Could technology consulting be right for you?

Technology isn’t an industry with definite parameters. It needs people from every discipline – from ethics to engineering – to succeed. That’s why people without typically technical skills can still enjoy a fulfilling career in the field.

Digital transformation is continuing at pace, with emerging tech changing everything from how we deliver food to the ways we conduct surgery. More recently, it upended how the vast majority of us do our work.

But to keep up, companies need the right people with the right knowledge to help them streamline their processes, adopt more efficient systems and react positively to change. That’s where the technology consultant comes in.

If you’d like to sit at that cross section, to liaise with companies and customers about their tech needs, then technology consulting may be for you.

Today, tech consulting is an integral part of big consultancy firms. At EY, for example, there are plenty of people working with different clients and programmes with the ultimate goal of technology delivery. Here, three of them share their tips.

Insights from experienced professionals

Paul Scullion is a senior manager for tech delivery in technology consulting at the company. Most of his time is spent with financial services clients, helping them with project management.

What he enjoys most is working with transformation programmes across the country, he said: “Change programmes that are built to have a positive impact on the end customers’ lives and on the environment definitely instil a sense of personal pride in the work that we do.”

And there’s no time like the present to join the industry, according to Scullion – particularly at EY. The company is broadening its client base, he said, making it an “extremely interesting time to join”.

“I would say go for it,” he added. “It’s without a doubt the most positive move I have made in my career.”

Emily O’Brien, a senior manager in technology consulting, agrees. O’Brien has been worked at EY for six years, but the “new capabilities” and “new offerings” at the company help keep her job exciting.

However, finding the right team and working environment is also important for a tech consultant, she said: “What I love most about working with EY is the people. It’s getting to bring your full self to work every day.”

Entering technology consulting as a graduate

What’s it like to join the world of technology consulting as a graduate? Leanne Cassidy completed the graduate programme at EY just over two years ago. Now, she works as an operations engineer for the company’s technology transformation team. She gets to work on Ireland’s “largest infrastructure project”, she said, which involves troubleshooting, data analysis, testing and PBI reporting.

Cassidy particularly enjoys the new challenges she’s faced with daily: “Working with a live system leaves room for daily challenges, which excites me.” But from a wider perspective, the industry as a whole is continuously changing, too.

“Technology consulting has expanded to incorporate a whole new range of technologies, including SAP and AI,” she said. “Since joining, I feel like I have gone from being part of a company that works with technology to being part of a technology company.”

‘If you are looking for something that is challenging, rewarding and exciting, technology consulting is the place to be’
^{– LEANNE CASSIDY, EY}

Though Cassidy is an engineer, she recommends a career in tech consulting for “anyone with an interest in technology”, whether you’re a “technical project manager, Java coder or a data specialist”.

“If you are looking for something that is challenging, rewarding and exciting, technology consulting is the place to be,” she said. “It’s meaningful work every day, using the newest technologies to make a difference.”

Thinking of a career in technology consulting at EY? O’Brien shared some practical advice: “Look at what the different services do, look at the different opportunities that are there and consider what you’re passionate about and what suits your skillset best.”

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