I'm going LIVE on Thursday, August 27 at 7 PM EST. Make sure to attend so you can ask all your questions about anything in tech consulting, consulting, careers, jobs, or about myself there! Judgement free zone! ruclips.net/video/mTYPWzP02_8/видео.html Also, join the Technology Consulting Community Facebook group to meet other aspiring or current technology consultants! facebook.com/groups/techconsulting
Christine, great review of those options. I got some questions: How did you choose workday finance? If you were to choose a platform/software specialty again, which aspects would you prioritize to build a career in tech consulting?
Great question! I actually didn't choose Workday Finance. I was hired through TDP and they told me a week before I started that I'm doing Workday Finance. So after I actually started, I was thinking of leaving to go to other fields I was more interested, but as I got certified and worked on projects, I actually really liked what I was doing because it was challenging and engaging. If I were to choose a specialty, I would prioritize my consulting skills early on. The tech comes second, but rather the experience must be engaging. Technical skills are good too to get the job done but to really do well in this job, consulting and people skills matter a lot. When starting out, you don't get many opportunities because you're just learning the ropes, but stepping up is the first step rather than waiting for the opportunity. Consulting and people skills make a good technology consultant great, not technical skills.
awesome vid, do you have a video regarding the topic of relocating for work? -How do you tell your employer you want to work at a specific location (after the job offer) -Can you expand on the relocation bonus -Process on how it works to get your license changed etc -Do they give you options on different cities to work in.. if so, why did you choose NYC over these other cool cities thanks 🙏
I don’t have a video on relocating because I technically did not relocate. I chose NYC because I was born and raised in NY. To Accenture it counted as relocating as I was currently studying at Boston University.
I guess it depends on why you want to relocate and when you ask. If it’s to change the office you were chosen for, it could be difficult if there are no openings. Generally most consulting firms are open to you relocating after 1 year. As for relocation bonus, that’s just something the firm provides on your first few paychecks (along with your signing bonus), I don’t know much about it other than that when I received it. Some companies allow you to reimburse relocation expenses, but that’s different than a bonus as it’s taxed and received differently. I never got my license changed as I have always had a NY license. They give you options for different cities upfront during the interview process but no guarantees. They only continue interviewing you if those locations have openings or if you’re open to others. Different regions have different quotas, taxes, and cost of living.
Great video concept to really round out the whole consulting life cycle! How experienced would you say you should be before trying to do independent consulting?
I think you need to be experienced enough to know how an entire project should be. So you need to wear a project manager cap, engagement manager/delivery lead cap, consultant cap, but also an “employee” cap because now you’re doing a 1099 basically with your client as the employer.
Yup, I know a few that have left Accenture to become independent consultants. Definitely not the easiest. May even say it’s harder! But you can dictate your own hours and how things get done. Downside is now that you’re being directly paid by the client, it can get a little bit more bureaucratic.
Great video, very informative! For the tech consultants who leave to go to a client side company, do they typically move up one level (to a more managerial position)? what should one pay attention to while taking on projects if interested in such an exit option?
They do tend to go higher up as a manager! A lot of companies reach out to me to take more of an admin or manager role myself and I’m only 2 years in haha. I would pay attention to doing projects in industries or areas you want to exit in. That way you can provide actual tangible experiences and skills to the interview and ultimately the company. I hope that answers your question!
Good question! I actually have a video coming out later this on that. Long story short they are not the same: those are more of task based support work on accounting functions but in technology consulting, it’s project based work with a business problem to solve usually with a solution in tech. However, Big 4 still has true tech consulting roles. You just need to make sure you find the right track within the firm. Deloitte is the only one that splits Consulting and Advisory. Consulting would be the Technology Consulting part.
You can! Depending on what project roles you’ve done in technology consulting, it can be very easy and seamless or very hard. But if you choose product management projects, it will be seamless. It really is on finding projects to fulfill gaps you couldn’t achieve through past projects you had.
Of course! You’ll probably have to figure out the gap between your current skillset and experience and achieve that in the consulting firm through training and projects, but this generally is helpful at a big consulting firm with resources. Some boutique firms may have the same competencies and resources, but given the resources, time, and your hard work, you should be able to.
@@ChristineWong Got you thanks. Company is IBM..? I have an offer for consulting in cloud programming (Azure/AWS) but I had hopes of becoming a dev later down the line. This is the first part of my tech career too, I’m 18 Should probably mention it’s a degree apprenticeship (UK student)
@@RanjeetSingh-pd1bm you definitely can become a software engineer with that! You already would be one with this role, just adding consultant as another hat you wear.
I'm going LIVE on Thursday, August 27 at 7 PM EST. Make sure to attend so you can ask all your questions about anything in tech consulting, consulting, careers, jobs, or about myself there! Judgement free zone! ruclips.net/video/mTYPWzP02_8/видео.html
Also, join the Technology Consulting Community Facebook group to meet other aspiring or current technology consultants! facebook.com/groups/techconsulting
Great content! Great advice. I now know what I should think about if I ever decide to do something outside of technology consulting.
