Michael Chappell graduated from Virginia Tech in 2006 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is now a consulting analyst, aligned with Systems Integration & Technology—Industry & Functional Solutions. Prior to meeting Accenture on campus last fall, I really hadn’t considered working in the consulting industry. I interned with two major engineering organizations building and testing turbine engines and performing engineering work in a manufacturing plant. After meeting Accenture on campus, I had a more in-depth look at the consulting industry and better understood the career opportunity it offered engineers. I received offers from my previous employers and other engineering firms, as well as Accenture. The two major reasons behind my decision to work for Accenture were Accenture’s performance-based and focused work environment and the potential for broad experience. I also found that engineers are solution-centric, analytical innovators—and we love them here at Accenture. Since joining Accenture, I’ve been staffed on a project with the United States Postal Service. I’ve been assigned to three different teams within this project: Surface Visibility, Retail Refresh, and IT Policies & Procedures. I have had both technical and functional positions and often switch back and forth, which is helping me get the broad experience I wanted. As a Systems Integration consultant, I can see how my team adds value through applying proven solutions. I’m already leveraging my engineering background. The classes I took in electrical and computer engineering and computer science are useful in analyzing and designing network architectures and building a website. The knowledge from my industrial and systems engineering classes have been used when planning a project, building work flows, and designing with Talent & Organization Performance in mind. The design teams I worked with during college are similar to the design teams I work with now when planning and building solutions for our customers. My dad always said that the right tools can make or break a solution. At Accenture, I have access to vast training, resources and tools. Accenture’s myLearning system, an online training and development system, computer-based training courses, Books 24x7, Accenture’s Knowledge Exchange, and other valuable resources have helped me learn how to solve a problem and build solutions. In addition to client work and training opportunities, there are many ways to become involved with my local office and community. I attend most Client Site Committee meetings and participate in Accenture’s local social events, like sporting events and paintball outings. I also submitted my idea for two Accenture-wide innovation contests and was selected as a winner of the first innovation contest and a finalist for the second. I am very happy with my career here at Accenture. The senior executives and managers on my project are approachable and trustworthy—I find myself wanting to emulate their character as well as their careers. I feel that I have an opportunity to grow and change, and my peers and local leadership encourage me to do so. My wife is my personal litmus test and she gets excited about my performance reviews, local activities, and meeting my managers. She also thinks that Accenture is the right place for me—and that makes me truly happy.