Change of departments

Hi there, 

I have not worked at Accenture, but I've worked in Consulting for a long time. In my opinion:

Yes, it is already reasonable just 1 month in to notify your Staffing or Department lead that you would like to try other "fields". One of the best attributes of consulting is that these companies have the ability to deploy you across various fields without much friction. Thus, typically these companies are quite receptive to you wanting to try various things, whilst you try to find your "home" in this career. 

At McKinsey, we call this "finding your own McKinsey". This is a tough business, so finding your place is crucial. We believe it is very important that you consistently attempt to build that career that makes you happy, energizes and excites you. 

PS: Remember that how you frame this with your staffer/department lead will matter. Be tactful, professional and ideally a bit personal. If you need more advice on how to approach this conversation, feel free to reach out.

I hope this helps!

Sincerely, 

Thor

Hey !

Yes, it’s totally reasonable to ask for a change early if you realize the field doesn’t fit. The key is to frame it professionally, say you’d like to contribute where your skills and interests align better rather than just saying you dislike the current topic. Talk to your career counselor or HR and express openness to stay productive until a new staffing works out.

best, Alessa :)

Hi there,

It’s completely fair to realize early that the current area isn’t what you’re passionate about and it’s better to let staffing know sooner rather than later. You just make sure to frame it professionally. As long as you’re polite and focus on fit rather than dislike, most staffing teams appreciate the honesty.

It’s understandable to feel that way, especially early on when your first project doesn’t align with your interests. At Accenture, and especially within Strategy & Consulting, it’s quite common for new analysts to realize that their first staffing isn’t a perfect fit.

That said, one month in is quite early to request a formal transfer. It’s usually better to complete at least your first project (or a few months) before asking to move, as it shows professionalism and adaptability. In the meantime, you can start having informal conversations with your people lead to express your interests. Let them know you’d like exposure to other types of work next time rather than pushing for an immediate switch.

If you handle the conversation diplomatically, focusing on your curiosity and motivation rather than frustration, you’ll likely be able to shift into a different department or type of project within a few months.

Hi there,

I have a slightly different view here. Usually staffing would only consider rotating team members out of a specific project after 6 months (if the project is longer than that). More commonly, you see people rolling off after 3-4 months when a shorter project or a phase of a longer project ends. 

1 month is definitely on the short end and you might want to be careful with this. You don't want to fall on the wrong side of the staffing, to be seen as "unstaffable". 

Best,

Emily

Hmm that's a tough situation. 

Honestly, I would start delicately, politely probing. 

First, by having conversations with colleagues to understand how switches work, what is required, and when they typically happen. 

Then, have the conversation with your staffer or managing partner. I would recommend, though, that you find a way of phrasing it that is more positive - perhaps you being interested in specific other things rather than not caring much about this one. 

Best,
Cristian