From 6 months to 1 year at Capgemini – Part 1: Training

It’s been a while since I wrote my last blog describing my time at Capgemini from the very start ‘From Assessment Centres to 6 months at Capgemini’ and a lot has happened since … again the mediocre cliché’s of ‘time has flown by’ and ‘it’s been a rollercoaster ride’ describes the latest instalment in my Capgemini career to date begrudgingly well!

As you may well have seen from my previous blog I was primed and ready to take on the next rounds of ISEB Foundations in Business Analysis and Systems Development, the Collaborating With Clients (CWC) course at Les Fontaines , the home of Capgemini University, and I was also preparing for life on a new role. Some of these happened straight away, some of them didn’t, some are still to happen. New opportunities have, however, arisen and some of the original list are still in the pipeline … sounds very cryptic I know … but all will be revealed and hopefully this latest blog will give you a good indicator of what being a ‘flexible’ Technology Consultant is all about. As prior warning and speaking frankly, this uncertainty of “What’s happening next?” and “Where am I going to be next?” might put you off a life in this field … that’s ok, each to their own … to others it will only reinforce you application … for me this is why I love the field I am in! Either way I hope this and the following two blogs will be useful in helping you decide which side of the argument you fit! “Two more blogs?!” … There’s so much to say and so little time to say it!

So starting off with the opportunities that happened straight away since my previous entry … Training! … “Excellent I always want more training … Whatever it is, send it my way” is the general philosophy I, and I assume most people take when it comes to this topic. I was quickly within the space of a month on two sets of three-day courses for the British Computer Society (BCS)-recognised ISEB Foundation in Business Analysis and Systems Development Courses. Both courses, along with the previous ISTQB Foundation in Software Testing qualification gained, start the foundations for the full ISEB Diploma’s in Business Analysis or Solution Development. Not only was it a chance  to add to my CV, but also a great opportunity to have crash courses in two very important business areas as well as (and most importantly) understand all the abbreviations and acronyms that are so often used in the office!

So with three qualifications under my belt after just over six months, I was pretty pleased … next training on the list … CWC … Training booked … “Les Fontaines here I come” … The excitement building … but no: “Actually, we need you on the project!” and this brings me onto my first point regarding being flexible as consultants. Yes it was disappointing, but change happens, business and subsequent projects change (constantly), but that is what being a consultant is all about, and on the bright side I still have it to look forward to in the coming months. After reading Ola’s blog and speaking to other graduates I heard it’s an incredible experience and now I’m even more excited for the inevitable to happen! But in that by missing this one course a host of other opportunities have come my way instead …