Consultant Profiles

James, Managing Consultant MEng Computer Systems & Software Engineering from York University "After university I considered many positions including some pure programming jobs in the defence sector where I had carried out two summer placements. But I was worried about getting pigeon-holed as a programmer, and consultancy appealed because of the variety of projects. Customer Systems attracted me as a smaller consultancy where I would get noticed, and get more interesting roles. I was surprised to be given so much responsibility straight away, but I was right about getting noticed in a smaller company - there really is no room for dead wood. You're thrust into the thick of the action and expected to handle pretty much any situation. My role has changed in the time I’ve been here: from a purely application based role to being technical lead, involved in much more of the business analysis and project management. Day to day I now spend a lot more time in business-related meetings, finding out exactly what businesses need, and, because of my experience, advising them. I also have the added responsibility of managing junior consultants. You do get to be involved in some of their development, which is rewarding, but then again sometimes they’re so prepared and ready they don’t need any help! Having worked here for 4 ½ years I would say that the best thing about Customer systems is the challenges you face on each new project, and the opportunity to take them on. I’ve also really enjoyed travelling to a great number of countries. "

Jayanud, Senior Consultant MEng Information Systems Engineering, Imperial College London "I wanted to work for a smaller consultancy with shorter projects, because I thought that moving from project to project more frequently would give me more variety. I joined less than a year ago, and I’ve already worked on seven projects. When I joined, I didn’t expect to have as much responsibility as I do now. As a relatively new joiner, I expected to be stuck in the background for a while, doing the more mundane tasks – but in fact I was dealing directly with clients right from the outset. I’d only been here seven months when I found myself managing a project. The training is great for teaching you how to be an expert in the software. But it can’t teach you what you need to know about each individual project you go on to, so you have to pick things up quickly on the job. That’s one of the most challenging parts of the role, but the exposure to all these different projects in different industries is one of the best things about working here."