Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Their gap year placement scheme is called Horizons.

Salary: £12,500 for 8 months work (£18k pro rata plus £500 up front)

Length of employment: 8 months – Timing: Sept – April inclusive – Location: anywhere in the UK

Accommodation: provided if outside of London in high quality hotels or flats.

No of places: c15

There is also the opportunity if you impress, that Accenture will sponsor you for the 3 years at university providing £3000 plus soft skills training, mentor support and a possibility of a placement on their summer vacation scheme, which in turn leads to a graduate position.

Who are they looking for?

Final year A ‘level (or equivalent) students who would consider taking a gap year after their exams and are interested in business and technology. They are looking for students predicted to get 340 or more UCAS points from their top 3 A ‘levels or equivalent. This is equivalent to 2 A’s and a B.

Recruitment Process

This opens in September, when you need to submit an application form and do an online 20-min situational judgement test. The later presents you with a number of situations and a range of different responses and you are asked to select the most effective response. This is followed by a competency based telephone interview covering key skills they deem to be important in an analyst. If you pass this you will be invited to an assessment centre. This consists of a case study, a group exercise, an in-tray exercise and a final 1:1 interview. (see section on recruitment for advice)

What type of work can you expect?

They provide a comprehensive induction during the first week. You will then be given a minimum of 2 placements during your 8 months, where you will be given real work and real responsibility. You will get genuine client contact and get formally evaluated on two occasions. Accenture also treat you extremely well, organizing social events for the group throughout the 8 months. It’s therefore a very sociable period. The Horizon group also forms part of a wider group of other internships, such as industrial placements (from universities such as Bath) and navigator students (graduates on a 9 week internship).

What’s the benefit?

1. Significant salary to fund travel plans and university
2. Interesting work for 8 months (beats working in a bar or shop!)
3. Fantastic learning experience where you will genuinely learn a number of new skills and get real exposure to a corporate environment
4. Great work experience for your CV. You will have real life situations to draw from in future interviews. This is invaluable.
5. You start to differentiate yourself from your peers who have had no similar work experience
6. Gain exposure to Management consulting as a potential future career
7. If you impress, gain an early advantage with Accenture with the potential of being sponsored by them.
8. Great social environment for 8 months and you meet lots of like minded other students.
9. Timing allows you to still be able to travel for 4-5 months.

Find out more about how to prepare for the job assessment process for Accenture here.