Accenture Technology Solutions - What are they like to work for?

Chett

I've been looking for some recent threads on this so that I could post there instead of creating a new thread.

I was invited for an interview with Accenture Technology Solutions and I was just wondering if they're really as bad as people are saying. All of the other threads give the impression that Accenture are like some kind of coal mine where they bring in young kids to work like hell and burn them out. But these posts were from four or five years ago and the posters were'nt very clear about whether they were talking about the IT side or the Consulting side of it. I've been getting the impression too that they will only take the cream of the crop and that anyone else doesn't stand a chance, but this must have changed because my profile portrays me as nothing more than mediocre. 420 LC points, a 2:2 BSc and have listed myself as a beginner in all programming languages I know....and still they'd like to interview me. So I'd just like to know what the work in Technology Solutions is like. Long hours I wouldn't mind. Long hours doing something that I don't have a clue about I would mind.

Chett

I'd also like to know from anyone who has interviewed for them, what the interview is like and what questions I'm likely to be asked. I'm getting more worried now because I was told the interview would be an hour long and I'm wondering what questions they could possibly be asking for an hour. It's the first interview (out of I don't know how many) so would I be asked to write code?

pakb1ue

One of my first interviews was with them and two of my mates got offered jobs with them but both turned them down.

You wont be asked to write down any code or anything its just a general chat on stuff you have done re development. How you keep update with tech and that. Its been over a year since I interviewed with them so cannot remember what all was asked.

The process is done in 3 parts and each is done at a different date:
1st round interview
online test
2nd round interview

Chett

I see, and I heard the process takes ages, wouldn't mind having some other job by then. A general chat doesn't sound so bad, but how is that stetched to an hour. Or is it just that an hour is set aside for the interview which may only last a half hour?

pakb1ue

Its like any interview, they go through your CV and ask you questions on it and you spend a bit of time answering them.
It should take a about an hour, mine was 50 odd minutes or something. Sure for my current role the hole interview process took 4 hours.

John_Mc

Chett wrote: »

I've been looking for some recent threads on this so that I could post there instead of creating a new thread.

I was invited for an interview with Accenture Technology Solutions and I was just wondering if they're really as bad as people are saying. All of the other threads give the impression that Accenture are like some kind of coal mine where they bring in young kids to work like hell and burn them out. But these posts were from four or five years ago and the posters were'nt very clear about whether they were talking about the IT side or the Consulting side of it. I've been getting the impression too that they will only take the cream of the crop and that anyone else doesn't stand a chance, but this must have changed because my profile portrays me as nothing more than mediocre. 420 LC points, a 2:2 BSc and have listed myself as a beginner in all programming languages I know....and still they'd like to interview me. So I'd just like to know what the work in Technology Solutions is like. Long hours I wouldn't mind. Long hours doing something that I don't have a clue about I would mind.

I work for them, and no I wouldn't say it's like some sort of coal mine. I'm happy there because if you work hard, it is recognized and you are rewarded for it. There is also a structured career path, so you know where you're going and how to get there. This is not the case in most places, at least not where I have worked previously anyway.

The standards are high, and in the consulting work force the minimum is 400 LC points and a 2.1 degree just to get called for interview. In solutions, this is not the case - probably because computer science degrees are harder but that's only a guess.

In truth it's all about attitude, and that's what the interviewer will be trying to evaluate. If you're the type of person who reads up on emerging technologies and trends in your spare time and has a passion for software development/IT then you just need to get that across to them and you'll be fine.

In terms of what the work is like, that really depends on what project you are assigned to. You could be working on the same project for years, or you could move about from project to project. In solutions, you'll be a programmer developing new applications, or supporting existing applications. You could also be involved in technical design and managing offshore development teams, so the usual meetings, documentation and diagrams etc are your responsibility. There is also a client facing aspect to your role so you will need to be good with people.

Best of luck!

Rahc

Hey guys.. I got an email last week from Accenture asking me to amend my application (I didn't give a specific graduation date) and stated that if it was not amended within 5 days my application would be disregarded. I corrected it straight away and emailed them confirming this, but haven't heard anything since. Will they still email me even if I am unsuccessful in getting an interview?

