Accenture Recruitment Process: A Comprehensive Guide for Applicants

This guide provides detailed information about Accenture, a leading global professional services company, and its recruitment process. Learn about the different stages involved (aptitude test, technical interview, HR interview), gain insights into the types of questions asked, and prepare effectively for a successful Accenture job application.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company offering consulting, technology, and operations services. They help clients solve business challenges and drive innovation across various industries. Accenture is a Fortune 500 company with a large global workforce and headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. The current CEO is Pierre Nanterme.

Accenture Recruitment Process

Accenture's recruitment process is thorough and typically involves three rounds:

1. Written Round (Aptitude/Verbal Ability)

This round tests analytical aptitude, verbal ability, and attention to detail. Expect around 55 questions in 60 minutes.

2. Technical Interview Round

This round focuses on programming concepts and technologies like C, C++, and Java. You'll need to demonstrate your technical skills.

3. HR Round

The final round assesses your communication and professional skills.

Accenture First Round: English Interview Questions

Question 1

Rohan will be there ___________ Sunday and Monday.

• For
• Until
• During
• After

c (During)

Question 2

The sun rose________________ the horizon in the east.

• Over
• Above
• In
• Below

b (Above)

Question 3

The baseball game was cancelled _______________ the rain.

• Due to
• Because of
• By
• None of the above

b (Because of)

Question 4

I have been working here______________ five years.

• Since
• From
• For
• None of the above

c (For)

Question 5

Cat spilled__________ milk all over the floor.

• AN
• A
• The
• None of the above

c (The)

Question 6

Alina was punished for___________ her official work

• Slowing
• Avoiding
• Postponing
• Shrinking

b (Avoiding)

Question 7

Which is the correctly spelled word?

• Excessive
• Exccessive
• Exxcesive
• Excesive

a (Excessive)

Question 8

Catching the earlier train will give us the ....... to do some shopping.

• Chance
• Possibility
• Occasion
• Luck

a (Chance)

Question 9

This train travels from Delhi______ Orissa.

• At
• To
• Over
• Below

b (To)

Accenture First Round: Quantitative Aptitude Questions

Question 1

A teacher can divide his class into groups of 7, 11, and 15. Find the smallest possible class size.

• 965
• 1250
• 1155
• 1250

c (1155) - This is the least common multiple (LCM) of 7, 11, and 15.

Question 2

A lady bought a bag for Rs.500 and sold it at a 25% gain on the selling price. What's the selling price?

• 425
• 575
• 625
• 475

c (625)

Question 3

The average weight of 20 students is 35kg. Including the teacher's weight increases the average by 1kg. What's the teacher's weight?

• 60kg
• 51kg
• 56kg
• None of them

c (56kg)

Question 4

A fort has enough food for 120 soldiers for 35 days. After 15 days, 70 soldiers leave. How many more days will the food last?

• 68
• 48
• 58
• 70

b (48 days)

Question 5

A 150m train passes a pole in 15 seconds. It passes another 150m train going in the opposite direction in 5 seconds. What's the speed of the second train?

• 35m/sec
• 40m/sec
• 32m/sec
• 50m/sec

d (50m/sec)

Question 6

When Mohan was born, his father was 32 years older than his brother, and his mother was 25 years older than his sister. Mohan's brother is 6 years older, and his mother is 3 years younger than his father. How old was Mohan's sister when Mohan was born?

• 5 years
• 10 years
• 8 years
• None of the above

b (10 years)

Question 7

If the radius of a circle increases by 10%, by how much does the area increase?

• 22%
• 100%
• 110%
• 21%

d (21%)

Question 8

One pipe fills a tank four times faster than another. Together they fill it in 40 minutes. How long would the slower pipe take alone?

• 120 min
• 8 min
• 200 min
• 192 min

c (200 min)

Question 9

Ravi's father said, "I was as old as you are now when you were born." If the father is now 40, how old was Ravi 6 years ago?

• 14 years
• 19 years
• 33 years
• 38 years

a (14 years)

Question 10

A can do a job in 8 days, B in 6 days. Together with C, they finish in 3 days. What's C's share of Rs.4600?

