Accenture Reviews in Chicago, IL Area

Pros

In Accenture i was able to learn a lot of things. There knowledge exchange is good and we get lot of facilities and learning stuff

Cons

In Accenture even though its a good company the growth is slow. In addition sometimes your work doesn't get noticed by everyone

Advice to Senior Management

I would like to have a more time with upper management and also give lower people opportunity to develop business if possible

Pros

Training at Accenture is awesome. They really invest and develop employees. Accenture pushes people beyond their comfort zone and you accomplish things you never saw yourself accomplish.

Cons

The work life balance can be improved. Employees work extremely long hours and there isn't much done to address that.

Advice to Senior Management

Address projects where employees are working extremely long hours. This shouldn't be normal...especially if those employees are being asked to ghost hours. Also ensure that there is a good relationship among analysts/consultants and managers. I was on a project when the manager sat one row away from me but she felt she was too important to talk to the analysts/consultants (the little people). That kind of project morale can really discourage an employee from being a high performer. That is not what Accenture stands for.

Pros

The firm is filled with exceptionally smart, driven people who are fairly supportive and collegial. The work is varied and challenging, domestic and international travel opportunities are ample, and access to senior level leaders both at the firm and on the client side are exceptional.

Cons

I cannot stress this enough....career progression, longevity, bonuses, and even termination decisions, are driven by how strong your career counselor is. Those things have almost nothing to do with actual performance, but rather how strong a voice your career counselor is for you at the table at the end of the year performance discussions. Accenture is all about relative contribution - meaning how strong a job you did on projects, as well as internal work, compared to your peers. Since this comparison is almost always an apples and oranges discusison, your career counselor is the one that fights for your case. If you have a strong counselor, they'll fight for you tooth and nail and make sure you get a slice of the pie at the end of the year. If they are passive, you'll end up at the bottom of the pile - no bonus, no comp increases, no promotions. Two many of those, and you'll be terminated from the firm (the claim of "we don't do up our out anymore" is absolutely b.s.). So the key is to manage your counselor, as closely as you'd manage any client or subordinate - that person is literally your life or death at the firm.

Advice to Senior Management

Incent the correct behaviors of career counselors via pay or equity grants, etc. Today there is no downfall for them if a counselee ladders well or poorly.

Pros

Accenture gives you good exposure quickly to clients and different types of work. It's a great place to build a foundation and network.

Cons

The performance rating process can be somewhat unfair and recognition for good work is hard to find. You may find yourself on a project without anyone having an interest in your development and career.

Advice to Senior Management

Promote people more fairly, provide more competitive monetary pay, and have respect for individuals recognizing their hard work, and helping develop people in the company.

Pros

Good people, great benefits, and good work/life balance

Cons

The Pay could be better

Pros

Great people to work with and a great culture

Cons

Part of a big machine, hard to balance work/family

Advice to Senior Management

Create better structures that leaning on high-performers until they potentially crack

Pros

Accenture has a great group of people that are easy to work with and they are very willing to work with you in taking time off and getting extra perks on the job.

Cons

Just like all consulting firms, you will have to work during some times very long hours. Also, I would say the 'typical' week is never less than 50-60 hours in my experience.

Advice to Senior Management

The main piece of advice that management at Accenture should know is to NEVER underestimate how knowledgeable the people below you are, always trust their advice as they are people that are in the 'mud' every day.

Pros

Looks good on your Resume
Training, but it depends which workforce you are in
Don't have to travel, if you dont want to if you are in "Solutions"
Pay is below Average only for "Solution" Workforce

Cons

If you are in "ATS" or now it's called Solution then you'r career will go no where.

Back in the days lot of people who were not even High School graduates, were put onto this workforce, but then ATS, now Solutions has raised this bar, so all Solution people are well qualified, but ATS Perception will never change.

Work with a Manager from "Consulting" workforce, and see how he takes credit for every single thing you produce, if on a client project.

Few people, running "Solution" workforce, will "NEVER" let you switch your workforce if you have marketable technical skills. Even though Accenture says you can switch your workforce, but if you are stuck in Solutions, then your only option is to quit Accenture.

Again, per Accenture you can switch your workforce, but if you are Solutions workforce, and you have some marketable technical skills, then Solution workforce, will not let you switch. It's not going to happen. Forget it, and either stay as a second class, or leave.

"Solutions" is a cheap workforce, but no will say that on your face. Only when you produce something valuable at a client side, is when you will see how people change on your face. You could realize this within first month of being hired, or some people realize this within 6 months.

First two years, unless you know someone from inside, you will not be promoted, and believe it not, Solution workforce will also not give you a raise as they want to make sure that you will not leave. So, you will not get anything accept few 100 bucks for variable pay. (literally)

No one will say all this to your on your face, you just have to be in it to understand it. Solutions is a cheap workforce, and this will never change. Even though are more qualified then Consultants, but since you are Solutions, no one will see past that.

Advice to Senior Management

Give Solution People a chance, and have decency to give them credit for there work from of your bosses too. These people, specially new hires have degrees, and are more qualified then Consultants. They were not told during Interview process that they will get looked down at.

Pros

Experience estimating and leading a workstream
Great experience working directly with clients
Generous budget for training and conferences
Five weeks paid vacation
Rack up frequent flier miles, hotel points and other travel perks
Well known company looks great on resume
Work from home on Fridays

Cons

Travel gets old, fast
Can get staffed on a role that has little to do with your interests and specialties
Often exceeding 50/60 hours a week with no overtime pay
Lots of politics involved working within Accenture and with large clients
Not much opportunity for mobile, RIA, social media and other cutting-edge projects
Low base salaries until you get to upper levels

Advice to Senior Management

A lot of consultants and managers are lost due to low salary. Accenture should buy a visual design agency.

Pros

Work from home, salary I guess

Cons

Seriously, the politics and the review process will drive you insane.

Advice to Senior Management

Get rid of the review process and forced attrition. It would be better to be open and honest than have laddering calls and all the work one does for annual review is for naught.