Eoghan41

Rahc wrote: »

Hey guys.. I got an email last week from Accenture asking me to amend my application (I didn't give a specific graduation date) and stated that if it was not amended within 5 days my application would be disregarded. I corrected it straight away and emailed them confirming this, but haven't heard anything since. Will they still email me even if I am unsuccessful in getting an interview?

I did the same thing, really want a job there..sounds like a good place to work

Rahc

Eoghan41 wrote: »

I did the same thing, really want a job there..sounds like a good place to work

Me too! I got an email on Wednesday telling me that I have a first round interview with them and they'd be in contact with me over the next few days - they're notorious for being slow though so I guess I'll be hearing from them over the next few weeks! Did you get an interview?

Eoghan41

Rahc wrote: »

Me too! I got an email on Wednesday telling me that I have a first round interview with them and they'd be in contact with me over the next few days - they're notorious for being slow though so I guess I'll be hearing from them over the next few weeks! Did you get an interview?

No haha got an email this morning saying that they are currently reviewing CVs and will be in touch in January.. basically saying if first round are crap I might get a look in :P best of luck with it though dude

Chett

Wow, I suppose I was lucky enough to get the interview. It went grand though, really was just a general chat about stuff I had done and what I knew with a few of those silly behavioural questions thrown in. There were two of them there and it was only when I went in that I was told it was a technical interview. I wish I'd known that going in as there were some questions on programming principals like design patterns, dependency injection...etc. I kind of bumbled out my own definitions for them.

He also told me that usually in Accenture there would be some people "on the bench" for when new projects come along, but right now there's nobody on the bench and that's why there's a recruitment happening.

About a week later I was contacted by email to do some online aptitude tests. I'm wondering if I blew it here though. They weren't terribly difficult but I'm awful at working things out quickly. In each test I had to do 12 problems in about 15 minutes. I was informed before the test that most candidates do not complete all of the problems within the alloted time. I got something like 8 or 9 of them done and I'm pretty sure that every one of my answers were correct. I don't know if that's good or bad though. Guess we'll find out.

Jegger

I have my first round interview for Management Consulting in about two weeks. Has anyone one been through this process recently or last year perhaps, any general tips or feedback would be great.

Rahc

Jegger wrote: »

I have my first round interview for Management Consulting in about two weeks. Has anyone one been through this process recently or last year perhaps, any general tips or feedback would be great.

When did they contact you with a specific date for your interview? I'm still waiting to hear when mine is

Jegger

Rahc wrote: »

When did they contact you with a specific date for your interview? I'm still waiting to hear when mine is

On the 29th I got a miss call from a private number, then an email saying that they had tried to contact me to arrange my interview with a number for me to contact. The number didn't work but eventually I got through to the HR department in Accenture and they suggested a date and I agreed, then they sent a confirmation email.
I reckon they will be continuing 1st round interviews after the Christmas holidays.

Rahc

Jegger wrote: »

On the 29th I got a miss call from a private number, then an email saying that they had tried to contact me to arrange my interview with a number for me to contact. The number didn't work but eventually I got through to the HR department in Accenture and they suggested a date and I agreed, then they sent a confirmation email.
I reckon they will be continuing 1st round interviews after the Christmas holidays.

Thanks Jegger. Good luck with the interview.. let me know what's it like

he man rugger

Would I be banging my head against a brick wall in trying to get feedback from a failed interview with Accenture? It's something I put a lot of time in to and I felt the interview went well, in addition I have strong grades and am currently doing a Masters that relates directly to the position. I then got a generic HR email saying I didn't get through and that it could basically be down to any number of reasons. I don't have any sense of entitlement about the job or anything but having put so much time into it, I'd like to at least use it as a learning experience for future reference when going for similar roles.

hardCopy

he man rugger wrote: »

Would I be banging my head against a brick wall in trying to get feedback from a failed interview with Accenture? It's something I put a lot of time in to and I felt the interview went well, in addition I have strong grades and am currently doing a Masters that relates directly to the position. I then got a generic HR email saying I didn't get through and that it could basically be down to any number of reasons. I don't have any sense of entitlement about the job or anything but having put so much time into it, I'd like to at least use it as a learning experience for future reference when going for similar roles.