• 587
• 575
• 750
• 650

b (575)

Accenture First Round: Reasoning Questions

Question 1

Ramesh ranks 14th in a class of 26. What's his rank from the last?

• 13
• 15
• 14
• 12

a (13)

Question 2

Statement: Some pens are pencils. All pencils are chairs. Some chairs are tables. Conclusions: I. Some pens are chairs. II. Some chairs are pens. III. All tables are chairs. IV. Some tables are chairs.

• All follow
• Only I, II, and III follow
• Only I, II, and IV follow
• Only I, III, and IV follow

c (Only I, II, and IV follow)

Question 3

If * means /, / means -, + means *, and - means +, then 9/8*4+5-10 = ?

• 13
• 9
• 10
• 1

b (9)

Question 4

If a, b, and c are consecutive negative integers (a > b > c), which must be a positive odd integer?

• abc
• (a-b)(b-c)
• a-bc
• a(b+c)

b ((a-b)(b-c))

Question 5

Find the next term in the series: FBG, GBF, HBI, IBH, ____

• JBK
• HBL
• HBK
• JBI

a (JBK)

Accenture First Round: Reasoning and Series Questions

Question 6

Find the odd value: 7, 13, 19, 25, 30, 37, 43

c (30) - The difference between consecutive numbers is usually 6; however, the difference between 25 and 30 is only 5.

Question 7

If QUESTION = DOMESTIC, then what is the equivalent code for RESPONSE?

• OMESUCEM
• OMESICSM
• OMESICEM
• OMESISCM

c (OMESICEM)

Question 8

Find the next term in the series: SCD, TEF, UGH, ____, WKL

• CMN
• UJI
• VIJ
• IJT

c (VIJ)

Question 9

Find the next term in the series: 24, 28, 36, 52, 84, ?

• 144
• 135
• 148
• 140
• None of these

c (148) - The series increases by multiples of 4: 4, 8, 16, 32...

Question 10

Introducing a man, Reena said, "His brother's father is the only son of my grandfather." How is Reena related to the man?

• Mother
• Aunt
• Sister
• Daughter
• Grandmother

c (Sister)

Accenture Second Round: Technical Interview Questions (Java)

Question 1

Why is Java called platform-independent?

Java is platform-independent because its code is compiled into bytecode, which can run on any system with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), regardless of the underlying operating system.

Question 2

What is Exception Handling?

Exception handling is a mechanism to manage errors during program execution. It prevents crashes by allowing you to gracefully handle unexpected events using try, catch, throw, throws, and finally blocks.

Question 3

What are checked and unchecked exceptions?

Checked exceptions are caught at compile time. The compiler forces you to handle them (using try-catch or throws). Examples include IOException and SQLException. Unchecked exceptions (like NullPointerException and ArithmeticException) are runtime exceptions and don't require explicit handling at compile time.

Question 4

What are the reasons for exceptions?

• Trying to access a non-existent file.
• Dividing by zero.
• Accessing an array index out of bounds.
• Using the throw statement.
• Other runtime errors detected by the JVM.

Question 5

What is the OOP concept?

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that uses "objects" — data fields and associated procedures known as methods — to represent and manipulate data. Key principles include encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.

Question 6

Explain basic OOP features.

• Objects: Instances of classes; they have state (data) and behavior (methods).
• Classes: Blueprints for creating objects; they define the structure and behavior.
• Inheritance: Allows creating new classes (child classes) based on existing ones (parent classes), promoting code reuse.
• Polymorphism: The ability of an object to take on many forms; allows using methods in different ways.
• Abstraction: Hiding complex implementation details and showing only essential information to the user.
• Encapsulation: Bundling data and methods that operate on that data within a class, protecting data integrity.

Question 7

Differentiate between class and object.

A class is a blueprint or template for creating objects. An object is an instance of a class; it's a concrete entity that occupies memory.

Question 8

What is encapsulation in Java?

Encapsulation is the bundling of data (fields) with the methods that operate on that data within a class. It's achieved by declaring class fields as private and providing public getter and setter methods to access and modify them. This protects data integrity and hides internal implementation details.

class EncapsulationEg {
    private String empname;
    // ... other fields and methods ...
}

Question 9

What is recursion and a recursive function in Java?

