Experiences with Accenture

[SussexSeagull]

Worked with them back in my permanent days. Individually they were perfectly nice people but the company culture was extreme presenteeism with 18 hour days not unheard of. Unless the requirements were locked down - and admittedly I had some sympathy with this because my then employer did try changing it's mind once they started - they wouldn't deviate from what they were doing and their business model was to charge and absolute fortune to 'fix' it.

As for productivity I question how people could make so little progressive in so much time in the office.

One women was on her mobile just before giving birth and others answered e-mails while on the beach on holiday which they all found wonderful and the rest of us found monstrous.

It was rare they lasted until their 30th birthday apart form a few senior figures who were brought in as figureheads.

That said it was about 20 years ago so might have changed.

[SussexSeagull]

I once failed to get past the interview. They asked me what I knew about them, to which I said "I know what you did to Enron."
No sense of humour. It would have never worked out.

Just remembered I was interviewed by them at their place by St Pauls. Had five or six people interview me in quick succession. Didn't go well, which was probably best for all concerned.

[BigDataPro]

[IsayIsayIsay]

Just being slightly pedantic but is this as a perm or as a contractor?

I was permie at the time... 2017.

[La Petite Valse]

Worked alongside once and "for" once.
Never again. The last time was 18 years ago.
The slightest mention of that lot being any near a contract I would be working on and I would be in the next county quicker than you can say "Speeding ticket".
The same goes for De Toilets - Deloitte and PWC or Pricks w******* c**** as I prefer to call them!
AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!!!!

You haven't lived until you've been "Cooperised" (as they used to refer to the induction period)

[TheDude]

Sounds like the general consensus is to avoid.

My current role isn't perfect but it is pretty much 8:30 - 17:00 each day with limited stress. Doesn't sound like it is worth the risk moving for an extra 10%

[GigiBronz]

You haven't lived until you've been "Cooperised" (as they used to refer to the induction period)

That’s a period of abuse and hardship that you would have to go through so that they can ensure you are committed to the role. You would be psychologically more likely to take more abuse later on / show loyalty.
similar to what fraternities are doing to new joins.

I would not personally mind if the money makes sense. Which is definitely not as a perm.

This I think is common in the big banks as well.

[TheDude]

This I think is common in the big banks as well.

I have only been a permie for one bank - Goldman Sachs.

Hours were brutal and it was seen as a badge of honour to work late to complete non critical work.

I worked in front office every single day overnight jobs would have failed as a consequence of changes to a huge shared codebase. The firms policy was simply to throw more developers at the problem rather than to improve robustness.

That said I learned a lot and it is a great firm to have on your CV. My subsequent career contracting for some of Goldmans peers has been a lot more civilised. I have been treated very well and hours have been more than reasonable.

[Paralytic]

You haven't lived until you've been "Cooperised" (as they used to refer to the induction period)

Just like that?

[malvolio]

Started my freelance career with a consortium of Coopers & Lybrand and Toilet and Douche. I was slightly amazed at hoe many layers of management were between me and the end client. I got the job done (to time, under budget and with full client sign off) mainly by ignoring the management team; all they got was project progress reporting and reports on what I had done that week to deliver the end objective - and the occasional demand for funding for various reasons. Never got any kick back at any point.

Subsequent gigs with the Big4 have been much the same, do the job and tell them what you've done. Their employees, however, absolutely do not have that option....