I'm sure it'd be no harm to ask, you might not get a response straight away as HR would have to chase up the interviewer.

Don't get down about it though, at the height of the boom they had about 2,000 applicants for 75 jobs, I'd imagine there are a lot more applicants and less jobs now.

he man rugger

hardCopy wrote: »

I'm sure it'd be no harm to ask, you might not get a response straight away as HR would have to chase up the interviewer.

Don't get down about it though, at the height of the boom they had about 2,000 applicants for 75 jobs, I'd imagine there are a lot more applicants and less jobs now.

I suppose in that context you're right, always frustrating not to get through something you put a lot of effort into but c'est la vie.

Chett

he man rugger, just curious, was it technology solutions or management consultancy that you had your interview for. After I did the interview they emailed me to tell me that I had to complete two aptitude tests. I did those and a few days later I got an email basically saying that I wouldn't be going any further with them and that it could be any number of things.

That other poster is right though. There are so many applying to Accenture and it really is an employer's market now.

he man rugger

Chett wrote: »

he man rugger, just curious, was it technology solutions or management consultancy that you had your interview for. After I did the interview they emailed me to tell me that I had to complete two aptitude tests. I did those and a few days later I got an email basically saying that I wouldn't be going any further with them and that it could be any number of things.

That other poster is right though. There are so many applying to Accenture and it really is an employer's market now.

Tech solutions, I didn't even get sent any aptitude tests either.

davephpcss

Hey!,

I started a new thread regarding Technology Consulting but I thought i'd also ask a few question here as some are responding who did interview with the different sectors.

I decided to go for Technology consulting because I think I have a very good overview of allot of the IT infrastructure, now reading the threads i'm wondering if I should have applied for Technology solutions also :O,

I'm a decent programmer, but don't see myself sitting programming for the rest of my life infront of a desk, a mixture of both meeting with clients and coming up with a viable solution to be being part of a team that implements the solution would be my ideal job, I know spending one week with a company like accenture I would have a much better understanding of the roles of the different sectors, I do not get a great feel a description of the job from just reading online maybe someone can help me out.


Would anyone have examples of the questions they asked in the competency based test.

Thanks!

John_Mc

davephpcss wrote: »

Hey!,

I started a new thread regarding Technology Consulting but I thought i'd also ask a few question here as some are responding who did interview with the different sectors.

I decided to go for Technology consulting because I think I have a very good overview of allot of the IT infrastructure, now reading the threads i'm wondering if I should have applied for Technology solutions also :O,

I'm a decent programmer, but don't see myself sitting programming for the rest of my life infront of a desk, a mixture of both meeting with clients and coming up with a viable solution to be being part of a team that implements the solution would be my ideal job, I know spending one week with a company like accenture I would have a much better understanding of the roles of the different sectors, I do not get a great feel a description of the job from just reading online maybe someone can help me out.


Would anyone have examples of the questions they asked in the competency based test.

Thanks!

You can explain your technical abilities & preferences to the interviewer and if they feel you'd be better in solutions (as a software engineer) then they'll put you forward for that.

What you've described as your ideal job is essentially the role of a software engineer in Accenture It is almost always client facing, and what you do is dictated by what project you're working on.

In some projects, your role could be as a programmer adding new functionality or fixing defects. In other projects you could be working on a technical architecture team creating solution blueprints and designs to satisfy client requirements. Being a global company, you quite often need to work with offshore development/design teams so this adds an extra layer to the mix.

I worked as a programmer for 4 years before joining the company, and although I loved it, I started to find it a bit stale and one dimensional after a few years of doing the same thing. I'm much happier in Acn because it's project based so you move around quite a lot and there is variety.

Accenture Careers Ireland

Hi,

We've noticed the threads with various questions and have decided to set up an official account. Happy to answer any questions where possible.

If you have any questions in relation to your case, just drop us a PM as we'll likely need to refer your case to one of our colleagues and don't want to get into discussing individual circumstances in a thread.

Best of Luck,

Accenture Graduate Recruiting Team

Beruthiel

Accenture Careers Ireland wrote: »

We've noticed the threads with various questions and have decided to set up an official account.

