Technology consultant Review

Working on a client team to write code for various cloud providers to create servers, patching vulnerabilities on servers which are being used by the client, assisting in side of desk activities which work towards Accenture internal activities - of which can include research, graphics creation and PowerPoint creation. So far I have taken responsibility for a range of different server creations based upon client requests.

Since starting I have learned Terraform, Ansible, have become a certified cloud practioner for AWS and have learnt how to use the Linux command line in order to carry out maintenance on servers. Aside from more technical skills I have also learned how to work digitally as so far the whole apprenticeship has been virtual.

I enjoy the work as it keeps me continuously learning new skills which I can continue to apply to the future and my career, it has been challenging at times when there are multiple different jobs at once. The support for the TAG community is good, especially with the networking sessions which have been arranged to introduce members to the different sections of the business

Everyone has a different experience of their programme as most of us have been put onto different projects which have very different demands. The induction was good, however there is so much to learn about the business that it is impossible to cover in a week. Initially the apprentices were split into groups for cloud training which is good to get you onto a project, but is hard to achieve as there is a lot of studying and experienced required to pass a cloud certification.

My manager and and people lead has been great for introducing me to work and projects especially considering we have never met! To begin with I needed a lot of guidance as I had not used many of the technologies pertinent for the work I had to do, and as I have learned I have been given more varied work. I haven't required much support from HR, and any emails I have sent have had slow response times due to how busy they often are.

Aside from the once a week (and 2 block modules of 2 week sessions) I have not required much support from the university. If there are any questions Microsoft teams groups have been setup to ask questions to the lecturers about the work/requirements of the coursework. I find that often the university sessions are not as up to date as the work requirements - for example learning older technologies rather than cloud technology which is more relevant to the job.

The qualification sometimes works with the on-the-job training, but often I am finding that what I am learning at work is helping with the University work rather than the other way round. To begin with the first module we learned were the basics of working in the technology industry including report writing and emails which is useful for an oversight into the role.

It is difficult to get involved in extra-curricular activities virtually. However when I can I do get involved for example writing in the Apprentice newsletter and getting involved in side of desk work which I personally find interesting. I also enjoy attending 2 weekly networking sessions which introduce TAG members to different parts of the Accenture ecosystem.

Yes

For anyone looking to get a broad experience of different technologies and clients Accenture is great, It allows you to get involved in things - clients and side of desk work that you would not have got exposure to by going down a more conventional university route. Experience is key to career progression and you cant get any more experience than an apprenticeship.

When applying to Accenture I would suggest reading up about the business and some of the key technologies which are going to be used in the future. The application process is similar to many other apprenticeship applications requiring a good CV and an interest in technology. Being prepared is key so read up about the key Accenture technologies and try not to stress about not knowing everything - they are not expecting you to!