#GradStories Sorcha Hanway, Business and Technology Analyst, Accenture

What are the main tasks you do in your job in a normal week?

I am currently working with a company in county Cork that is implementing a new SAP system. My role involves helping the functional lead implement it. On a day to day basis, I'm involved in testing the system and making sure that it fits the business requirements. I'm also in charge of putting together training materials for end users.

What skills do you need to have to be successful in your role?

We all know that you need the hard skills of an analytical mind and problem solving but my soft skills are what helped me be successful in my role. I come from a psychology background and adapting to a growth mindset has propelled me forward. You'll always be in a position where you're trying new things and helping people. At the end of the day it's up to you to mould your career.

What do you love about your job?

My favourite thing about Accenture is the people. There's a stigma when you're going into a big corporation that there's going to be a real hierarchy but in Accenture that doesn't exist at all. I've sat down with the director of technology for Ireland and had a conversation with him.

Everyone in Accenture started where I started and they appreciate that, they want to help you get to the next step in your career. They want to see you succeed.

What did you do as a student that helps your career in this sector?

Something that really helped me in my career and something people tend to dislike is presenting. I did so may presentations in fourth year and that's definitely propelled me forward because a lot of the time you will be in client-facing roles where you're having really important discussions with really important people and it's important for you to be confident.

What was your career break?

I studied applied psychology and a part of my degree was applying psychology to UX design. That was one of the few things that I have taken into my role now when I'm helping with the training content.

The thing that got me my job was that I was authentically myself in the interviews. I wasn't trying to pretend to be the person I thought the company might want.