Accenture Bootcamp

Hi Alex,

Just wondering if you've progressed further with the Boot Camp application? I was also thinking of applying for this also.

I like the joke/analogy at the start, I think it fits in well. Just try and bring across some of the reasons from the video perhaps - not a typical skills workshop etc.

I'm more concerned about the ways they use technology? How did you approach this; did you just choose a few examples and discuss or try and brainstorm different ways they use technology?

Thanks for the appreciation for my joke - I left it out of the final cut though

Which maybe was a good idea - I got an interview. Which is tomorrow!

For tech. I did lots of meticulous work, mostly across their non graduate site, and their US site. It took ~2 hours in total. I will send you my answers as soon as the interview is over. I don't want to give anyone an unfair advantage.

best,
'alex'

Hey Alex, all the best for your interview! It would be great if you could send me your answers too, as I am interested in applying for the bootcamp.

Cordy x

Hey Alex, all the best for your interview! It would be great if you could send me your answers too, as I am interested in applying for the bootcamp.

Cordy x

Cheers Alex. How did the interview go?

Thanks for offering your answers - I would really appreciate that!

Hi Alex, I hope the interview went well. (If not, you have done well to get one!)

Much like Ravness, I am similarly struggling with the technology question. I feel quite stumped by it. How did you go about answering it? Could you possibly send me your answers also?

Would really appreciate your help and also interested to know what the interview was like?

Amy xx

Hallo all!

I got into the bootcamp as of today. Which is great. 500 applicants have applied for the 30 places so it is roughly 17 people per place. This is not too much considering many of them are idiots (probably.)

So, firstly the question on technology:

I opened with something like this :

Accenture uses technology in many ways to help their clients increase performance.

Automation.
Firstly, they use technology to automate many systems that would previously have to be done by hand.
Then I talked about the benefits of automation - and places where it would be implemented (supply chains, HR)
On the fly supply chains (for example dell builds each computer as it is ordered online)
Then I talked about a specific example which was radio frequency identification and silent commerce
http://www.accenture.com/Global/Technology/Microsoft_Solutions/SilentCom...

Integration
Integration of systems
Global delivery centres and outsourcing integration
Supply chain integration
" integrate client’s systems with its associates, ensuring rapid transfer of information and workflow operations across the globe. Accenture’s global delivery centres allow its clients to integrate their systems with outsourcing units to capture a 24 hour work cycle."

Off the shelf solutions
Mentioned oracle and SAP

Data analysis
consumer segmentation
Optimisation of systems

"
These services have the potential to produce huge amounts of data, this data can ‘report back’ on how the system is performing as well as providing insight into how the company functions as a whole. Accenture harnesses this data to provide useful information for the client. This information could provide optimisation and further redesign of pre-existing technological solutions or provide extra information for the client to achieve higher performance, for example, to aggregate and analyse data for customer segmentation. "

And then lastly I mentioned the economic climate and how software as a service and virtualisation could reduce IT costs.

Please please please, for yourself and me, don't reproduce any of this verbatim. They _will_ notice.

The telephone interview was stock questions really about my motivation for bootcamp, accenture and consulting (they asked me if I looked at any other career options)
Competency qs were on teamwork and times I'd been flexible

They phoned a bit early than the appointed schedule, which may have been to check how flexible I was... I was a bit flustered and though the HR guy had to stick to an appointed script, he was friendly and offered me a place right after the call.

Hope this is of help!

Oh and additional tips. Quite cheekily, I used facebook to filter out alumni of my university who work at accenture and asked them for advice on what an analyst does. A couple got back to me, and one of them was very helpful.

The tech question on the other hand was answered by scouring their sites, local and international. You _can_ find the answers if you look hard enough, and use a bit of common sense to deduce the processes from the common themes.

Alex

Hi Alex,

Congrats on getting into the Bootcamp! Hope you enjoy it.

Also thanks a lot for all of the advice - will definitely not copy any of this, was just struggling on how to actually approach this question, level of detail required etc. but this has really helped.

Hopefully see you there ;)

Thank's Alex that's great advise.

Could I possibly ask you what Degree you are doing and where? And what A-levels did you get?

Also well done with getting in!

Thanks

Amy x

I study philosophy in Leeds and I my A levels are:

They are:
A English
A Film Studies
A Sociology
B Psychology
AS A Biology

Obvs some are shitty, but it didn't seem to matter.

I think my work experience was the thing that killed it though. I'm designing an iPhone app this summer and I've done loads of techy stuff before hand. However, on the application, it's your interpersonal skills which take priority (apparently.) And - from my cheeky facebook askings I was told that any spelling or grammar mistakes will result in your application being immediately rejected - I mean, if you can't write after 2/3 years at university - how can you be expected to draft reports for clients!