Recursion is when a method calls itself. A recursive function solves a problem by breaking it down into smaller, self-similar subproblems until a base case is reached, which stops the recursion.

Question 10

Differentiate between C, C++, and Java.

Inheritance and Polymorphism in Java

Question 11

What is runtime polymorphism?

Polymorphism means "many forms." Runtime polymorphism (also called dynamic polymorphism) is achieved through method overriding. This lets you call a method on an object, and the specific implementation of that method is determined at runtime based on the object's actual type (not just its declared type).

class A {
    void name() {
        System.out.println("this is student of Superclass");
    }
}

class Student extends A {
    void name() {
        System.out.println("this is student of subclass");
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        A a = new A();
        A b = new Student();
        a.name();
        b.name();
    }
}

this is student of Superclass
this is student of subclass

Question 12

Differentiate between method overloading and method overriding.

Question 13

What are the keywords "super" and "this"?

• super: Refers to the superclass (parent class) object. Used to call superclass methods or constructors.
• this: Refers to the current class object. Used to access current class members or to distinguish between parameters and class fields with the same name.

Question 14

What is an interface? Can a class implement multiple interfaces?

An interface in Java is a reference type, similar to a class, that contains only constants, method signatures, default methods, static methods, and nested types. It cannot be instantiated. A class can implement multiple interfaces using comma separation.

Question 15

Explain inheritance in Java. How is it achieved?

Inheritance allows a class (subclass or derived class) to inherit properties and behaviors from another class (superclass or base class). It's achieved using the extends keyword in the subclass declaration. It represents an "IS-A" relationship.

Question 16

Can Java use multiple inheritance? Explain.

No, Java does not support multiple inheritance of classes directly because it can lead to the "diamond problem" (ambiguity when multiple superclasses have methods with the same name). Interfaces can be implemented multiple times.

Question 17

How to access a private member of a class?

You can access private members of a class only from within that same class, or through getter and setter methods that you create and expose publicly.

Question 18

What is the significance of the "static" keyword?

The static keyword in Java creates a class member (variable, method, block, or nested class) that belongs to the class itself, not to any specific object of that class. Static members are shared by all instances of the class.

Question 19

What is the Java Collection Framework?

The Java Collection Framework provides a set of interfaces and classes to store and manipulate collections of objects. Key interfaces include Collection and Map.

Question 20

What is the List interface?

The List interface (part of the Collection Framework) represents an ordered collection of objects. It allows duplicate elements and provides random access to elements via indexes (like an array).

Question 21

What is object cloning?

Object cloning creates a copy of an object. In Java, you can use the clone() method (the class must implement the Cloneable interface) but be aware of the shallow vs. deep copy implications.

Question 22

Can you insert duplicate values in a Set?

No, a Set in Java only contains unique elements. Attempting to add a duplicate will have no effect.

Question 23

What's the difference between Collections and Collection?

• Collection is an interface; Collections is a utility class.
• Collection defines methods for working with collections; Collections provides static utility methods to work on collections (e.g., sorting, searching).

Question 24

What is the "diamond problem"? How can it be avoided?

The diamond problem arises when a class inherits from two classes that have a common ancestor and all three have a method with the same signature. This creates ambiguity about which method should be called. In Java, interfaces help to mitigate this issue since they don't have method implementations.

Question 25

What is an abstract class?

An abstract class in Java is a class declared with the abstract keyword. It cannot be instantiated directly. It can contain both abstract methods (without a body) and concrete methods (with implementations). Abstract classes are used to define a common interface and partially implement behavior for subclasses.

Question 25

What is an abstract class?

An abstract class is a class that cannot be instantiated (you can't create objects of it directly). It serves as a blueprint for subclasses. It can contain both abstract methods (methods without a body, declared with the abstract keyword) and concrete methods (methods with a body). Subclasses must provide implementations for any inherited abstract methods.

abstract class Student {
    // ... members ...
}

Multithreading in Java

Question 26

What is a deadlock?

