Analyst Review

The role of a participant on the Horizons programme varies depending on both business need and personal interests. My roles ranged from project management to business analyst and tasks within these roles included market research, liaising with external and internal stakeholders, reporting and mitigation of key milestones and holding workshops. A common day-to-day activity would be skype calls to discuss progress in the project and report on tasks that I am responsible for.

From the offset, I was learning new skills on the job. I received formal training for using Microsoft Excel for Business but also learned the functions and uses of many business analytics tools on the market. There are also opportunities to develop outside of work as there are groups which train employees on issues such as mental health.

Overall, I found my time on the programme enjoyable. It has changed my perception of what the workplace is like for the better and taught me a lot of lessons such as the importance of asking questions and making yourself known to your colleagues and managers. Consulting is a profession which can involve periods of long hours and important deadlines but the supportiveness of colleagues and emphasise placed on doing well as a team makes getting through these periods easier.

As I was treated like a graduate analyst, I did feel valued by the company. I was always in a role that challenged me whilst appreciating my lack of experience in the industry. I received thorough feedback from my line managers at the end of each project and was also invited to provide feedback on how they could be better line managers in the future.

At the start of the training, I received training that covered Accenture as a company, the different divisions, and key applications that are used day-to-day. Overall, I believe the programme strikes a good balance between structure and freedom. It is very representative of a typical consulting analyst experience and this is because I was given the freedom to learn how to navigate the company by myself. As an intern, I was allocated a colleague who would serve as my first port of call for any issues I had on the project and also had the support of those in charge of the scheme.

From when I completed training, I felt that I was sufficiently supported by my HR representatives. I was assigned specific employees to go to should I have an questions or issues during my time at Accenture. These assigned employees along with employees on my project team had positive attitudes towards helping me when I was unsure of how to complete a certain activity.

I was pleasantly surprised by the range of activities available for employees. There are many interest groups and clubs (ranging from volunteering to raise environmental awareness to meeting other Marvel fanatics) which organise events often. I also felt encouraged to lead a healthier lifestyle with the support provided with gym memberships.

Yes

I would recommend it to a friend as during my 8 months there I felt as though I was truly a part of the company with access to all the benefits and societies as well as exposure to very senior employees. Everyone I met was happy to discuss their role in the company at length and help me to learn more about the company in general. As a pre-university internship, I believe it provides an invaluable insight into life after further education.

Before attending the interview, applicants should ensure they know the company reasonably well and should be able to articulate why it is the consultancy for them taking into account competitors. It could be useful to come prepared with a case study or two that they found particularly useful (which can be found on the website). For successful applicants, I would encourage them to fully immerse in the company. Attend all the networking events and join all the clubs that you can as they are all part of the formative experience. They also provide a great opportunity to meet people who are in sectors of the business that are of more interest to you.