Stage 1: CV Screening
Stage 2: HR Interview
Stage 3; Skill Interview
Stage 4: Case Interview
Standard application to the role of Accenture Technology Strategy and Advisory Consultant/Manager via the Accenture careers website. As an Accenture alumnus, I tailored my CV knowing what recruiters look for during the CV screen process.
Stage 2: HR Interview (30 minutes, w/ recruitment specialist)
It is important to demonstrate more than the average candidate to ensure success at this stage.
Tips: know the Accenture Technology Strategy and Advisory leadership from the UKI practice lead to Global, have a solid understanding of Accenture's financial performance (last annual report, most recent quarterly earnings, and key financial ratios), and talk confidently about technology trends impacting Accenture customers (e.g., cloud computing, robotic process automation, and 5G acceleration).
Stage 3; Skill Interview (60 minutes, w/ senior manager)
You will need at least three good examples of roles where you have demonstrated excellent analytical problem-solving skills. It is less about one particular skill, e.g., quantitative analysis, and more about your logical approach to solving problems, i.e., combining skills. The interviewer is looking for you to demonstrate good interpersonal skills - Accenture is a people business, i.e., people buy people, so you must demonstrate relationship building.
Stage 4: Case Interview (60 minutes, w/ UKI practice lead)
It is important to note, this final stage is not entirely a case study. In my experience interviewing with the Accenture Technology Strategy and Advisory UKI practice lead, the MD will step through each career change in your CV and ask why the change? If you have moved around through jobs, expect this segment to last about 40 minutes. The case study is not a prepared document but a scenario shared by the MD that you are tasked with solving in collaboration with the MD. Time is left at the end for questions.
Overall experience.
I am an ex-IBM Strategy consultant with past Accenture Strategy project experience and an MBA with Distinction (April 2021). I was unsuccessful at the final stage. At the final stage, I had to explain why I left one job for another, and then remind the UKI practice lead of my answer when he asked two further times later in the interview. The recruiter did mention, paraphrasing slightly, candidates who receive the kind of feedback I did at the second stage get offers of employment from Accenture. This interview was for consultant/manager level entry.
NB: The UKI practice lead mentioned he and I had previous met. I was not able to recall when that conversation took place. However, I do know an ex-employee from my first consulting job (graduate scheme) later worked for the UKI practice lead; that ex-employee and I never met or exchanged communications. It is easy to assume some (mis-)information about me was shared, with the UKI practice lead, without my awareness.