Have you discussed this with Dav in the Boards.ie office?

Before you start answering any questions, you need to get in touch with HQ in order to be given an official account.
Please get in touch with reps@boards.ie and talk to someone there about it.
B

davephpcss

John_Mc wrote: »

You can explain your technical abilities & preferences to the interviewer and if they feel you'd be better in solutions (as a software engineer) then they'll put you forward for that.

What you've described as your ideal job is essentially the role of a software engineer in Accenture It is almost always client facing, and what you do is dictated by what project you're working on.

In some projects, your role could be as a programmer adding new functionality or fixing defects. In other projects you could be working on a technical architecture team creating solution blueprints and designs to satisfy client requirements. Being a global company, you quite often need to work with offshore development/design teams so this adds an extra layer to the mix.

I worked as a programmer for 4 years before joining the company, and although I loved it, I started to find it a bit stale and one dimensional after a few years of doing the same thing. I'm much happier in Acn because it's project based so you move around quite a lot and there is variety.

Thank you John Mc for taking the time to respond it's always good to talk to a person that actually works in Accenture, I now have come to conclusion there is a some what overlap in both fields, I will portray my technically abilities and defiantly put forward the question you suggested, I'm still hazy on the extent of the differences as I would like to be going into Accenture as a Consultant closely linked to and possibly more so hands on as well then other consulting departments.

Lombardo86

davephpcss wrote: »

Thank you John Mc for taking the time to respond it's always good to talk to a person that actually works in Accenture, I now have come to conclusion there is a some what overlap in both fields, I will portray my technically abilities and defiantly put forward the question you suggested, I'm still hazy on the extent of the differences as I would like to be going into Accenture as a Consultant closely linked to and possibly more so hands on as well then other consulting departments.

Just to give a little more context here.. there are a couple of other things to consider when deciding which area you would like to work in.

Admittedly, some people from Technology Consulting and Technology solutions work on the same teams and projects and can even be doing similar jobs (You won't always be pigeon holed in each area - If there is demand for someone on a team with certain skills you will be sent to join that project)

Also, the career path and timelines for progression are a little different. From my understanding, within technology consulting there are a smaller number of jumps of rank than there are to Manager level in Technology Solutions. Similarly, and i have no proof of this so dont take it as gospel, i imagine if one is quicker/slower than the other then in terms of job responsibilities and expectations on your shoulders in each of the areas, i imagine they would be different.

It all depends on what you think you are most suited to. Hopefully the extra context helped.

krd

John_Mc wrote: »

What you've described as your ideal job is essentially the role of a software engineer in Accenture It is almost always client facing,

In other words, it's a marketing job.

and what you do is dictated by what project you're working on.

Isn't that kind of obvious.

John_Mc

A nice constructive post, fair play for your contribution

krd

John_Mc wrote: »

A nice constructive post, fair play for your contribution

Just to say something, that is important and not be a smart arse. A lot of these companies are far more about marketing than technical skills.

You might have the greatest technical skills in the world. If they don't think you're that suitable for "customer facing" stuff, you will not get the job.

This can be a real kick in the teeth for young people who've worked hard at building their technical skills, but find it very difficult to get work, because they're not really "marketing material". Actually, being a real techy, could work against you.

x43r0

krd wrote: »

In other words, it's a marketing job.

The shortsightedness of this is astounding.


I'm assuming what he meant by always client facing is that they are usually working on the client's site.

We have consultants from accenture in with us at the moment and they are essentially part of the team for the period they are with us (about a month so far and another few ahead). They behave and work like the other software engineers on the team, they have their own desks, computers etc.

redvine

Have an interview with these coming up except for the Technology Consulting?

Does anyone know what people go onto do after working for Accenture after 2-3 years?

Would like to know what career path id be getting into

krd

x43r0 wrote: »

The shortsightedness of this is astounding.

That's a poor use of English. I have a vague idea of what you're trying to say. That's not really an appropriate use of the term short sighted.

Do I really astound you? I hope you were sitting down when you read my comment, and didn't fall over in a faint. I hope I didn't overwhelm you.

I'm assuming what he meant by always client facing is that they are usually working on the client's site.

