Application Development Associate Review

As a degree apprentice at Accenture our week is planned out as the following; Mondays are spent studying for our Software Engineering degree at the University of East London, and from Tuesday to Friday we are put on various projects performing different roles. What we do day to day is completely based upon what our current role is, for example you could have a role as a Business Analyst, automation tester or DevOps engineer. There are a wide variety of roles to be assigned to.

Yes I have learnt many new skills that are both soft and technical. Before I joined Accenture I had a very limited technical skill set, however now I have knowledge and experience in coding in different languages such as Java, SQL and Node JS. Whilst being on an SAP project I have also gained knowledge about how SAP works. I have attended many internal training courses like a Scum Master course and a software tester course.

I really enjoy my programme, the work is challenging but achievable and I feel like I am being pushed to my maximum potential, always gaining new knowledge and experience. The people at Accenture really make it, everyone is friendly and as a company we have a really inclusive and understanding culture. All points of contact on the programme are easy to reach out to and willing to help you, this also includes the lecturers at the university.

Overall I think my programme is very well structured, it is three years studying towards the degree whilst working on projects. When we first started we had a month-long boot camp to train us and upskill us in some technical skills, for example, we learnt HTML and Java. Although we go to university every Monday, every term we have a two-week block where we attend university every day and normally learn a complete module in that time.

At work we have a very good support network with many points of contact that we are able to reach out to. On our project we have a delegated line manager who sets expectations on our roles and responsibilities, helping us to set goals with what we want out of our role. We also have a career counselor who also helps us set and reach our goals, they also represent us in promotion meetings and check in with us regularly. We also have a buddy which is someone in the intake above us to help us with less formal matters.

The majority of our tutors from the university provide a lot of support and are really helpful when you have a question. They are willing to stay behind and explain things to you if you do not understand them. They also have walk-in sessions at lunchtime where you can go to them with any issues. However, there has been an instance where a tutor was very bad at communicating, and overall what they taught was done in a disorderly manner, however, this was only one tutor who then was replaced.

My qualification helps in varying amounts depending on what type of role I am in, so for example the role I currently have is as a business analyst, so all the technical skills of coding in different languages does not really help me day to day. However, by understanding the software development life cycle and knowing what an agile or waterfall project is really helping me in my current role, which is something we have been taught.

At Accenture, there is countless amount of extracurricular activities that you can get involved in, so many societies and groups, that are inclusive to everyone. We also have a voluntary initiative where you are able to take 3 days a year to help volunteer. The summer and winter social events are always really good and in a top London location, my personal favourite is always the Christmas party. Its a great time to catch up with your cohort and build your network.

Yes

As one of the world’s largest consulting and technology firms they harness the latest innovations to bring empowerment to their clients, crafting solutions that keep them ahead of the game, and as an apprentice, you can help contribute towards this. Accenture's people are also very diverse, you will be part of a mix of brilliant people from all backgrounds. Plus you’ll have the chance to take part in a variety of initiatives and events.

Research! Research what Accenture is all about, know who the CEO is, know our workplace initiatives, make sure you can recall a few case studies of what projects Accenture have been apart of and what impact they have created. Have a passion for technology! Make sure you are able to back this up by being able to thoroughly explain what you are interested in, even though you may not have any technical experience that is fine.