A deadlock in multithreading occurs when two or more threads are blocked indefinitely, waiting for each other to release the resources that they need. This creates a standstill where none of the threads can proceed.

Collections vs. Arrays

Question 27

Differentiate between Collection and array.

C Call by Value and Call by Reference

Question 28

What are call by value and call by reference?

In C, these are ways of passing arguments to functions:

• Call by value: A copy of the argument's value is passed to the function. Changes made to the parameter inside the function do *not* affect the original variable.
• Call by reference: The memory address of the argument is passed. Changes made to the parameter *do* affect the original variable.

Memory Allocation in C

Question 29

Explain static and dynamic memory allocation.

• Static memory allocation: Memory is allocated at compile time. The size is fixed and determined before the program runs (e.g., arrays declared within a function). Memory is allocated on the stack.
• Dynamic memory allocation: Memory is allocated during program execution (at runtime) using functions like malloc(), calloc(), etc. The size can be determined based on the program's needs. Memory is allocated on the heap.

Increment Operators in C

Question 30

Differentiate between "var++" and "++var".

Both increment var, but:

• var++ (post-increment): The value of var is used *first*, then it's incremented.
• ++var (pre-increment): The value of var is incremented *first*, then the new value is used.

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    int a = 5, b = 1;
    printf("%d %d\n", a++, a); // Output: 5 6
    printf("%d %d\n", ++b, b); // Output: 2 2
    return 0;
}

Classes and Structures in C++

Question 31

Differentiate between class and struct in C++.

Classes and structs are almost identical in C++, but they have one key difference:

• Class: Members are private by default.
• Struct: Members are public by default.

Access Specifiers in C++

Question 32

What are access specifiers in C++?

Access specifiers (public, private, protected) control the accessibility of class members:

• public: Accessible from anywhere.
• private: Accessible only from within the class.
• protected: Accessible from within the class and its derived classes.

`getch()` in C

Question 33

Why use `getch()`?

getch() (from the conio.h header) is a non-standard function that reads a single character from the console without echoing it to the screen. It's often used to pause the console output until a key is pressed.

`main()` Function in C++

Question 34

What is the `main()` function? Can you run a program without it?

main() is the entry point of a C++ program. Execution begins here. No, a C++ program cannot run without a main() function.

Variable Declaration and Definition

Question 35

What's the difference between declaring and defining a variable?

• Declaration: Tells the compiler the variable's name and type (e.g., int x;). It doesn't allocate memory.
• Definition: Allocates memory for the variable and optionally assigns an initial value (e.g., int x = 10;).

Friend Functions in C++

Question 36

What is a friend function?

A friend function in C++ can access private and protected members of a class even though it is not a member of that class. It's declared using the friend keyword within the class definition.

Memory Allocation in C

Question 37

What is memory allocation in C?

Memory allocation is the process of reserving space in memory for your program's data. In C, you have:

• Static Allocation: Memory is allocated at compile time (e.g., using arrays).
• Dynamic Allocation: Memory is allocated during runtime using functions like malloc(), calloc(), realloc(), and free().

`malloc()` vs. `calloc()`

Question 38

Differentiate between `malloc()` and `calloc()`.

Both allocate memory dynamically, but:

• malloc() takes a single argument (size in bytes) and allocates a single block of memory. It doesn't initialize the memory.
• calloc() takes two arguments (number of elements, size of each element in bytes) and allocates multiple blocks. It initializes the allocated memory to zero.

`malloc()` and `calloc()` in C

Question 39

Why is C a procedural language?

C is considered a procedural language because it emphasizes a step-by-step, sequential approach to programming. The focus is on procedures (functions) that operate on data. It's a top-down approach where the program's logic is structured as a series of procedures.

// malloc()
ptr = (type_cast*) malloc(size_t size);

// calloc()
ptr = (type_cast*) calloc(n, size_t size); 

malloc() allocates a single block of memory of the specified size. calloc() allocates multiple blocks (n blocks, each of size size) and initializes them to zero. malloc() is generally faster because it doesn't perform the zeroing operation.

Database Management System (DBMS) Interview Questions

Question 1

What is a data structure?

