Hi everyone, I have an offer for the ACG at Accenture starting next year. I'm very interested in several areas of consulting, such as CRM and supply chain, and would also like to gain experience on a strategy project. However, I've heard conflicting reports about the strategy group at ACN - some say that it's impossible to get into as it's very elite and some say that it's possible to get on a strat project as long as you network and develop relevant skills from previous projects. Can anyone at ACN provide an answer? Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!

When I was there, admittedly a few years ago, this was rare. Particularly when strategy work is thin on the ground.If you really want to do strategy, my advice is to go to a dedicated strat firm, even a boutique, rather than spend months trying, probably without success, to migrate across in a large firm.

Thanks arrangement! To be honest I'm really interested in other areas of consulting, and I'm not one of those 'strategy or nothing' type people, so I'm not really bothered if I can't get on a strategy project. How did you find working at Accenture by the way? Are you working in industry now or at another consulting firm?

Hi Myomi, I have also applied for Accenture a month ago. They have got back to me 2 weeks ago saying that my education achievements match their criteria and that my application is being processed further. Since then I haven't heard from them.Could you kindly let me know when did you apply and when did they get back to you?I am worried why is this taking so long.. Also, which month did they offer you to start next year?Thanks!

Hi Evas - could you tell me what specialism you applied for? I was told a few months ago that Q1 recruitment was closed and to keep an eye out for Q2 adverts. I've been checking the ACN website recently but there are few ads posted.thanks

Hi evaS, when I applied ACN got back to me very fast, applied in September, invited to telephone interview just one day after submitting my form and the whole thing took about one month from application to offer. They offered me Oct 2012 to start but I'm on the waitlist as I really don't want to wait that long!

[quote]Hi evaS, when I applied ACN got back to me very fast, applied in September, invited to telephone interview just one day after submitting my form and the whole thing took about one month from application to offer. They offered me Oct 2012 to start but I'm on the waitlist as I really don't want to wait that long! [/quote]Out of interest, did you state a preference for management consulting or tech consulting at interview. I ask because I received an ACG offer in mid september, but was given a start date of Feb 2013. They said that they had filled Oct 2012. In my interviews I said I wanted a MC alignment, and seeing as I have no IT history I am hoping I am aligned there. Maybe MC was full until Feb 2013, but they had technology role for October 2012.Slightly confused that you got an earlier date, when I asked to start ASAP

I stated a preference for management consulting, but your alignment will only be confirmed one month before the start date and your start date definitely isn't dependent on the platform you're aligned to. I received my offer in early September, so I guess that the Oct 2012 slot was filling up at that point. A word of warning: even if you don't have an IT background, there is still a strong chance that you may be aligned to the tech consulting platform. I spoke to a few ACN graduates, all of whom did not have IT backgrounds, who were placed in tech consulting!Have you requested to be waitlisted? I know starting in 2013 means it's a long time to wait!

I have requested to be put on the waiting list, yes. I agree, Feb 2013 is a bit ridiculous, esp as I have already graduated. When I applied in August it said it was for March 2012 intake, and during the app process we received a spreadsheet saying that they needed loads of people to start immediately. You can imagine the look of horror on the faces of the 10 people at the assessment centre, all having left uni, when we were told that 2013 was the earliest!!Out of interest, did you study a science or maths background. Maybe those in tech consulting have a quant background, and thus could easily understand coding etc, whilst the management consultants tend to be arts/humanities grads. I did history so Im hoping thats the case.Not letting people know is a bit sneaky TBH. I'm sure they know that hoards of people would reject their offers if they were aligned to tech, so keep it secret until your committed.

Hate to tell you this but the people I met in tech consulting were all arts/humanities grads - according to them, your degree isn't taken into account and your alignment is ultimately based on business need. According to the ACN website the earliest start date is now summer 2013!

Hi all,I too have an october 2012 start date. Admittedly, I don't have the same issue of having finished my degree already - im only a finalist now!I look forward to meeting you,Dom

i'm with ACN and recently moved to Strategy, and its not at all elitist - however I wouldnt recommend it since ACN has never been known to be a strategy firm... if you're looking for "Strategy" then better to be with a boutique.Also, its been recently reorganized and split between the industry teams and a 'global' team.. leaving it with an even weaker identity and purpose..CRM is going great guns, and so is supply chain... so much much better areas to be with.

Thank you for the info anon2012! That's really helpful. Good to know that supply chain and CRM areas are doing well, I'm more interested in the operations side of consulting now anyway. My start date at ACN has been moved forward now so I start in May. Am glad I don't have to wait for ages until October, but I'm also starting to get a little nervous. How are you finding ACN, do you like working there?

Hello there!I signed with Accenture in October 2011. My HR contact said she would contact me 5 weeks before my preferred month (which I indicated as June 2012 during my interview). to discuss an exact start date.After reading some of the responses in this thread, however, I am now getting the impression that there is a chance I may not necessarily start on my preferred month. How were you guys able to find out your exact start months/dates?

What kind of strategy work do accenture do? Is it mostly technology based? choosing which system to implement? or do they do corp strategy and really influence corporate directions...