Stepping out into a promising career with Accenture in IT

The Software Testing Empowerment Programme (STEP) academy was formed by Compuware in 2003 to address the IT skills shortage and to promote BEE and ongoing skills development in a pragmatic and constructive manner.

As part of Compuware's transformation strategy a training programme was implemented enabling 12 students per Academy to learn advanced software development and testing skills.

Each STEP programme lasted for three months, during that time student's focused on technical training for two and a half months and business orientation skills for the last two weeks. They were also given accommodation, meals and incidental living expenses during the course.

In addition to the formal training, the students were given practical up to date experience based training as Compuware's own technical consultants took time out from the field to share their experiences and knowledge with the STEP students.

A major goal of the programme was to provide skills that would make the students more easily employable. The majority of the students that have passed through the programme went into full time work immediately after the programme, often with some of SA's leading companies and institutions.

Compuware decided to talk to two of the STEP graduates who are currently employed at Accenture to see how they have found the training useful in South Africa's competitive local IT economy.

According to Sindi Radebe the course has been enduringly beneficial. "After completing my theoretical studies at Technikon Pretoria in Information Technology I was privileged to be one of the individuals selected to join the Compuware SA STEP Programme .

For two and a half months we were offered hands on training on automated software testing skills and for the last two weeks we underwent training on Business Orientation Skills, i.e. Presentation Skills, Communication Skills, Business Etiquette etc.

After training we had a graduation ceremony, where we presented ourselves to Compuware business partners. After graduation I was interviewed by two of the business partners and am currently employed by Accenture as a SAP consultant."

Tala Pheme, another graduate who is employed by Accenture, found the Business Orientation aspect of the three-month programme especially useful.

"I graduated from the STEP programme and have never looked back. Not only did Compuware give me the opportunity to use some of the finest testing tools in South Africa, but it also opened doors for me in a very big way.

The presentation I did during the graduation ceremony gave me the chance to impress the head of Accenture Technology Solutions who fast tracked me into an three-month internship programme.

I have been with Accenture for 25 months now and have grown from being a Programmer in Accenture Technology Solutions and am now an analyst in the Consulting workforce, which provides extensive client exposure and interaction

Compuware gave me the opportunity to enhance my skills in terms of presentation and communication, and that is how I made it during the Consulting interviews.

Two of the skills I acquired from Compuware that I find especially useful is the "Paradigm Shifts" which helped us move away from our "student" status and increase awareness of our role and function in the business environment and "The People Factor" which addresses cultural issues, Communication Network Theory and taught me to appreciate myself and others. I have been able to adapt to the work environment and communication with my colleagues is both relaxed and professional."