Hi Guys.
I am fortunate enough to be offered Graduate employment in Accenture and IBM.
I was wondering which is a better company for graduates? The accenture role is in Accenture Technology (delivery) and the IBM role is a Graduate Consultant (delivery + consulting).
Thanks!
It's too bad there isn't two of you.
As someone in the professional services field, I would suggest you focus more on the role and what you want to achieve as everyone will have various opinions.
For instance, my opinion of IBM is negative through experiences shared by my friends and yet my opinion of Accenture is also negative due to their consultancy business essentially being low quality. See the recent government cancellation of their contract.
Horses for courses…so many factors including your team, the specialisation and whether you want to stay or jump ship early on.
I have friends who worked at Accenture, I also have friends who worked at IBM.
The feedback I get is that IBM is a much more traditional company with a much more rigid corporate structure. In other words, progress can often be slow and promotions take time. There's a lot of people in middle management and higher who might not actually know all that much about the technical aspects of your projects and I've heard that projects can often be inefficient and slow. However, the flip side is that most of my friends who've worked at IBM say that the pace is really easy-going and employees are never over-worked. Many of them said that arriving later than usual or leaving earlier is not a big deal and that they're quite flexible with alternative working arrangements, e.g. working from home after maternity leave.
On the other hand, my Accenture friends say that it's a much more modern, dynamic company. Basically, you might start off with a lower salary, but you get promoted quickly if you're good and you work hard. Like with many more "hip" companies, they expect to be not only just your work, but part of your lifestyle. That means that often working more hours is required and you'd be expected to be much more dedicated to your work commitments. I've heard that late night finishes are not uncommon during busy times. I've also heard that the workforce at Accenture is a bit younger, which might be good from a social/bonding aspect, but actually worse from a work/life balance aspect, as younger people have less outside commitments and tend to work harder, of course, raising the bar for everyone else too.
Like what's already mentioned so far, you're likely doing similar work regardless of where you go and it should be noted that all of this is anecdotal, not "evidence" and hence, should be taken with a grain of salt. Like I always say, it's almost silly to compare different workplaces in general as you're more likely to see heaps of differences even within divisions of the same company. Probably doesn't make your choice any easier. Either way, congrats, you've got a great job lined up whichever way you go.
well said!
My wife suggests IBM due to the consulting nature of the role (she's an ex-IBM grad). It will be more interesting according to her than delivery only.
Having talked to some of her acquaintances and others I know whom have gone through Accenture, I would have to agree. BUT certainly the IBM my wife started at is not the same as the one now - essentially everyone she knows has jumped ship including herself. It does seem to give you very good "corporate" experience and very valuable if you make the most of the learning opportunity.
Having worked at Accenture as a grad(20 years ago) and having worked for IBM in their consulting practice as well, I would recommend Accenture over IBM easily.
Accenture!!!!!, add poll pls
Accenture… Have heard that IBM cost cutting has gone to the extent that they no longer provide tea/coffee and milk to employees in the kitchen fridges!
they no longer provide tea/coffee and milk to employees in the kitchen fridges!
they no longer provide employment.
FTFY
The milk/coffee/tea thing is probably now close to a decade ago. Didn't miss the Nescafe 43 they were providing at the time though the milk has sprung other issues like everyone begin bringing in their own milk piling up the fridge.
Thanks all!
The role in Accenture is Accenture Technology/ Accenture Technology solutions. It will involve development, platform integration etc. It will not involve interaction with clients.
The role in IBM is part of their GBS division (ex PwC consulting). It will involve client interactions and software development. I will be in the cloud division.
Both the roles are in Perth. Not sure what contracts both the companies have in Perth.
I wish I could try both of them tbh!
Client interaction/facing opportunities are worth their weight in gold. Other skills can be developed later.
Have to agree. Client facing is where the $$$ is further on down the line. See if you can defer Accenture for a year and try the ibm role out.
Yep. I have deferred Accenture by 6 months to try the IBM role out.
I cannot defer any later unfortunately.
@mandok: people who rise through the ranks are always those with relationship skills. Look at whose jobs are being off shored, the technical people. If you know how to sell you will always have a job.
I have added a poll. Please be free to poll :)
ex ibmer here, they're blood sucking penny pinching backstabbing parasites
Same can be said for a lot of other places. I did learn a lot from dealing with said parasites or dodging the odd dagger being knifed into my back.
IBM = Institute of Broken Marriages
Or Idiots Become Managers.
Disagree. Promotion is based on compliance not competence. Why fight against they tide when the decision has already been made and you have no skin in the game.
Personally would go for Accenture, purely because I've heard some pretty good things, they deal with a lot of different clients and even government ones I think? and they seem to be growing quite well. IBM seems here and there for me, like a legacy company, I don't really hear them much around and when I ever do it hasn't been the most positive of stuff.
Personally as well delivery sounds more interesting, I'm guessing its dealing with clients to gain requirements and creating systems/technology for whatever they may need. I'm not a huge fan of consultancy but thats just my personal preference, I feel end of the day you'll be doing similar in both.
I also feel that Accenture would probably have the better program but I don't have anything to base that on. End of the day though its kind of like when people talk about which uni is the best, they all end up teaching the same thing and being a graduate program they're should all be quite good, don't think you can really go wrong?
Also congrats mate!! I hope its an enjoyable program!