[Shadey]

Hi everyone, just wondered if anyone had been on the Accenture Interviews yet for gap years (horizon scheme) and what they consisted of?


Any help will be great cause im not sure what to be revising!

Thanks

[Dimez]

Technically you're not 'revising' as that would imply you had learn the information in question.

Pedantics aside, I'd strongly advise you to read their website (and any magazines/articles published by Accenture, if at all possible). Just learn about their business structure, how they operate, what type of clients they have, competitors (IBM springs to mind), their different fields of expertise - just as much as you possibly can.

Also, re-read your application form thoroughly and be prepared to ask competency based questions (examples should be prepared beforehand).

All the best and let us know how it goes.

[Shadey]

hi thanks very much for that! yea iv printed out loads of stuff form their website

struggling on finding competitors tho- how would i find that out?

and what do u mean by examples should be prepared before hand?

[The Messiah]

Examples of when you have demonstrated these competencies....ie problem solving in your GCSE maths exam haha....etc
Have a ready made example for each competency, otherwise the interview could be very one-sided.

[Dimez]

If you're good at thinking on the spot then written examples of competencies need not be required - but just make sure you can demonstrate examples of team-work, leadership, initiative and others.

I remember once I had an interview and they asked "Tell me of a time when you were working in a group and someone wasn't pull their weight. What did you do to resolved it."

I was a bit flustered as to what to say since it's usually me who isn't pulling their weight in a group assignment and tends to crack most of the jokes. Innovative that I am, I twisted the whole thing on its side and said something along the lines of: "Well, we once had this Physics experiment to do and there this one guy who just wasn't cooperating and just kept on hindering our overall progress. I didn't want to reprimand him infront of the whole group so I spoke to him alone and told him of our group concerns and that he needed to pull his socks up or otherwise the whole group was at jeapoardy. Everything was all very well after that"

Absolute BS.

[Shadey]

ohhh right ok i get you...so just to make sure i have scenarios that answer these questions.

Thanks very much

Can you help on the competition front?

Cheers

[Dimez]

I'm not really well-versed with the IT/Consultancy sectors but companies that you might be interested in are: IBM, Deliotte. I'm sure there are others but you have to research that yourself. Good luck.

[Shadey]

thanks very much- but i was thinking there isnt a whole lot they can ask about competitors other than who they are- and possibly how to beat them!

not trying to sound annoying or anything but, do u have any more examples of those kinds of questions that ask about a situation where you demonstrate examples of......

Yea il let you know how i got on no worries

Thanks

[Dimez]

Yeah they won't ask you detailed questions of their competitors but just ensure you know how Accentire differ from their competitors and what makes them better (they may not necessarily be better but, of course, tell them that they are - companies love themselves)

Tell me of a time when you led a team? What challenges did you face?
Tell me of a time when you had to persuade someone to do something?

General questions like that. Try this site, it's got some pretty useful info.

[Shadey]

thanks so much! thats absolutely brilliant!

from what iv seen and read, the difference between accenture and other competitors is that accenture tackles three departments as one- outsourcing, technology and consultancy whereas competitors such as IBM simply do one of them such as technology...this sounds like a major advantage!!

[Notgotajobyet2]

Originally Posted by Shadey

thanks so much! thats absolutely brilliant!

from what iv seen and read, the difference between accenture and other competitors is that accenture tackles three departments as one- outsourcing, technology and consultancy whereas competitors such as IBM simply do one of them such as technology...this sounds like a major advantage!!

This is true. If you look here http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/Accent...ate_Programmes there is some relevant info about how the company strucutre (and grad schemes) are split up.

Accenture is quite different to other similar firms like Deloitte.. so it's worht making sure you have a firm grasp of what they do. Good luck!

[snoopyx]

Does anyone know what the competencies they ask about are?
Are they on the website??
Thanks