Consultant Profiles

Richard, Principal Consultant BSc Management Sciences, Loughborough University "I'm from a business background, but I'm glad that didn't put me off applying to Customer Systems! It isn't about having loads of programming in your background: if you can break a problem down and solve it, there's no reason you can't be as successful here as someone with a Masters in Computing. The training was tough, as I'd never seen some of the technologies before, but you get to dig around in the application and really build your understanding. I learn best when I get to do a lot of my own investigation, so it was just what I was looking for. Having been here for a while now, I get to do requirements gathering and business meetings with stakeholders, but I also still get to do the technical stuff I really enjoy. I think I have a nice mix, and my advancement shows that the clients are happy with my work. Clients often come to me as a first point of contact on other problems, because they really trust me as an expert, which is satisfying. I’ve recently been made Principal Consultant, so obviously the next step is Managing Consultant. At the moment I’m really focussed on my current project, and I want to see it through to completion, but it’s great to know that the opportunity is there for me to strive for in future. When I’m at clients’ sites, I notice that the roles and levels I’m dealing with on a daily basis are much higher than graduates of my age that I’ve come across. As a consultant at Customer Systems there is much higher responsibility and with it much higher respect. It’s brilliant- a job that gets you straight in there."

Dave, Senior Consultant MSc Physics, University of Illinois "The training wasn't long and drawn out and I was quickly working on real projects. The training is not a step by step guide. It’s not supposed to be. My first assignment was a two week project with other more experienced consultants, but there were a lot of skills to pick up that no amount of training teaches you. You have to pick up the skills of working with the client and adapting to the situation as you go. I’ve now done lots of projects, many in small groups or on my own, but I’m currently on a project with 9 other consultants which is a completely different experience. I’ve done projects for the finance, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and software industries. Customer Systems sponsored me for a work visa to work here in the UK. It is great to find a company who will take you on because you’re the best candidate instead of ignoring you because there might be paperwork to allow you to work here. Lots of companies will just hold your hand, regardless of how talented you are. Here, if you want it, you get real experience. Consultancy doesn’t get boring."