A data structure is a way to organize and store data in a computer so that it can be used efficiently. Common examples include arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs.

Question 2

What is normalization in databases?

Database normalization is a process used to organize data to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity. It involves splitting databases into two or more tables and defining relationships between the tables. The main goal is to isolate data so that additions, deletions, and modifications of a field can be made in just one table and then propagated through the rest of the database via the defined relationships.

Common forms include 1NF, 2NF, 3NF, BCNF, and 4NF.

Question 3

Explain primary key, foreign key, and UNIQUE key.

• Primary Key: Uniquely identifies each row in a table. Cannot contain NULL values.
• Unique Key: Similar to a primary key, but allows one NULL value. Ensures uniqueness.
• Foreign Key: Establishes a link between two tables. It references the primary key (or unique key) of another table.

Question 4

What is XML in DBMS?

XML (Extensible Markup Language) is used to store and transport data. XML databases can be:

• XML-enabled: Traditional relational databases extended to handle XML data.
• Native XML: Databases designed specifically to handle XML data natively.

Question 5

Differentiate between CHAR and VARCHAR2.

• CHAR: Fixed-length string data type. It always uses the defined amount of storage space, even if the string is shorter.
• VARCHAR2: Variable-length string data type. It uses only the storage space needed for the string.

Question 6

Differentiate between DELETE and TRUNCATE in SQL.

Question 7

What is a DML command?

DML (Data Manipulation Language) commands are used to manage data within a database. Common DML commands include SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE.

Question 8

Why use a DBMS?

DBMS (Database Management System) is used to create, manage, update, and retrieve data efficiently and securely. It provides data integrity, efficient storage, and access control.

Question 9

Differentiate between hot and cold backups.

• Cold backup: The database is offline (taken when the database is not running). It is faster and safer.
• Hot backup: The database is online (taken while the database is running). It is slower but enables backups to be taken while the database is available for use.

Question 10

What are ON DELETE CASCADE options?

ON DELETE CASCADE is a foreign key constraint. When a row in the parent table is deleted, corresponding rows in the child table are also automatically deleted.

Question 11

What is an AVL tree?

An AVL tree is a self-balancing binary search tree. It maintains balance by performing rotations when an insertion or deletion causes an imbalance (height difference between subtrees exceeds 1). This ensures efficient search, insertion, and deletion operations with a time complexity of O(log n).

Question 12

Explain turnaround time and response time (OS).

In an operating system:

• Turnaround time: The total time taken to execute a process (from submission to completion).
• Response time: The time taken for a system to respond to a request (e.g., the time it takes for a command to start processing).

The HR Interview

The final round of the Accenture recruitment process is the HR interview. Here, the interviewer assesses your communication and professional skills.

Top HR Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Question 1: "Briefly tell me about yourself."

This is your chance to make a great first impression. Your answer should be concise (aim for about a minute), professional, and engaging.

How to Answer:

1. Introduction: Start with a brief, professional introduction (name, location).
2. Education and Experience: Summarize your relevant education and work experience, highlighting key skills and accomplishments.
3. Background (Optional): Briefly mention your family background if you have time and feel it's relevant.
4. Hobbies, Strengths, and Goals: Share your hobbies, key strengths (be genuine!), and career goals.
5. Conclusion: End with a positive and confident statement.

"Good morning, my name is [Your Name], and I'm from [Your City]. I'm a recent graduate with a degree in [Your Degree] and experience in [Your Field].  I'm passionate about [Your Passion] and possess strong skills in [Your Skills]. My goal is to contribute my abilities to a dynamic organization like Accenture."

Question 2: "Why did you apply for this job?"

Show that you understand the role and the company. Connect your skills and experience to the job description.

How to Answer:

Research the company and the specific role. Highlight how your skills and experience match their requirements. Express genuine interest in the opportunity and the company's mission.

"I applied for this position because I'm very impressed with Accenture's work in [Specific area]. The job description highlights a need for [Specific skill], and my experience in [Relevant project/experience] directly aligns with that. I'm excited about the opportunity to contribute to [Company's mission]."

Question 3: "How did you prepare for this interview?"

