Accenture Interview Questions

Interview Process

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The interview process at Accenture is as follows:

• First interview
• Second interview
• Third interview

First Interview

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The selection process starts with a 45-minute interview with a member of the Recruitment Team or a Manager from Consulting. This interview will take place at Accenture's London office or via a telephone interview, if requested.

TIP: Before attending your interview find out EXACTLY what Accenture does and what you will be doing if you are successfully offered a job here.

TIP: Prepare to be asked to name Accenture's competitors and clients and a case or two they have been working on recently from both within Accenture's recruitment brochure and elsewhere.

You are likely to be asked about your long-term career plan and motivation, about your interest in IT, consulting and business, and several competency based questions.

Competency based questions are likely asses your:
-Decision making skills
-Innovation and ability to work with uncertain parameters
-Persuasive skills
-Adaptability and flexibility

Additionally, you will be given a mini case study to test your logic and problem-solving skills. These case studies may be within one of the following areas: Strategy, Communications and High Tech, Supply Chain and Customer Relationship Management.

Your interviewer will want you to provide recent examples of interpersonal skills such as communication and initiative. Also, you will be thoroughly questioned about your motivation for this role. You interviewer will want to be certain that you have researched your career options and can show your commitment to a career in business and IT.

You will find out if your interview was successful within 10 working days of your interview taking place. If you have any questions in the meantime, you can call the Accenture recruitment helpline on 0500 100189.

Take this practice interview course to improve your answers to difficult interview questions - click here

Second Interview

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If you pass the initial interview stage you will be invited to attend a half-day assessment centre, once again at the London office. Typically, six to ten candidates attend each assessment.

The half-day assessment centre will be made up of the following:

• One to one case study: You will be given some information to read about a company’s business and technology issues or problems. You will discuss the case study issues and their possible solutions with your interviewer in a role-play scenario.

• Group Exercise: Working as part of a team you will discuss the case study in more detail.

• Document Review Exercise: You will work individually to identify the errors in a document under tight time pressure. An example of this exercise is available here.

• Group Exercise: Working as part of a team you will complete an idea-generation exercise.

• One to one interview: This will focus on your career interests in more depth, your awareness of Accenture and consideration of where you would best fit in. You will be interviewed either by a Manager in the business or a member of the Graduate Recruiting team. This is your final opportunity to get to know staff at Accenture and decide if this is the company for you. It is also the company's final chance to decide if you are the type of person they are looking for.

• Manager Presentation (NOT assessed): This is a presentation delivered by a Manager from the business. It will give you more information about Accenture and what happens on the day, and it’s your chance to ask any questions you may have about the company.

• Analyst Question and Answer Session (NOT Assessed): This is your chance to meet with recent new starters and find out more about what it’s really like to work at Accenture.

You will also get the chance to meet some of the people who work at Accenture.

Click here to take a practice In Tray exercise

Third Interview

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The third round assessment is for those potentially suitable for a strategy or SITE (strategic IT Effectiveness) position and consists of two interviews.

• Interview One: This will be with a Strategy/SITE Manager from within the business, who will probe you in more detail about your career focus and motivation for applying to Strategy/SITE at Accenture.

You will be likely to discuss where you might fit best within Accenture and he or she will answer any further questions you may have about the company and your job.

• Interview Two: This is likely to be focused around a case study. It will assess in greater depth your approach to problem-solving, how you structure your thoughts and how you communicate your points to clients (or in this case, the interviewer).

Your interviewer will be looking for evidence of your ability to think logically and laterally within and ‘around’ the problem, your capacity to prioritise and to suggest solutions and action plans where relevant. The case study interview is intensive and you will have to think on your feet.

Throughout the two sessions you will be assessed on a number of criteria, including your problem-solving skills and initiative, as well as your level of career focus and interest in strategy.

Take this practice interview course to improve your answers to difficult interview questions - click here

• TIP: The company may feel that your skills are better suited to another practice area, and it is also possible that you may be offered a place in the Analyst Consulting Group or Systems Integration & Technology Consulting. For this reason, it is important that you take the time to understand what is involved in these areas, and whether you would be interested in working in that area of the business.

• TIP: Think laterally and keep an open mind about all scenarios that may come up in each of your interviews. Keep an eye on the time, make your notes brief and be enthusiastic and engaging throughout the day. It makes all the difference to your interviewer if you present yourself as a motivated and enthusiastic person. They will want to hire someone they like and that they think will like working for Accenture. This is your final chance to make a good impression.

• TIP: If you still have questions at this stage ask them, but don’t feel obliged to ask – they are not part of the Accenture assessment at this stage.

You will be informed of the outcome of your interview by e-mail within 10 working days, so make sure the company has your email address and that you check it regularly!

Offer

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Once you've joined Accenture, you will gain access to a special "Waiting Room" site. This is designed to help you transition smoothly and easily into the company. It provides you with a central source of information with everything you need to know as a new starter, including contacts for help and advice, a guide to company technology, a 'Who's Who' guide and a helpful jargon buster.

Dress Code

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Accenture’s dress policy is smart business casual. This means that staff wear tailored trousers or a skirt, a shirt with collar or a smart top/blouse (for women). When you meet your interviewer, he or she may not be wearing a suit.

Candidates are not required to wear a suit (although they are not discouraged from doing so) but must be smartly dressed. There is more information regarding dress code in the General interview advice section.

Travel Expenses

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The budget for first round and second round interviews is £120. If you are likely to spend more than this on travel you may be able to claim a slightly larger amount but you will need to confirm this by replying to your Invitation Email and confirming with HR that it is acceptable to do so.

TIP: Try to meet a member of staff from Accenture at a graduate recruitment fair before you make your online application as they will be able to provide you with useful hints and tips for applying.

Summer Internship Programme

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Accenture offers a number of internships and placements that are designed to give you an insider's view of the company life. You can find more information here.