Yeah, and a lot meetings and waffling in meetings.

We have consultants from accenture in with us at the moment and they are essentially part of the team for the period they are with us (about a month so far and another few ahead). They behave and work like the other software engineers on the team,

Maybe you're all good "marketing material".

they have their own desks, computers etc.

You don't say. I thought they'd be sitting on the floor with crayons and magic markers.

x43r0

If you're not going to constructively contribute to this then why do you bother?

You seem to have some sort of beef with Accenture or its consultants. What's the problem?

Your coming dangerously close to trolling, which is disappointing to see from a seemingly experienced poster




[Mods]Apologies for going off topic

Eoin

krd, tone it down please.

Mrs OBumble

x43r0 wrote: »

We have consultants from accenture in with us at the moment and they are essentially part of the team for the period they are with us (about a month so far and another few ahead). They behave and work like the other software engineers on the team, they have their own desks, computers etc.

The difference is that they probably don't have their line managers on the same site. So their employer needs to be convinced that they have the professional maturity to deal with this, and the communications and interpersonal skills to represent the employer well and manage client expectations - without having a manager directly watching.

This, IMHO, is what "client-facing" means.

John_Mc

krd wrote: »

Just to say something, that is important and not be a smart arse. A lot of these companies are far more about marketing than technical skills.

You might have the greatest technical skills in the world. If they don't think you're that suitable for "customer facing" stuff, you will not get the job.

This can be a real kick in the teeth for young people who've worked hard at building their technical skills, but find it very difficult to get work, because they're not really "marketing material". Actually, being a real techy, could work against you.

A client facing role for a software developer/engineer/programmer is one which has just as much emphasis on being a strong communicator and team player with soft skills (documentation, presentations, training others etc), as it does on being technically capable or experienced.

You can be an excellent programmer but have no people skills, and this will obviously work against you when you apply for any client facing role in any company, which is exactly why I pointed out that Acn are almost always client facing.

It is absolutely nothing to do with "marketing material" as the marketing has already been done by the time you start on the project. You aren't selling or marketing anything - you're delivering a technology solution so you still need to have strong design and development skills and experience.

krd

removed

BostonB

John, I dunno what you did, but I wouldn't expect a xmas card

John_Mc

BostonB wrote: »

John, I dunno what you did, but I wouldn't expect a xmas card

Nor do I!

davephpcss

redvine wrote: »

Have an interview with these coming up except for the Technology Consulting?

Does anyone know what people go onto do after working for Accenture after 2-3 years?

Would like to know what career path id be getting into

Wow this thread has gotten ruined to say the least.

Hey Just had my interview for Technology consulting the other day so any questions you might have i'll try to answer, I found questions like the one you asked hard enough to find answers for because the honest answer is you could be doing many different things depending on where Accenture see's best fit to place you,
From my understanding you enter into Accenture as an Analyst between 1-2 years later you will progress into the Consulting field, from here I suppose it's all about climbing the corporate ladder and it might be good to mention you see yourself in a Management position in your latter years this shows you have ambition.

John_Mc

davephpcss wrote: »

Wow this thread has gotten ruined to say the least.

Hey Just had my interview for Technology consulting the other day so any questions you might have i'll try to answer, I found questions like the one you asked hard enough to find answers for because the honest answer is you could be doing many different things depending on where Accenture see's best fit to place you,
From my understanding you enter into Accenture as an Analyst between 1-2 years later you will progress into the Consulting field, from here I suppose it's all about climbing the corporate ladder and it might be good to mention you see yourself in a Management position in your latter years this shows you have ambition.

You will probably spend 2-3 years at analyst level before being promoted to Consultant, but ultimately this is decided on how well you perform in the performance reviews.

As I said at the start of this thread, if you work hard and have the right attitude then this is recognised in the performance reviews and you will be rewarded/promoted for it.

krd

John_Mc wrote: »

A client facing role for a software developer/engineer/programmer is one which has just as much emphasis on being a strong communicator and team player with soft skills

"strong communicator", "team player", "soft skills". What do any of those things really mean.

