Analyst Review

The overall role involves supporting your project team in delivering pieces of work for the client you are working on. This can include a wide range of tasks, such as creating Powerpoint presentations, working and building out spreadsheets, holding calls and working alongside client colleagues. Not all tasks are super techy or technical and the skills required and tasks performed are hugely tailored to the role on the project.

Yes - I have learnt a wide range of technical skills, such as building high quality presentation slides and working for extended periods of time in Excel building out spreadsheets. I have learnt more soft skills that are more widely applicable outside of the Horizons scheme, including how to network and conduct yourself professionally in a work environment. I have also learnt how to communicate with individuals at different levels within companies.

I have really enjoyed the programme and cannot recommend it highly enough. The range of skills I will take away is huge and the experience I have gained is invaluable. All of the interns I have met on the scheme have been so lovely and it's been really great having others my age to navigate our first 'proper' jobs together. Accenture in itself is also an amazing company to work for - the range of activities you can get involved with is huge and the culture is hugely inclusive and welcoming.

The scheme as a whole is really well organised. You enter the company and have a week of training before starting on a project. The scheme is also constantly being improved, with a mentor programme being implemented this year to help interns network and meet others in the company that will help with their career goals. There are also regular check-ins with HR organised to feedback improvement points.

The general attitude towards interns internally to Accenture has been really welcoming and open. The job role is essentially that of a graduate analyst (aka someone on the grad programme) which I really valued - there are no 'interny' tasks to perform, such as making tea for others or doing personal admin for others. The HR team organise regular check ins and are always available/ make time to chat and hear feedback or understand if there is a problem.

There is no support for those interns applying to University or retaking A-Level exams during their internship. Having said this, there is enough time outside of working hours to concentrate on this and if you really felt a need for more time, you can use your holiday days (of which there are plenty).

The range of skills I have learnt on this internship have fully equipped me to return to the company as a graduate analyst should I want to. The learning curve experience is very steep and intense, but due to the fact that the skills required on each role are so unique, it is impossible to equip interns with all the skills they may need within the first week of training.

The range of extra-curricular activities is HUGE, and interns can get involved in all of them. There are sports clubs that can be played at a range of levels (Accenture-wide) and within client teams (i.e. all those that work for a certain client play a sport with each other). There are events to raise awareness of different issues and events (e.g. Black History events) and networking events to meet others within the company at a range of different levels. HR also organise amazing events for the interns

Yes

The company is hugely inclusive and great to work for - it recognises that all individuals need a strong work/life balance but simultaneously value hard work and the creation of high quality outputs. The Horizons programme is also such a great opportunity, and I have learnt invaluable life skills whilst also being paid.

Make sure you are honest and yourself - Accenture genuinely values individuals' uniqueness as they recognise those from different backgrounds bring a more diverse range of things to the table. This means that you do not need to be the standard corporate 'cookie cutter' applicant that you may be for other companies.