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The variety of opportunities makes consulting a great option for graduates

The start of my consulting career…

Technology savvy..? No, me neither!

Many people think of Capgemini as a technology company. Although it is highly likely that you will be placed on project roles that are IT related, it is reassuring to know that you don’t need to be technologically gifted to participate fully in project life. All you need is a lot of common sense, great people skills and the capacity to learn quickly.

Saatchi stable. School of Rem Koolhaas. House of Chanel. Capgemini CDC.

OK, budding consultants in the Consultant Development Community may not be critically acclaimed artists but being creative is a huge part our working life.

Coming from a background in advertising I was prepared to keep my creative juices in their box when I joined. However as the weeks flew by it was increasingly obvious that creativity is an important component of what we do and deliver.

One of our main aims is to work collaboratively with our clients so we must think carefully about how we make the most effective use of their time. Distilling large amounts of information into key messages and digestible diagrams, armed with brown paper, post-it notes, blu-tack and scissors, is an art in itself. These invite clients to fully interact and engage with the material resulting in co-created solutions to add value to their organisation.

Not only do we create tools like this but we also consider how to maximise the space we have by creating environments to obtain the best results from client time. Some sessions also begin with icebreakers which we can be creative with to encourage interaction and help attendees feel at ease.  

These skills are taught and tried at CSW (see Fran’s post) and can also be found in our internal work. Finally, it bubbles over into the CDC socials, for instance, I have to think of a secret santa present for my intake with a budget of £0. Ideas are most welcome!

Lysette is an Associate Consultant who joined Capgemini Consulting in September 2008.  She is currently working on a Marketing, Sales & Service Service project for a major Governmental department.

CSW – what’s it all about?

When you first join the CDC, you will undergo three weeks of training; two weeks in Woking/London and a third week at Consulting Skills Workshop (CSW) in France. CSW gives you an invaluable insight into the Capgemini way of working and equips you with the key consulting skills you need for a client-facing role.

The timetable at CSW is pretty intensive (be prepared for 8am starts!) however, the skills you gain from the course will prove invaluable throughout your consulting career. Here, you will discover the magical world of Brown Papers, RACI Charts, Bi-directional Transformation maps and many other tools we use when working with clients.

CSW is not just about hard work – the week includes a range of team-building exercises and social events. As well as expanding your mind at CSW, also be prepared to expand your waistline – meals are a gastronomic extravaganza and the bar is a great place to let off some steam. For the fitness fanatics out there, Les Fontaines also plays host to a pool, gym and tennis courts.

Personally, one of the best parts of CSW (apart from the four course dinners!) was the chance to get to know colleagues from across Europe. Despite differing business styles and the occasional language barrier, I found there to be a genuine sense of team spirit and willingness to share knowledge and ideas.

CSW is compulsory for all those new to Capgemini Consulting, so if you are accepted onto the CDC, look forward to one of the most rewarding weeks of your life!