They all sound like desirable attributes, but what do they mean. Does "strong communicator" mean someone who is intelligent, someone who can talk to anyone and be understood. It doesn't. Does "team player" mean someone who is generous with their colleagues, and doesn't actively try to compete against them to the detriment of the project. It doesn't. Do "soft skills" mean there is anything soft, or even nice about the person. It certainly does not.

"Soft skills" is really just a mystified term for how people make us feel in our bellies. It's ageism, racism, sexism, snobbery, jealousy, fear, difference. That someone threatens you in any way. They're cleverer than you, they're better looking than you, they're older and more experienced than you, they have different lifestyle from you, they don't like what your like, they don't like rugby, they're "weird".

(documentation, presentations, training others etc), as it does on being technically capable or experienced.

If you email a power point presentation. You are distributing information.

If you're in conference room, projecting a power point presentation onto a screen, to a group of people all sitting around in their suits, you are marketing. Even if they're not external clients, it's just some noise to make it look like stuff is happening when there isn't. Marketing.

And right. The "training" that goes on in companies. Especially in IT. Someone who doesn't have a clue, or any technical background, spouting gibberish for days over power point presentations. But they have better "people skills" - it wasn't a wast of time.

You can be an excellent programmer but have no people skills, and this will obviously work against you when you apply for any client facing role in any company, which is exactly why I pointed out that Acn are almost always client facing.

Being the most excellent programmer in the world, you could have decades of experience. Does Accenture hire these people, or does it automatically bin their CVs. Going instead for "young and dynamic", fresh looking people. Better marketing material. Someone who has the "people skills" to look good in a clients office.

Suralan Sugar has said engineers are bad for business. What he means is they're bad for marketing.

If all the "people skills" people were such great communicators, how come their "communication" is all a one way street. That if you don't speak in their dumbed down language, you're the poor communicator. That the "great communicators" can only speak, or be spoken to, by people just like them. The reason someone like Suralan says engineers are bad for business, is they make people feel stupid when they talk to them. They alienate the important people - the people with the money. And that's what all this "great communication" is all about.

It is absolutely nothing to do with "marketing material" as the marketing has already been done by the time you start on the project. You aren't selling or marketing anything - you're delivering a technology solution so you still need to have strong design and development skills and experience.

Marketing, isn't just the prelude to a sale. It's an everyday rolling process. This is why large IT firms employ so many people who have little or no technical skills. It's not so their warm fuzziness can magically get production to run smoother - because it definitely does not - and anyone who says so, or thinks so, is deluded or lying. It's because they're better "marketing material". And that is what brings the money in.

It took me a long time to accept that. Because when you think about it, it's a really rotten way to run the world.

"Marketing" is really how big IT business works. It creates the business. British Airways, wanted a computerised ticketing system, they go with the big boys. They get thousands of meetings, and power point presentations. Hundreds of project managers - system analysts who have no technical experience or exposure, just someone thought they'd have the right "personality" for the job - which they do. They end up with over 500 servers, and it costs them hundreds of millions, and millions to keep running. Ryan Air put out a tender for their ticketing system. Some students do it, and Ryan Air's ticketing system is just four servers.

And no if, buts, or aahs.

The National Health Service in the UK has spent billions on a system that is to be abandoned, because it doesn't work. But funnily, the contractors are still working even though it's to be abandoned, because they have such a copper tight contract. More power point presentations. More "young and dynamic" managers sending emails to each other on their black berries over the weekend. They're not at the rugby, they're at the desks of their home offices.

When Bret Easton Ellis was writing American Psycho, he went and spent months with young Wall Street hotshots, trying to find out what they do. Whenever he tried to ask them specific questions to get to the meat of their everyday activity. They were always evasive, changing the subject to their new watch, or their suit or new business card.

They were in marketing. The person was the product.

I remember when I was young and foolish talking to a senior manager at one of the big service companies. Just asking her some really basic questions about the stuff they were using. She actually got really aggressive with me - and a little flustered - I couldn't figure out why, I was just asking some basic questions about the systems they sold. Me being naive I thought maybe she had a good reason - corporate secrecy.

It wasn't. She couldn't tell me because she didn't know. She was upset because I was showing her up as fraud. A senior manager at big IT firm, who knew nothing about IT.

