We recognise that you have a unique set of ambitions and goals when it comes to your career, so there is no ‘one size fits all’ development plan. If you want to accumulate extensive experience, responsibility and qualifications, and climb the ladder, that’s great. But if you’re more interested in developing your skills long-term in one position, then that’s fine too. We’ll give you the framework and the support you need to get where you want to go. When you join, your role will fall into a particular career level which is based on the scope of your responsibilities, your level of autonomy and your impact on the business. There is no fixed term for any career level, but we can tell you that if a role becomes available and we both feel you’re ready, you’ll move up to the next rung. If you choose to develop your career at Accenture, provided a business need has been identified, once you have reached the appropriate level and we consider that you are ready to progress, you will then move into one of two career paths – managerial or specialist. The managerial career path is ideal if you’re a natural leader and have a well-developed business sense. Managers can be anyone from a team leader on a long-term client engagement to a project manager who moves from assignment to assignment. The specialist career path, on the other hand, is for people who prefer to focus on developing the very latest skills rather than taking on day-to-day people management. To become a specialist, you’ll need very deep skills in a business function or process or in a particular technology. Typically, people in project-based roles are likely to be experienced professionals and your career progression will be based on your career level, not on your position. Leadership and managerial skills are essential for these roles and you will be expected to use your talents and experience to serve our clients’ needs, and in turn build the Services, and Accenture business, worldwide. People in capability specialist roles are likely to be experienced professionals with deep expertise in a particular function or process across one or more clients. Your career progression will be based on your particular position. Managing your career is an on-going process. Every year you will have regular performance reviews where you can discuss your short-term and long-term development needs and career aspirations, and set goals for the future. Your supervisor is responsible for giving you feedback and guidance on career issues throughout the year, so you will always have a clear idea of how you are doing and what your options are. You can develop as a professional in the Services workforce through a combination of customized training programs, on-the-job training and community meetings. Much of your training will be delivered locally or via self-study modules. You will also grow as you move upwards or sideways to open positions. As you progress to the most senior career levels, you may be considered for a broader leadership role. This is part of our global leadership development program where we identify and help develop the people who will be responsible for the future direction, development and continued success of our business, providing its leadership and strategic vision. Because contracts in this area are often long-term, you are not expected to show the same degree of mobility as in other roles within Accenture. In fact, our most successful outsourcing people are able to build strong links within a particular area and organisation. Working in Outsourcing offers the chance to be part of the leading global business that is Accenture, whilst still enjoying the personal stability that working in a local community can bring.