Case studies: Service introduction analyst: Meir Adler

Meir graduated with a philosophy degree in 2009 from The University of Nottingham. He now works in management consultancy as a service introduction analyst...

I began my career by taking part in Accenture's Boot Camp, which is something I'd highly recommend to anyone else considering a career at Accenture. Before I went to Boot Camp I thought it would be a difficult two-day interview. It was nothing like that. It was a fantastic experience where I got to learn new skills, meet loads of people from Accenture and make some great friends.

Boot Camp helped to hone my networking and teamwork skills and it made me understand what it means to build a successful business. Although it wasn't exactly a relaxing weekend (there wasn't a dull moment) I thought it was fantastic. To cap it all off, after Boot Camp I was fast-tracked through the application process for the Analyst Consulting Group, which has got me where I am today.

There aren't really any typical days in my job - one of the fantastic things about working at Accenture is the huge amount of variety. The one constant element is the fact that you're always learning, improving and up-skilling - you never stand still here.

When I first started I was doing some bid work (also called pitching or business development). I worked in a team of 25 people, across four time zones. It was really intense but I've never had more fun and the team bonded across all levels.

Right now I'm working on a project at Shell, building training and support materials for one of our assignments. It's a huge learning curve, but has done wonders for my knowledge of the business world. It made me realise that you come out of university with a lot of theoretical knowledge, but it's not until you work for a company like Accenture that you actually find out how it all fits into the working world.

My career ambitions are to keep moving upwards, both in career progression and personal progression in regards to skills and value that I can add to a business environment. If Accenture continues to stretch me, which I believe it can do, I will be here for a long time.

I'd say that the knowledge and skills I'm gaining are the biggest reward of all - more so even than the excellent pay and benefits. Training and development are valued highly and all new analysts are sent to Chicago for two weeks' training. I've recently returned from that and would have to say it's been a highlight of my time so far at Accenture. In addition to all of the learning, there was plenty of time for socialising and solidifying good friendships.

The learning curve is steep. Working at Accenture, you have to be at the top of your game and willing to learn from those around you and from the work you're involved with. Nothing is insurmountable, though, and there are always people to help and support you when needed.

In consulting, as with any career, the best way to find out if you're really suited is to do an internship or placement. Accenture offers many different ones, tailored to your level of study and length of time available. From the 48-hour Boot Camp to the year-long industrial placement, there is something for everyone.