She would just go along to meetings with clients and tell them "buy our systems, they are the best, because I'm pompous, I'm wearing an impressive suit, and I drive a big car". And of course since their clients were in marketing too, they'd take her word for it.

BostonB

You've obviously had some very poor experience where you've worked. But can I suggest you'd be better started a seperate thread on that, as it doesn't seem Accenture specific.

hardCopy

krd wrote: »

John_Mc wrote: »

A client facing role for a software developer/engineer/programmer is one which has just as much emphasis on being a strong communicator and team player with soft skills

"strong communicator", "team player", "soft skills". What do any of those things really mean.
<rest of massive quote snipped>

Funny enough, Ryanair's ticketing system is run by Navitaire, aka: Accenture.

Lombardo86

krd wrote: »

When Bret Easton Ellis was writing American Psycho, he went and spent months with young Wall Street hotshots, trying to find out what they do. Whenever he tried to ask them specific questions to get to the meat of their everyday activity. They were always evasive, changing the subject to their new watch, or their suit or new business card.

They were in marketing. The person was the product.

This is seriously rambling on - No real relevance to anything. Are you assuming that any young 'hotshot' is in their position due to looking fresh as you say. That is a ridiculous statement - I am in my current position as i worked hard in college, got good results and of course spruced it up a little in my job interview. Who doesn't. You seem to have some bad blood in general

John_Mc

Wow. That was some rant - it no doubt took you hours to write that rubbish. Are you finished yet?

Your blatant bitterness and chip on the shoulder is obvious in every post and it's destroying this thread. Run along now thanks

krd wrote: »

"strong communicator", "team player", "soft skills". What do any of those things really mean.
<large quote snip>

John_Mc

Yeah sorry about that - thanks for cleaning it up Eoin

krd

John_Mc wrote: »

Wow. That was some rant - it no doubt took you hours to write that rubbish.

No it didn't. I can write this rubbish nearly as fast as I can speak it.

Are you finished yet?

Nearly.

Your blatant bitterness and chip on the shoulder is obvious in every post and it's destroying this thread. Run along now thanks

I'm sorry I'm not clappy handy enough for yah.

The best techies I know have difficulties getting decent jobs. Whereas the preppies, who seem to have a masters in hair gel, get all the good ones.

There are people out there with lots of tech experience, who can't get jobs. Agencies bin their CVs. And that's purely down to a marketing problem - they're just not the right product.

srsly78

If you can't get a job then you are a pretty lousy techy :pac:

Regarding Accenture: large service companies like this are kind of a running joke in IT You often read stuff "the code looked like it had been written by someone from Accenture" on the The Register very often But it's a good place for younger guys to get experience I suppose, just don't plan to stay there for long. They are just a middleman, you can be an independent contractor and earn a lot more than the permanent accenture guys.

BostonB

A lot of techies are poorly informed about the real world value of other skills.

John_Mc

krd wrote: »

I'm sorry I'm not clappy handy enough for yah.

The best techies I know have difficulties getting decent jobs. Whereas the preppies, who seem to have a masters in hair gel, get all the good ones.

There are people out there with lots of tech experience, who can't get jobs. Agencies bin their CVs. And that's purely down to a marketing problem - they're just not the right product.

Disclaimer: This is strictly my own opinion

I hardly expect you be be clappy hands but you've been making ridiculous statements and seem to have a gripe with me even though you don't know me or anything about me.

Your last post is essentially saying what I said earlier in this thread, except that what you consider "marketing", I (and others on this thread) consider as being a good communicator and team player. This is a fundamental requirement of any role where you are interacting with the customer or client.

Some of the best techies I knew in college were introverted, often arrogant and obnoxious, and simply could not explain something at a high level to a non-technical person.

They were exceptionally bright but had problems socializing and generally getting on well with people. Needless to say that they are not ideal candidates for a role which is client facing and requires good team work.

I would bet good money that these exceptional techies of yours fall into this bracket.

The bitterness you seem to have from this position is irrational and nothing to do with Accenture or any other company. It is a simple fact of life that people are only suitable for certain roles, regardless of the industry or their intelligence or ability.