Show your dedication and thoroughness. This is about demonstrating your commitment to the opportunity.

How to Answer:

Mention your research into the company (mission, values, recent news), your review of the job description, and any practice you did (technical skills review, behavioral question preparation).

"I've been looking forward to this opportunity and have done a lot of research into Accenture's work in [Specific area], as well as reviewing the job description carefully. I've refreshed my knowledge of [Technical Skills] and practiced answering common interview questions."

Question 4: "What is your biggest achievement?"

Choose a professional achievement that highlights your skills and abilities. Focus on the impact of your accomplishment.

How to Answer:

Select a significant achievement (recent is best), describe the situation, explain your actions, and emphasize the positive results. Quantify your success whenever possible (e.g., using numbers).

"One of my biggest achievements was [Your Achievement].  I was responsible for [Your Role], and through [Your Actions], I was able to [Positive Result]. This resulted in [Quantifiable Result]."

Question 5: "What do you know about our company?"

Show you've researched Accenture. Mention specific aspects that interest you.

How to Answer:

Go beyond the basic company overview. Mention their mission, values, recent projects, or market position. Show genuine interest in their work.

"I'm impressed by Accenture's commitment to innovation and its leadership in [Industry/Technology].  I've been particularly interested in their recent work on [Specific Project/Initiative], which aligns well with my interests in [Your Area of Interest]."

More Challenging HR Interview Questions

Question 6: "Why should we hire you?"

This is your opportunity to sell yourself! Highlight your unique strengths and how they benefit the company. Show your enthusiasm and passion for the role.

How to Answer:

Focus on your skills, experience, and personality traits that align with the job requirements. Provide specific examples to back up your claims and demonstrate your value proposition.

"I'm confident I'm the right fit for this role because of my proven ability in [Specific Skill], demonstrated in [Project/Experience]. I'm a quick learner, a dedicated team player, and I'm passionate about [Company's Mission/Values]. I'm eager to contribute my skills to Accenture's success."

Question 7: "Tell me some current headlines."

This question assesses your awareness of current events. It's a way for the interviewer to gauge your general knowledge and interest in the world around you.

How to Answer:

Briefly mention 1-2 significant news headlines. Focus on professionalism and conciseness.

Question 8: "What are your goals for the next five years?"

This question explores your career aspirations and long-term vision.

How to Answer:

Be realistic and specific. Connect your goals to the company and the role. Show ambition but also demonstrate that you're thinking strategically about your career path.

"In the next five years, I aim to become a skilled and valued member of Accenture's team, mastering [Specific Skills] and contributing significantly to [Team/Project Goals]. I also see myself taking on increasing responsibility and potentially mentoring junior colleagues."

Question 9: "What is your greatest strength? How will it help this job?"

This is an opportunity to highlight a key strength relevant to the position. Always connect your strength to how it benefits the employer.

How to Answer:

Choose a strength that is both genuine and applicable to the job. Give a specific example of how you've used this strength in the past to achieve a positive outcome.

Question 10: "How do you handle work pressure?"

Demonstrate your ability to manage stress and maintain productivity under pressure. Use a positive and proactive approach.

How to Answer:

Share your strategies for managing pressure (e.g., prioritization, time management, seeking help when needed). Give a specific example of how you successfully handled pressure in a previous situation.

"I thrive under pressure. When faced with a demanding workload, I prioritize tasks, break them down into smaller steps, and focus on delivering high-quality results.  For example, in my previous role, I successfully managed [Project/Situation] under a tight deadline by [Your Actions]."

Question 11: "What do you want to achieve in your life?"

This question delves into your personal aspirations. Be honest and thoughtful.

How to Answer:

Share your long-term goals, both professionally and personally. Connect your ambitions to your values and show how they align with your career aspirations.

Question 12: "Are you willing to relocate?"

Be honest and transparent about your willingness to relocate. If you have limitations, explain them positively.

How to Answer:

If you are willing to relocate, express your enthusiasm. If you have constraints, explain them clearly and professionally, focusing on your flexibility and adaptability.

"Yes, I am open to relocating for the right opportunity.  I'm adaptable and excited about the possibility of working in a new location."