond technical and engineering skills and usually entails looking at the bigger picture of the business they are in and their core customer base. My starting point was Accenture’s website: the industries they serve and the technology services they provide. I followed this up by reading through their case studies to gain a better understanding of the projects they undertake. Having an engineering background certainly helped a lot in noticing the key technical details in Accenture’s work. Alongside self-study, I connected with recent and experienced Accenture employees on LinkedIn and had conversations about day-to-day work, projects, and learning opportunities while on the job. My aim was to make the final interview feel more like a discussion than an interrogation.
What would be your top tip to members going through the application process?
Applying for jobs as a university graduate can be a daunting task considering the sheer number of rejections a candidate has to face. However, adopting a certain mindset can help make anyone good at the application process. Instead of thinking of the lengthy application process as a hurdle that you want to get it over with, think of it as an opportunity to learn and apply.
Embrace the challenges that come with it, and be ready to face lots of rejection emails. But remind yourself every time that all you need is one offer. Start with the company website and read it inside out, follow this up with their blogs, news, competitors and most importantly the customer base they serve. This will form the foundation for the interview. This still leaves the earlier stage of the application process: situational judgement tests, aptitude tests and video interviews.
The best preparation for these tests is to look up websites providing mock tests and practise as much as possible, focusing on speed and accuracy. In video interviews, questions usually appear on the screen and the answer is recorded (sort of like a monologue). Recording yourself on your phone or laptop and practise answering competency-based questions will be helpful. Make use of your university’s careers portal for practice material, Bright Network’s virtual internships, and podcasts.
How did Bright Network help you secure this role?
Bright Network's extensive guide on commercial awareness, aptitude tests and psychometric tests have been the starting point in my preparation ahead of the application process. I attribute passing the early testing rounds of the application process from various organisations to practising the free tests provided by Bright Network. I also benefited from their job search portal where employers routinely advertise their graduate positions. Job search becomes a tad bit easier when all the information and positions are collected and published in a systematic manner. Bright Network does this very effectively, thereby making sure that candidates have all the tools necessary to land an employment offer.
What’s been the toughest interview question you've faced and how did you tackle it?
Interviewers have a very short amount of time to understand if a candidate is fit for the role. From my experience, they usually do that by drilling down the answers the candidate gives on relatively simple or broad questions. This helps them gauge the understanding of the answers and also whether or not it is a memorised answer. When faced with a tough interview question, if you need a moment to think, say something along the lines of, “I will need a minute to collect my thoughts” or “could you repeat the question?”. Make sure you fully understand the question (the skills/experience the interviewer wants to see in your answer) and speak accordingly. Unexpected questions may make you panic, take deep breaths and a few seconds to compose yourself before starting to speak.
What top three tips would you give Bright Network members looking to follow in your footsteps?
- Understand what motivates and drives you. If the answer is technology, read about the current state of technology and stay abreast of how different organisations (where you want to work) use technology to serve their clients.
- Practise the aptitude tests, psychometric tests and video interviews as much as you can. Make use of Bright Network’s tests and take help from their comprehensive set of guides.
- Think of rejections as a learning experience and not as a failure. Everyone fails at some point or another; what defines us is how we bounce back from setbacks. Learning to accept failure as a part of the job search process is the most guaranteed way of making sure that you have the perseverance needed to land an offer with your dream company.
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.
