Graduate Application Consultant

• Salary: £28-46k
• Location: Surrey
• Date posted: 13/10/2008
• Degree Subject: Any technical, numerical or scientific
• Degree Grade: 2:1
• UCAS Points: 300
• Position Type: Full-Time
• Job Category: Information Technology
• Vacancy Reference: CS16399

Our client is a highly specialised implementation consulting, training, support and software products firm operating alongside suppliers of leading application software packages. They specialise in customer relationship management systems.

Our client currently has a number of vacancies available for technical, numerical or scientific graduates to join them as Trainee Application Consultants. After an initial training period, which is typically four to eight weeks, you will get involved in a real customer project as soon as possible.

The actual work obviously varies depending on your experience and the customer's needs but typically involves:
- working with the customer to understand their requirements and working out the best way of implementing those requirements in the software in which they specialise.
- configuring the software to the customer's requirements.
- transferring knowledge to the customer about the work that has been carried out.

It is important that you are comfortable with the idea of a job that combines a lot of technical content with a high degree of customer interaction. Typically three quarters of your time would be technically based.

Our client offers a starting salary of £28000, a car allowance of £5040 and £1000 relocation allowance. Within six months you will progress to a basic of at least £34000, a bonus of £5300, a car allowance of £5040 and contributions to a pension scheme. Giving you a total package of at least £46000.

The way our client trains new starters is a unique competitive advantage. They often find that their consultants on their first job have more useful knowledge than people from other companies who have years of experience.

The training process involves giving you a series of configuration exercises, based on real life situations, of an increasing level of difficulty. Obviously, some guidance is given during the process of tackling these exercises, but the emphasis is on learning to solve for yourself the types of problems they encounter. At the end of the process you are genuinely knowledgeable and equipped for the job.

Essential skills for the role include:
- an expected or obtained 2:1 or better in your chosen degree (or equivalent if you studied outside of the UK).
- three A levels at grade A or B (or equivalent if you studied outside of the UK).
- some exposure to programming. You need to have convinced yourself that you have a natural flair for it, although it is not necessary to have done a huge amount.
- the presentability, articulacy and presence for customer and prospect contact.
- enthusiasm and determination.
- self-reliance and a willingness to travel both within the UK and internationally.

Desired skills for the role include:
- any sort of professional work experience, e.g. an industrial placement.