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Accenture new grad / entry level interview: how to actually prep (from someone who just went through it)

newgrad_neil · 5 replies

okay so I just accepted an Accenture Technology Analyst offer and I want to post this while it's fresh because I spent a lot of time looking for guidance and found mostly outdated stuff.

first: the Accenture new grad / entry level process is different from big tech. there is no LeetCode-heavy coding round. at least not for Technology Analyst (which is their main SWE-track new grad role). here's what I actually faced:

online assessment: this was the first gate. it included a coding section (think easy HackerRank problems, basic data structures and loops, nothing harder than easy leetcode), a cognitive/numerical reasoning section, and a short work style questionnaire. the numerical reasoning part caught some people off guard in my cohort. basic ratios, percentages, data interpretation from charts. if you haven't touched that in a while, do a few practice sets.

virtual interview (Accenture uses a recorded HireVue-style video for some roles): not always this step, depends on the team and location. if you get it: your answers are recorded, no live interviewer. prepare short, structured behavioral answers. they ask things like "describe a time you worked on a team project under pressure" and "why Accenture over a product company." the why Accenture question is real and they do evaluate it. vague answers don't land.

final round (varies by practice): I had a live 45-minute conversation with two interviewers. one behavioral section (STAR format, about 3-4 questions) and one light technical discussion where they asked me to walk through a project on my resume and explain my design decisions. no whiteboard coding in the final round for me.

what actually matters for new grad: behavioral prep more than technical depth. they're hiring for trainability and communication as much as raw coding ability. knowing your STAR stories cold, being able to explain your projects clearly to a non-technical person, and having a genuine (not generic) answer to "why consulting" will take you further than grinding LeetCode hard problems.

also: research the practice you're applying to. Accenture has a lot of distinct tracks (Federal, Song, Applied Intelligence, Technology). showing awareness of what that specific group does is noticed.

good luck. it's a solid first job, especially for getting breadth.

5 replies

bootcamp_bri

this is exactly what I needed. I kept seeing advice to grind LeetCode hard for Accenture and it felt off. good to hear the cognitive/numerical section matters, I'll prep that too.

veteran_vance

thanks for posting this. the online assessment format is really helpful to know in advance. did you find the work style questionnaire was timed or could you take your time with it?

newgrad_neil

the work style section wasn't heavily timed, but there was a timer. I think I had like 30 seconds per question. just answer honestly and consistently. I read some advice about trying to game it and I think that's a trap. they're checking for consistency across questions.

intl_isla

the point about researching your specific practice area is underrated. I interviewed with two different groups at a consulting firm and the "why us" hit very differently once I could speak to what their particular practice was actually doing vs. just the company brand.

apm_aisha

congrats on the offer. did they ask any case-style questions for the Technology Analyst role, or was it purely behavioral + technical project walkthrough?