Meet Patrick, a Research & Innovation Intern at Accenture

Length of your internship and when you began: 5 month internship, began in March. 

College course: BSc Social Sciences (Joint Major in Sociology and Philosophy), University College Dublin (UCD)

What expectations did you have before you began your internship?

Before starting my internship, I expected the workplace to be much more formal than it actually was. Instead, I found the culture to be welcoming, approachable and relaxed, which made it easy to settle into the business.

I also expected to mainly support projects with smaller tasks, but I was trusted with meaningful responsibilities and given opportunities to contribute to important client work. This was important for me as I wanted a challenge so that I could grow faster and use the 5 months I had to gain valuable experience in many areas. Coming from a Social Sciences background, I wasn't sure how well my skills would translate to consulting, but I quickly realised that critical thinking, research and understanding people are highly valued.

Can you describe a typical day in your role? How does it compare to the expectations you spoke about in the previous question?

Every day is quite different, which is one of the things I enjoy most about the role. As part of project work, you collaborate with a wide range of people, so you quickly learn how to adapt your communication and working style to different teams and stakeholders.

A typical day might involve researching a client problem, conducting market research, designing interview guides for primary research, analysing and validating findings, speaking with subject matter experts, and presenting insights back to the project team.

Alongside project work, there are also plenty of internal opportunities to get involved in, such as learning sessions and networking events. These have been a great way to develop new skills and connect with colleagues outside of my immediate project team.

Compared to my expectations, I was involved in meaningful project work from the very beginning. Even as an intern, I felt like a genuine member of the team rather than someone completing smaller side tasks. I had the opportunity to collaborate with experienced colleagues, learn from how they approached problems, and contribute to work that had a real impact on client projects.

Did the scope of your work change as the internship progressed?

Yes, the scope of my work changed as the internship progressed. I worked on preliminary research that allowed me to demonstrate my research approach, analytical thinking, ability and how I could add value to the team. I presented my findings and explained how they could help address the client's challenges.

Following that, I was brought onto a client project where my role naturally expanded. I became involved in more in-depth research, collaborating with colleagues across different disciplines, speaking with subject matter experts and contributing to key project deliverables. As my confidence grew, I also had more opportunities to present my findings, contribute to project discussions and work more independently. It was rewarding to see my responsibilities grow throughout the internship.

What key things have you learned during this internship?

One of the biggest things I've learned is that good research isn't just about finding information. It's about understanding the problem, asking the right questions and turning insights into practical recommendations.

I've also learned the importance of putting yourself out there, building relationships and taking the time to understand how other people work. Some of the most valuable learning came from observing experienced colleagues, asking questions and seeing how they approached challenges.

Another important lesson was that feedback and iterations aren't a reflection of poor work. They are a normal part of producing the best possible outcome. I've also learned the importance of managing my workload and knowing when I'm taking on too much, as maintaining a sustainable workload helps you consistently produce high-quality work.

Finally, I've realised how important it is to stay curious and continuously develop your skills. Whether that's learning new research methods, experimenting with AI and other digital tools, or finding more efficient ways of working, there's always an opportunity to improve and become more effective.

How has your internship made you feel more prepared for working life?

This internship has made me feel much more prepared for working life. I've developed skills such as resilience, initiative, time management and communicating effectively with different stakeholders. I've also become more confident managing my own workload and adapting to a fast-paced environment.

I've learned how to use a range of important tools, including Claude, PowerPoint, Mural, Excel and Obsidian, to create a more structured and efficient workflow. These tools have helped me organise information, collaborate with colleagues, communicate ideas more effectively and deliver higher-quality outputs.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that it's not enough to produce good research. You also need to communicate your insights clearly, connect them to the client's objectives and explain how they support the overall solution.

The internship also helped me understand the difference between university and professional work. At university, the objectives and requirements are usually clearly defined. In a professional environment, you often need to take the initiative to build your own understanding, ask questions, seek out context and work with others to move a project forward. Developing that mindset has made me much more confident, and I now have a much clearer understanding of what success looks like in the workplace.

What are the things about this company that you would recommend to others looking for an internship, such as culture, benefits, workload, etc?

I would definitely recommend Accenture to anyone looking for an internship. The culture and people are so welcoming, collaborative and approachable. Although everyone is focused on delivering high-quality work, the environment is relaxed and people are always willing to help and share their knowledge.

There are plenty of opportunities to learn through networking events, talks and training sessions, so there's always something new to get involved in. 

The workload is well balanced. There are busy periods, but managers are mindful that you're an intern and make sure you have the support you need to learn and develop without feeling overwhelmed.

The small things also make a difference, such as the subsidised canteen and coffee, which help create a really enjoyable working environment. Overall, it's a place where you can develop professionally while also enjoying the experience.