My time as an emerging consultant

I joined Sysdoc in October 2022 after graduating from the University of Leeds, where I studied Human Geography. My degree involved a placement year at Unilever, where I worked in Global Sustainability and Communications, which I really enjoyed, but I had a curiosity for Consulting that I was eager to explore after graduating. Therefore, I was very excited to join Sysdoc as an Emerging Consultant.

My time at Sysdoc has been great. I began working on a client project very soon after joining which allowed me to develop my aptitude as a consultant at a very fast pace. The project seemed daunting at first due to its large-scale nature and the fact that it involved a consortium of consulting organisations. However, I soon found my feet and really appreciated the responsibility I was quickly given on the project. My work has involved constant collaboration with senior client stakeholders, and whilst it has certainly been challenging at times, I’ve really felt a sense of pride when the work I’ve been completing is signed off and receives positive feedback.

Coming into consulting as an Emerging Consultant, I was initially sceptical about how I could value to a client due to my lack of experience, and my friends had asked me the same. However, I quickly saw value in the work I was completing and soon appreciated that there was so much I could do to support the client and project without years of experience under my belt. The supportive and collaborative nature of the work also really stood out to me. I’ve loved working with and learning so much from colleagues on the project and now have a much stronger understanding of how consultants drive effective and lasting changes for clients.

Another pre-conception I had about consulting was that you work 60-hour weeks, week-in, week-out. However, working at Sysdoc has taught me that this is not the case. Yes, work doesn’t always fall into a 9-5, however, I have never felt overwhelmed or burnt out, and Sysdoc’s focus on ‘Workstyle’ has contributed significantly to this. There is not the pressure to go into the office every day, and I whilst I really enjoy going in and spending time with my colleagues, I equally appreciate those days when working from home makes more sense, and I can squeeze in a run during my lunch break.

From day 1, I’ve also noted the great culture at Sysdoc. For me, it’s something that a company either has or hasn’t, and you can feel it very quickly. After spending an hour in the office on my first day, the supportive and friendly nature of the company jumped out to me. I’ve really enjoyed finding out about projects that other Sysdoc colleagues are working on and have learned so much about consulting by simply chatting to people in the office.

Overall, I’ve loved the 5 months I’ve been at Sysdoc. I’m off travelling to Australia and Southeast Asia in but am super keen to return to Sysdoc when I’m back.