HAHA, hope you stay in tech consulting, but hopefully this video reflects how tech consulting could be an amazing career starter for many!
I work in Oracle Cloud financials. It all makes sense what you share here.
I’m glad! How are you liking Oracle Cloud financials?
so useful!! Thanks so much :)
I’m glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!
Christine, great review of those options. I got some questions: How did you choose workday finance? If you were to choose a platform/software specialty again, which aspects would you prioritize to build a career in tech consulting?
Great question! I actually didn't choose Workday Finance. I was hired through TDP and they told me a week before I started that I'm doing Workday Finance. So after I actually started, I was thinking of leaving to go to other fields I was more interested, but as I got certified and worked on projects, I actually really liked what I was doing because it was challenging and engaging. If I were to choose a specialty, I would prioritize my consulting skills early on. The tech comes second, but rather the experience must be engaging. Technical skills are good too to get the job done but to really do well in this job, consulting and people skills matter a lot. When starting out, you don't get many opportunities because you're just learning the ropes, but stepping up is the first step rather than waiting for the opportunity. Consulting and people skills make a good technology consultant great, not technical skills.
@@ChristineWong That is a great way of seeing this field. Thanks for sharing your experience!
You’re welcome! I hope that helped!
awesome vid, do you have a video regarding the topic of relocating for work?
-How do you tell your employer you want to work at a specific location (after the job offer)
-Can you expand on the relocation bonus
-Process on how it works to get your license changed etc
-Do they give you options on different cities to work in.. if so, why did you choose NYC over these other cool cities
thanks 🙏
I don’t have a video on relocating because I technically did not relocate. I chose NYC because I was born and raised in NY. To Accenture it counted as relocating as I was currently studying at Boston University.
I guess it depends on why you want to relocate and when you ask. If it’s to change the office you were chosen for, it could be difficult if there are no openings. Generally most consulting firms are open to you relocating after 1 year. As for relocation bonus, that’s just something the firm provides on your first few paychecks (along with your signing bonus), I don’t know much about it other than that when I received it. Some companies allow you to reimburse relocation expenses, but that’s different than a bonus as it’s taxed and received differently. I never got my license changed as I have always had a NY license. They give you options for different cities upfront during the interview process but no guarantees. They only continue interviewing you if those locations have openings or if you’re open to others. Different regions have different quotas, taxes, and cost of living.
great video, you are doing a great job!
Thank you!
Great video concept to really round out the whole consulting life cycle! How experienced would you say you should be before trying to do independent consulting?
I think you need to be experienced enough to know how an entire project should be. So you need to wear a project manager cap, engagement manager/delivery lead cap, consultant cap, but also an “employee” cap because now you’re doing a 1099 basically with your client as the employer.
Christine Wong that makes sense! Good to know!
Yup, I know a few that have left Accenture to become independent consultants. Definitely not the easiest. May even say it’s harder! But you can dictate your own hours and how things get done. Downside is now that you’re being directly paid by the client, it can get a little bit more bureaucratic.
Great video, very informative! For the tech consultants who leave to go to a client side company, do they typically move up one level (to a more managerial position)? what should one pay attention to while taking on projects if interested in such an exit option?
They do tend to go higher up as a manager! A lot of companies reach out to me to take more of an admin or manager role myself and I’m only 2 years in haha. I would pay attention to doing projects in industries or areas you want to exit in. That way you can provide actual tangible experiences and skills to the interview and ultimately the company. I hope that answers your question!
@@ChristineWong thanks so much for your reply!
You’re welcome!
Are the technology risk consulting/risk advisory positions at Big 4 Accounting firms the same type of positions at accenture?
Good question! I actually have a video coming out later this on that.
Long story short they are not the same: those are more of task based support work on accounting functions but in technology consulting, it’s project based work with a business problem to solve usually with a solution in tech. However, Big 4 still has true tech consulting roles. You just need to make sure you find the right track within the firm. Deloitte is the only one that splits Consulting and Advisory. Consulting would be the Technology Consulting part.
Could you also become a product manager?
You can! Depending on what project roles you’ve done in technology consulting, it can be very easy and seamless or very hard. But if you choose product management projects, it will be seamless. It really is on finding projects to fulfill gaps you couldn’t achieve through past projects you had.
Could you become a software engineer?
Of course! You’ll probably have to figure out the gap between your current skillset and experience and achieve that in the consulting firm through training and projects, but this generally is helpful at a big consulting firm with resources. Some boutique firms may have the same competencies and resources, but given the resources, time, and your hard work, you should be able to.
@@ChristineWong Got you thanks. Company is IBM..? I have an offer for consulting in cloud programming (Azure/AWS) but I had hopes of becoming a dev later down the line. This is the first part of my tech career too, I’m 18
Should probably mention it’s a degree apprenticeship (UK student)
@@RanjeetSingh-pd1bm you definitely can become a software engineer with that! You already would be one with this role, just adding consultant as another hat you wear.
What do you mean when you say 1099?
It’s a US tax form! Don’t worry about it! It’s a tax form companies give to their contractors who are not employees.