Consulting at the Circus
Hello there! My name is Annie Conderacci and I am a Staff Consultant in the SAP Supply Chain group in the Central BU. That probably means nothing to many of you outside Cap, but that’s okay because I’m still learning what that means. You see, I started at Capgemini in July almost immediately after college. I graduated from Rice with a B.A. in Political Science and Policy Studies. As I neared the end of my college career, I decided I didn’t want to go to law school (like every other Poli Sci major) and that I would get a job.
Get a job. Yes, this seemed like an excellent alternative to more school. So I talked to friends who had actual jobs and found that the boundless world of consulting seemed to be the coolest, most glamorous choice. I could just see myself in a snappy suit, jet-setting around the world, rubbing elbows with powerful executives, wowing them with my clever solutions to their problems. Every complaint anyone had about consulting—the long hours, the constant travel, the ever-changing projects, tasks, and roles—seemed like a perfect fit for someone like me with slight attention-deficit issues.
I spent days researching firms and practicing for interviews yet I felt completely clueless at the same time, like I was interviewing for the CIA. No one could tell me exactly what they did; no one could tell me exactly what I would do—and my mission, should I choose to accept it, was “to consult” and “solve problems.”
I felt as if I was in some bad sitcom. “What does a consultant do?” an interviewer would ask me. Then I would imagine a voiceover in his or her head saying “Because I have no idea.” Cue the laugh track.
I imagined showing up the first day of work and having my boss tell me, “Surprise! You joined the circus! You’re our new Staff Consultant, also known as Junior Lion Tamer.”
Well, the past three months haven’t gone exactly like that. While I began knowing nothing about Supply Chain or SAP (I probably knew more about lion taming) what they say about the learning curve in consulting is correct (think Everest). I was lucky to start on my first project right away and was fortunate enough to be surrounded by really supportive senior team members. They were always available if I felt stuck or had no idea how to complete a certain task, yet they constantly challenged me to figure it out on my own, dig for solutions, or create new ones. That is one of the best things about being a consultant— you are paid to think!
At first it was overwhelming to think about our finished product, especially in SAP, because one implementation takes months of work. But really, a project is a lot like the circus. Each team member has a specific skill set that brings value to the project. While they’re not tight-rope-walking or fire-eating, they are delivering solutions that make clients go “ooo!” and “ah!” all while juggling client meetings and deadlines. Yes, every day is different so it’s still difficult to tell people exactly what I do. At the end of the day, however, I know my contributions will have a lasting impact on the client and the way they do business—another day at the circus.
