‘Have a change.’ That’s the ethos of Accenture, a global tech consultancy that offers purposeful innovation for clients around the world.
And that ethos may only reflect on you. You are probably looking for your first step up the career ladder. Or you may want to pivot into the world of tech, create sustainable solutions, or seek a role in a company that offers you the opportunity to work with a truly diverse, international team. If any of that seems to be for you, Accenture could be the home of your next duty.
But how is it for the employees of such an international company? We spoke with Auma Njagah, a technical consultant who joined Accenture as a graduate in 2018, to discuss what it feels like to be a woman in tech.
‘I had no idea I was going to get into technology’
‘I completed my undergraduate degree in civil engineering and my master’s in environmental management; that’s what I always thought I was going to get into. Of course, life has a different plan for me, and I met with Accenture’s recruitment team at a career fair. I had never thought of a career in tech before that.
J_art
‘I was worried that I was not in my depth. But the training for Accenture graduates is intensive, and they really give you everything you need to know. After two intense months of training, I was ready to start working on customer projects. Four years later and with exceptional mentorship, I am now a senior analyst, leading a team to deliver ServiceNow, a cloud platform, to Accenture’s global client base. Delivery requires performing a variety of roles at different stages of the project, everything from conducting workshops with the client to feeling what they need from the cloud platform, to running the dev team that performs platform configuration, up to training the client on how to use their new and shiny ServiceNow cloud platform. No tiring days. ”
‘Finding a company that understands the importance of soft skills is a blessing’
‘It’s a common misconception that in tech, soft skills don’t rank high. Of course, that’s not true. Good communication, good organization and collaboration skills are all essential to getting large projects off the ground and building client relationships – and they are harder to teach than practical skills. ‘
‘I didn’t have much tech knowledge when I joined but Accenture recruiters assured me that my training included all the technical skills I would need. In fact, upskilling, cross skilling and new skilling are integral parts of our daily lives; we are always offered new training to make sure we are at the top of our game. ‘
‘Working in tech is not a corporate boys club you might assume’
‘Before I took my role, I was worried that working for a large technology company might feel rigorous, overly corporate and traditional. In fact, Accenture is really ahead of the curve when it comes to creating a more sustainable, inclusive and forward-thinking company culture. The atmosphere of collaboration diminishes this large area. ‘
J_art
‘I think a lot of it goes to our CEO, Julie Sweet. Since he became CEO of Accenture in 2019, I’ve really noticed a push into creating a business that feels accepted by everyone, regardless of background, gender, ethnicity or faith. There is a definite drive from leadership to create safe, welcoming spaces, and diversity and inclusion training are equally important, with skills-based training expectations for every single employee, which I think is essential for creating a truly inclusive company. ‘
‘We were doing flexi-working before the pandemic’
‘Flexible working has always been a priority at Accenture, and we are given the tools to allow us to work easily and comfortably remotely. But business understands that flexi-working is more than just packing where you are. It’s also about being able to create a work-life balance that specifically suits you. ‘
J_art
‘Long before the pandemic, we were able to facilitate flexible ways of working. I have some developers who start work at 7am, while others prefer to start at 10am-it’s all about finding the pattern that lets you do your best work. ‘
‘As young women, we need to have more confidence in ourselves’
‘My advice for women looking to advance their careers in new and exciting ways? Do not listen to the voice of doubt in your mind. Growth only comes by doing things outside of your comfort zone. We are often our worst enemy and we control ourselves. ‘
‘Imposter syndrome prevents us from continuing with new challenges. Taking the very first step is the hardest part but you will be surprised at how much progress you can make if you just start a new role, share the idea with your team or take a risk. ‘
If you have the ideas, talent and passion for making a change, find your next role at Accenture
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and is imported to this page to help users provide their email addresses. You can find more information about it and similar content on piano.io