Unexpected journey, incredible opportunity! - Anonymous employee Customer Systems Employee Review

As a consultant, you can expect to be out on site/working on a client project within weeks of joining the company. The level of expectation for your performance is very high from day one. Interacting with consultants from other firms, I was always struck by how much better I seemed at the job than they were. While the company is very selective in its hiring practices - meaning the quality of its employees is very high to start with - the Customer Systems model is largely responsible for taking these already good people and transforming them into the best. You will grow develop your skills and grow fast here, simply because you will have to work on real projects very early on. It is not for the faint-hearted, but the rewards for having that kind of responsibility really couldn't be matched elsewhere. The atmosphere here is professional. There is an image that comes along with being a Customer Systems employee. You will be expected to conduct yourself accordingly. Travelling is a big part of the job. My 8+ years at Customer Systems were spent on the road. I went where the clients were. The schedule wasn't always predictable, and sometimes it was very demanding. You have to be clear that predictability isn't necessarily a hallmark of a consultant's life. I liked it most of the time, though there were times when it was challenging. I wasn't overworked. Even on tough projects my work schedule was standard. The compensation was excellent. Throughout my time there, I could not find a similar role that came close to offering what I earned - I checked regularly. Looking back now, there is no other consulting company I would have preferred to work for. I liked my job. I liked my colleagues. I travelled and got to work on a wide variety of projects on both sides of the Atlantic. Finally, I set myself up for a great career going forward. I am grateful for the experience.

It's firm that knows exactly what it expects from it's employees. You were expected to look the part (white shirt, tie). It was not a place that had much room for "letting your hair down" and long chats by the watercooler. All this was in line with my expectations after my interview. None of it was unreasonable.

Excellent training program: Customer Systems turned me into a valuable consultant in six weeks through its rigorous training program. Esprit de corps: More than a decade after leaving Customer Systems I am fortunate to count many of my former colleagues as close friends. Experience: There are not many entry level positions that accord the level of responsibility that one is expected to take at Customer Systems. Skills: The techincal training was superb. What I did not realise at the time, but became aware of as I moved into a different industry, was how many transferable consulting skills I learned. These included project management, business processe re-engineering, change mananagement and the ability and confidence to communicate effectively with a wide range of people from executives down. Integrity: Steve and Duncan made this central. Many firms pay lip service.

The travel can certainly be arduous, so go in with your eyes open. This is the nature of consulting and is not specific to Customer Systems.