Hope to see you there!

Sorry to keep bothering you Alex...

When you talk about your work experience, where did you write about this? Was this just in your CV or did you explain what the work experience involved within the form?

Thanks

Amy x

I talked about it within the extra curricular activities section

Alex

Thank you for this post. The hint about using the US site for technology information has proved most helpful.

I'm wondering if you did anything besides conatcting allumni to find out more about the day to day tasks and actvities an analyst does? I've looked on the accenture website and there doesn't appear to be a great amount of information on this. If you could point me in the right direction of a web page that explains this in detail, I would be very apprecive.

Congrats on securing a place by the way.

Nope, nothing else. Really - the application (seems to me) like a long test. The graduate site is empty, meaningless and irrelevant. What they want is you to prove your skills in analysis and deduction by scouring the main site, and read all their beautifully produced case studies and work out, 'what would one do on a day-to-day basis to do this?'

and then write that down in the box

Oh - and check this out -

http://www.accenture.com/Global/Accenture_Blogs/US_Consulting_Analyst_Video_Blog/default.htm

Thanks for sharing that link Alex.

I was wondering, did you structure your answer for "Day to day tasks of an Analyst" as bullet points, or as paragraphs? Also, did you manage to write anywhere as much the character limit of 3000 characters (with spaces) ?

I structured it as a list of bullet points. I think they specify that - and also, the only question I got anywhere near the word limit was on extra-curricular activities

Hi all,

Congratulations Alex on getting into boot camp, I've also got a place on the September camp so thought I would share my experiences for anyone else who may be applying soon.

For the tough first question as to why I deserve a place at boot camp I tried to show a passion for consulting, emphasising that after my work experience in the defence industry and the civil service that consulting was a career which really appealed to me. This seemed to go down well, as when I was offered a place I was told it was mostly based on the fact I showed a real interest in consultancy and Accenture.

Apart from the first question I didn't go near the 3000 character mark, in my opinion this is by no means a bad thing, being accurate and concise with your answers is a skill which consultancy firms will be looking for in graduates, so my tip would be to avoid any waffle in your answers.

Interviews were largely based on the answers submitted on-line, so it's worth printing a copy before the interviewer calls, along with a copy of your CV and maybe some answers to basic competency based questions.

Good luck to everyone in their applications and interviews.

Dave

Congratulations on that David.

I was wondering, when did you submit your application online? Only a few days before the deadline, like me, or earlier than that?

Cordy x

Congrats David!

Cordy if this helps - I submitted very close to the deadline and received an email yesterday saying that the places have been filled but they would still like to process the application, allowing me to choose from being considered for the Nov bootcamp or for the ACG role directly.

I chose the Nov bootcamp - not sure how long before I hear back from them!

Did anyone else get this option? I take it they would have sent this to everyone who applied but missed out on the September one?

Yeah I got the same response ravness. I decided to go with being considered for the ACG role directly, and have an interview lined up for next week.

Okay cool. That's pretty quick. Good luck with it!

I haven't heard back from them yet but hopefully I will hear something soon.

Good luck with your interview Lord. Let us know how it goes.

Thanks for that info ravness, i got the same response from them too. I chose to go through the screening for the next boot camp too.

No problem. Let me know when you hear back from them and I will do also.

I rang the graduate recruitment line and they said that I should hear back within no more than 10-12 days. I'm really keen to go to this boot-camp so hopefully I hear back sooner!

Hey guys,

I got an offer for the September Boot Camp quite a while ago. I was hoping someone would start a thread on it!

Anyone else on the September one? Seems like quite a lot of people were successful with their applications.

Sammy

P.s

Like you David Queen, I also have work experience in the civil service and used this as a reason as to why I'd like to move into consultancy!

It's funny that 10% of the Sep campers are posting on here. Nice to meet you all, even if you are dull, grey civil servants.

DQueen - do you got to bath uni?

Yes, you summed me up nicely there - dull and grey.

Nice to meet you all too. I'm quite excited for the Boot Camp now and I have no idea what to expect (but I guess that's the point)

Where were you working Sammy?

I was pretty lucky really, got placed in a really great department, on some really interesting projects, my experiences were anything but dull and grey. Wasn't a fan of the overall culture of the civil service though, which is why I want to try something new.

Alex, yes I am at Bath Uni, how did you guess that?

Hi David,

I worked at the Treasury in the Macroeconomics Team. I think I was also quite lucky, I joined at such an exciting time! I know what you mean about the culture though!

