Careers at Accenture
Accenture has over 700,000 employees, with its largest workforces in India and the US. The company continuously recruits across multiple areas of expertise such as consulting, corporate, operations and cybersecurity.
There is a strong focus on training and retaining staff, so Accenture looks for talented and ambitious people who are planning for long-term careers in the industry. Accenture is also striving for a more diverse and equal workforce, so is keen to hear from applicants from less traditional pathways.
The competition for positions at Accenture is high, especially for its graduate and training schemes. This is reflected in the hiring process, which includes multiple assessments to ensure the strongest candidates are brought on board.
Typically the process looks like this:
- Online application
- Online assessment
- Task-based interview
- Business strengths interview
The time from application to decision varies by programme and recruitment volume. Follow the updates in your candidate portal.
Before you apply, check that you meet the academic requirements for the role. These will differ for each position: for example, the graduate schemes require a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study. This is important because you can only apply to one programme at a time, and if you are unsuccessful, you must wait six months before applying again.
This stage is where you input details on your background, education and qualifications, and try to make a strong initial impression on the hiring team. Accenture even encourages using graphics, unusual formatting and hyperlinks to make you stand out from the crowd, so don’t be afraid to get creative.
You also need to show that you are the right fit for the company culture, so become familiar with its code of business ethics and show how you embody these values:
- Conduct counts: You are all about fostering fairness, respect, and ethical values.
- Work responsibly: Your working practices always comply with laws, champion environmental responsibility, and uphold human rights.
- High performance: You’re committed to delivering consistently high quality work for all clients, focusing on their best interests and how to move into a strong, more successful future.
Accenture Discovery Portal
This is a series of psychometric tests given to candidates who pass the initial application stage. They are bespoke to Accenture and used to test your proficiency with technology, plus your logic and cognitive skills.
Useful areas to reflect on before applying include:
If you are a motivated learner and keen to gain new knowledge and skills
How well you collaborate with others, both online and in person
Your level of professionalism when helping clients
Whether you’re interested in new technologies and finding ways to apply them to your work
Accenture estimates you’ll need 60–90 minutes to complete all of the online assessments, so make sure you plan accordingly. The assessment itself is not timed, but Accenture recommends completing it in one sitting.
Accenture situational judgement test
A situational judgement test is a type of psychometric test that assesses how you respond to hypothetical workplace scenarios. Use this as independent practice for workplace decisions, alongside the tutorials in your Discovery Portal invitation.
This test can tell employers about your personality type and problem-solving skills, so it’s important to be honest but also mindful of what they’re looking for. Accenture values ambitious and innovative staff, but also has a strong international and collaborative network. Therefore, showing you work well in a team is important.
There is no prior knowledge needed, but it is still a good idea to practice for situational judgement tests. This will help you to get used to how the questions are structured and how to answer to show you suit the company culture. Have a look at some tips on how to take situational judgement tests to help your technique.

Numerical reasoning practice
One of the most popular aptitude tests given by employers is numerical reasoning, since data interpretation and dealing with numerical information is a key workplace skill for many jobs.
Typically, you will be presented information in the form of graphs and tables, which you will have to analyse and identify key data from to choose the correct answer. As well as testing your numerical dexterity, numerical reasoning tests show employers your problem-solving skills and how well you work under pressure.
Timed numerical practice can help you build fluency, but Accenture’s Discovery Portal itself is untimed and time taken does not affect the result.
Logical reasoning practice
Logical reasoning is an umbrella term for different kinds of problem-solving tests. One useful practice format is diagrammatic reasoning tests, which use abstract, image-based logic questions. Often you will be faced with a series of shapes that differ in size, shape, colour or spatial orientation, and asked to identify the pattern in the sequence.
There is no prior knowledge needed for these, as they are an assessment of your general intelligence and how well you cope with abstract problem-solving. As they are not dependent on language skills or educational background, they are a popular aptitude test for employers who are trying to make their hiring process more inclusive.
However, this does not mean you cannot prepare for them or work to improve your performance beforehand. Logical reasoning tests can be stressful if you’re not used to this type of problem-solving, especially under a time pressure, so it’s important to practice logical questions as much as possible.
Accenture task-based interview
Like many companies, Accenture holds its first interview online. This is a live, on-camera interview with a recruiter, held at a date and time you choose, where you’ll be asked to discuss work-based scenarios and how you would approach them.
The video interview is your first chance to let Accenture see your personality and how you conduct yourself, so it is just as important as a face-to-face one. You should prepare for your digital interview in the same way as a regular one, making sure that you look presentable, have done your research, and are not distracted.
Typical examples of questions you might face in the interview include:
- Tell us about yourself.
- Tell us about a time when you showed leadership skills.
- What does Accenture do?
- Why do you want to work for Accenture?
You should research the company’s history, its key values, and some of its recent business news, as well as general industry news to make sure that you’re prepared to show your enthusiasm for the specific role with Accenture.
Try some practice interview questions and test your camera and connection before the actual interview. This is your chance to fix any technical issues and get used to being in front of the camera.
Accenture assessment centre
Accenture has moved away from a traditional assessment centre. Instead, the final stages are interview-based, and for some programmes they include an additional case study exercise.
Accenture paired exercises
You may be asked to research a relevant business topic to discuss one-on-one with a recruiter. This is not a presentation but is a chance to show off your knowledge and passion for the industry.
Accenture virtual reality exercises
Accenture has previously used virtual reality exercises to assess how well candidates solve problems, absorb information, and prioritise their time. VR does not feature in the standard process any more, but the underlying lesson still applies: if a task is taking up too much of your time, know when to move on and complete what you can.
Accenture strength-based interview
Accenture uses a strength-based interview style, which is more positive and focuses on identifying your strengths and how they will be an asset on the job. This final interview is usually held in person with a manager or managing director; the invitation confirms its duration.
While this kind of interview tends to be more enjoyable and they want you to be honest, it is important to remember how to show that you embody what Accenture is looking for. Refer back to its code of business and ensure that you have read the job specification carefully; then you can use specific examples to show how you meet these desirable qualities.
Have a look at our tips for strength-based interviews for more advice on how to do your best.
Top Tips To Pass Accenture Tests
1. Know your motivations
In the Accenture interview you’ll likely be asked questions about why you want to work for Accenture, why you are switching companies and what your key motivations are that will drive your success.
2. Research the company
Having background knowledge about Accenture and the team you’ve applied to work for can make you stand out from the crowd. Reading recent news articles, company blogs and understanding the services offered can be beneficial when interviewing.
3. Practice test questions
The Accenture online assessment is one of the most challenging parts of the hiring process which means preparation is essential. Practicing Accenture test questions to become familiar with the format as well as improving your skills and speed can go a long way in improving your test scores before taking the real test.
4. Be industry aware
During the Accenture interview, you may be asked questions on industry news and topics. It’s important to have a broad view and perspective on recent industry activities so you can be confident when discussing issues and areas that might interest you.
5. Don’t be afraid to fail
Applying for jobs, taking assessments, and being interviewed can be very stressful and overwhelming. When preparing for each stage remember it’s okay to fail (even the real thing). There are many opportunities around the corner.
Accenture test tips
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Sharpen Your Technical Acumen
For those applying to more technical roles, like Software Engineering or Information Security, demonstrating your technical expertise is key. Practice Aptitude Tests provide targeted practice to help you get up to speed with the types of technical questions you might encounter, from logic puzzles to coding simulations.