This position with Accenture requires strong research skills. What is the first resource you turn to when you need to research a person, business, or topic?
At Accenture we seek to hire those who can read between the lines in order to uncover our client's potential needs. Give me an example of how you have successfully done this.
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"One example I can give is when one of my larger clients went through a corporate restructure last year. I was able to help them fill in some gaps on their service needs as I saw potential shifts in their business. Because I have assisted many clients with restructuring projects in the past, I was able to foresee some of the roadblocks they may face and offered my assistance there. The client was very pleased with my proactive approach and I was able to up sell additional services."
"With each new client that I take on, I conduct a detailed questionnaire with my primary contact. I ask tough questions regarding the pain points in their business. From these answers, I can predict some of their needs faster than they are able to. I believe this is because it's harder to see your needs when you are directly in the middle of the scenario. Sometimes, it's easier for outsiders to uncover your business' greatest needs."
The interviewer would like to be assured that you understand the nuances that come with this job. When you work for Accenture you must be able to think independently and out of the box at all times. This type of thinking will increase client happiness, sales results, and will help to increase your personal portfolio. Give one real-life example of how you helped a client by reading further into their potential needs.
In this role with Accenture you will be required to make regular presentations to our clients. How comfortable are you with public speaking, and creating PowerPoint presentations?
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"I am very comfortable with public speaking and would rate myself as an advanced user in PowerPoint. I have attended multiple Toastmaster classes to perfect my public speaking skills. In my current position I will present to groups from 3 people to 90, ranging from 'lunch and learns' with my internal team to the an entire department for my client. I receive consistently positive feedback on my presentations because I like to keep them engaging through the use of analogies and strong visuals."
"I am an intermediate user in PowerPoint and have no problem improving my skills to an advanced level. When it comes to public speaking, my experience is limited; however, enough to know that I do not suffer from stage fright. I would very much enjoy further exposure to public speaking and delivering presentations."
If you know ahead of time that presentations are going to be a part of this position, feel free to bring a previously crafted PowerPoint presentation with you, on a tablet or iPad. Otherwise, be prepared with some examples that include the amount of people you have presented to, what the range of topics has been, and what the outcome was.
You can also make your answer very clear by rating yourself from 1-10 on your PowerPoint and public speaking skills. If you have any formal training in public speaking, be sure to talk about that as well.
We have many strong competitors. What makes Accenture stand out, and how could we improve?
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"After researching Accenture online, I found that you really stand out through the many ways that you give back to your community. On the Accenture website, as well as third party review sites, people are talking about the charitable contributions and generosity coming from Accenture. This makes your company a big stand-out to me because I am serious about working for an organization that is aware of their social impact."
"Without having worked in Accenture, it is tough to accurately give suggestions on improvement. I quite like what I have seen so far and feel that your company stands out through your quality standards and search for constant improvement."
It is important that you research Accenture before your interview and be sure to learn about their business landscape. Who are their competitors? What are customers saying online? Check out some popular review sites to get an idea of what the public is saying about Accenture vs their local competitors. Keep your answer positive and complimentary.
What do you know about our clients at Accenture and the types of services we offer?
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"From what I understand, you provide services primarily to clients within 'ABC Industry'. Your range of services is quite broad which was a big pull for me when applying to Accenture. Could you tell me a little bit more about your primary client base?"
"I have conducted a great amount of research on Accenture before coming here today. I believe that your product range is vast and it would attract a very diverse set of clientele. Is this correct? The one service that stood out to me was (name a service) because it offers exceptional value to established business owners and new entrepreneurs, alike."
The interviewer wants to be assured that you have put some effort into getting to know their business and the types of clients that Accenture services. You can find this information online by combing through the company website or doing a Google search. Discuss with the interviewer what you discovered during that research. It is absolutely okay to ask the interviewer more about the services and clientele at Accenture as well.
This position requires a competitive yet collaborative individual. How do you plan to make an impact in your first 90 days with Accenture while setting a strong groundwork of trust with your new team members?
Our Accenture interview questions and answers are created from the industry we believe they most well-represent.
For a full list of industries we base our company interviews off of; click here.
About Accenture
Accenture plc is a multinational management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing company. Its incorporated headquarters are in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is the world's largest consulting firm as measured by revenues and is a Fortune Global 500 company. As of 2013, the company reported net revenues of $28.6 billion with approximately 280,000 employees, serving clients in more than 200 cities in 56 countries. Accenture has more employees in India than any other country; in the US, it has about 40,000 employees and 35,000 located in the Philippines. Accenture's current clients include 91 of the Fortune Global 100 and more than three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500. Since September 1, 2009 the company has been incorporated in Ireland.
Accenture was chosen to replace CGI Group as the lead contractor for HealthCare.gov in January 2014.
Accenture common equity is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, under the symbol ACN, and was added to the S&P 500 index on July 5, 2011.