Where'd you work?

Sammy

Hi Guys,

I was thinking of applying for the Nov Bootcamp.
However, my A-level grades aren't great and dont meet the criteria.
I have on the other hand achieved a 2.1 degree from a good university.
Is it still worth applying?

Opinions welcome.

Regards.

Send a nice email or phone graduate recruitment - they may be flexible

Dave:

In a he-man voice
By the Powers of Web 2.0!!

Anyone had to fill in the smartytrain psychometric tests yet?

I can't believe the standardised tests they've used. All the peer reviewed articles re that test show that it is not better at predicting your personality than randomly guessing based on your hair colour... or something.

Also, when one had to pick an occupation - it had nothing relevant to a technology orientated individual's normal work.

Options included Gas station attendant and other Americanised absurdities.

I was only being silly re: dull and grey. Please don't take offence. Looking forward to meet you Sam and Dave.

My name's not alex by the way. I try my real name off jobs boards for fear of the graduate recruiter's wrath - even though the people at ACN will surely be able to tell who i am by looking at the tips I gave on the application form (hi Dan and Louise!). I'll introduce myself when I get there.

Ciao for now!

Hey "Alex"!

Yeah i did that test, like you said, i dont really know what they are going to learn knowing what my favourite fruit is! Have you received the letter with the boot camp details in it. Sounds like a pretty smart place they are taking us, the task sounds like it could be interesting (dont want to give too much away to anyone who may be reading this).

No problem about the "dull and grey", i thought the same before i joined, and still feel the same way about some gov't departments!

Sammy- I was working in the Home Office Commercial Directorate, based in the Olympic Security Directorate for about 3 months before the coalition moved in and I got moved to contract renegotiations. Like you said, it was a great time to be working in government!

It got taken to the post office depot, so now I have to wait till Tuesday! And re: fruit I'm hoping bowls of our favourites will be waiting for us when we arrive.

Hi Alex, no offence taken!

I received the induction pack a couple of days ago and you're right David, sounds like a nice place! Had a phone call from my mentor on Thurs as well and she seemed really nice so I'm looking forward to Boot Camp even more now!

Alex, I was thinking the same thing about the fruits! Who knows..I guess we'll find out soon enough :-)

Hi guys, i've got a telephone interview for the bootcamp coming up on Friday!

Did all of you get asked the same q's as Alex?

Motivation for bootcamp / accenture / consulting
Competencies - teamwork, times you'd been flexible

If you have any tips that would be great thanks!

Hi Sammyb. I too have a telephone interview with Accenture coming up this friday. I have never been interviewed before, so would be really grateful if you could help me out a little further.

Firstly, when they ask about demonstration of teamwork, for example, how much detail do they need? Like will they be probing me for me for detail, or should I keep my answers to no longer than a few lines? Did you use the STAR method?

Also, what sort of questions will they be asking about Accenture? Would it be worth for me to go through their US/UK website and go through annual reports? What sort of answer did you give about your motivation for consultancy? I personally don't have any prior experience in consultancy (only in engineering) so I'm worried that they might not see it beneficial to forward me to the boot camp.

I just had my telephone interview with Accenture for the November bootcamp, but was simply told by the end of the interview that I would be informed within the next few weeks about the outcome.

Has anyone else got a response yet from Accenture abut the november Bootcamp?

Hi cordy,

I've got my interview coming up in a few hours!

How did it go? What questions were you asked?

I will let you know what they say to me as soon as I'm done.

Regarding the teamwork question is this just a standard describe a time when you were successful in a team?

Or is it directed to something in particular such as conflict or having to overcome a challenge or communication barrier etc.?

The questions asked were exactly as Sammyb said. They just wanna make sure u have researched what Accenture does as a company and why you are applying to it. They question they asked me on teamwork was very vague, but yes, i gave an example of a time that I had successfully managed a team and how I did it. They only asked me one competency question, I'm not sure why though.

Make sure u prepare for all the above and just relax during the interview :)

Not sure what happened above but had the interview now - think it was okay but can't be too sure till I hear back from them!

They said I should hear back in roughly a weeks time.

Hi guys, good news! A few hours after the call i got offered a place for the November bootcamp.

Thanks everyone for all of your advice and best of luck to those applying!

Congrats ravness :-)

Well done :)

Hi Ravness,

Yep those are the questions I got asked. I don;t think I really have any tips to give but I was told that they were conducting telephone interviews due to the sheer number of applications they had received so as long as you show that you have good motivation for taking part in the Boot Camp and can answers questions on the key competencies that you suggested then you should be fine!

Good luck!

Sammy