Culture

• "The ASE is a very unique place where although there is a management team in place, there is an approach that everyone is equal and can talk to anybody else about anything. The team is very supportive and encourages people to try new roles and move into different areas to constantly seek ways to improve and learn. Team work is essential, and it works so well in the ASE as there is a great deal of trust and respect within the entire team. Like most teams, the ASE has regular team socials, both formal and informal. Some of the team I would class as my closest friends in this area." -- Technology, Graduate
• "The company is highly structured, however there are no barriers between senior management and the staff around them, they are in the same room and casual conversation can be held. For more official discussions there are recognised processes in place. The culture is highly collaborative and people work well together in small teams or on large projects." -- Technology, Graduate

  "The majority of colleagues are supportive and work well together. Some areas are very SILO'ed. Socialising varies a lot between teams. My particular team has regular social events, for example tonight we are all going to a local comedy club after work." -- Technology, Graduate

  "The business is not very hierarchical and whilst the senior people are always very busy, they are extremely friendly and helpful, and often give their time to help out and develop the junior staff. Colleagues are always supportive and everyone seems to enjoy helping each other out, which fosters a great sense of community within the different areas. There are some tricky aspects, which are inherent to all big companies, mainly related to communication and working with other business units (i.e. between Outsourcing and TS/CC), but these are improving all the time." -- Technology, Graduate

  "There is no real hierarchy – you can have a normal conversation with the boss and because of the work we do, we are a real team and pull together to support each other through the event." -- Technology, Graduate

  "Very hierarchical. Occasionally you may find yourself in a friendly, cohesive, working environment which elevates productivity, however there are times in projects that status/grade muddies the water and often results in a difficult working environment." -- Technology, Graduate

  "Organisation structure is well defined but certainly not in a way which refrains those fulfilling roles at the top of the hierarchy to engage with people at lower levels. The majority of colleagues support one another and there is a real sense of collaboration in the company which stands out from companies I have worked for in the past. Graduates are always encouraged to socialise with one another and opportunities are frequently provided by management for this to take place." -- Technology, Graduate

  "The structure is well defined. Colleagues do support one another a lot. Teamwork and collaboration are key in consulting and everyone is a team player. The social life is fairly active too, and is supported by the firm with Christmas parties and such." -- Technology, Graduate

Hours

• "I tend to spend around 40 – 45 hours in the office per week but this is highly dependent on my deliverables, the most I have done has been 60 hours but this is an exception. I have worked on the weekend once but this was entirely my own choice as the work environment is very flexible. As long as you meet your deliverables and any meetings, you can make the work fit around you (within reason of course!)." -- Technology, Graduate

  "I work a lot of hours due to the nature of the business unit I am in – it averages out to about 45 hours a week. This does not happen all the time and we are left to manage our own time otherwise so that we can maintain a good work/life balance. You are trusted with your own time and rarely have to work weekends." -- Technology, Graduate

  "Flexibility varies greatly between teams/areas. For example, my current team is not as accommodating for working from home as my previous team was." -- Technology, Graduate

  "I often have to be in early and stay late but I don't mind as I enjoy the job. I have only had to work one Sunday in three years! They are very flexible with remote working and I work from home three out of every four Fridays." -- Technology, Midlevel

  "On average, I work around 45 hours a week, but this does vary greatly and can be more. This is more of an ASE thing, rather than Technology. I have only ever had to work around 4 weekends in two and a half years. Flexible working is available within reason if needed and appropriate." -- Technology, Graduate

  "Obviously the hours vary depending on the project you're on and the role you have. But generally with the balance that is provided, what with working from home policies and the flexibility of the business in general, I think you would be hard-pushed to find a better place to work from this perspective." -- Technology, Graduate

Pay

• "£26,500" -- Technology, Graduate
• "£30,000" -- Technology, Graduate
• "£34,000" -- Technology, Midlevel
• "£26,500" -- Technology, Graduate
• "£27,250" -- Technology, Graduate

  "Salary also includes Flex benefits; however this can be taken as cash. A Christmas bonus is offered depending on how the account is doing." -- Technology, Graduate

  "No pay rise in two years, although when a pay rise was awarded it was at around 2.5% of the current salary. No London weighting, so employees in the north start on the same as employees in the south/London." -- Technology, Graduate

  "The pay is relatively competitive within the IT services market, and the consulting part of the business pays much better, but in general I would say this aspect could be improved. Not simply from a pay perspective, but from a transparency perspective: knowing what is attainable and is currently the norm for the levels above you will provide a useful incentive, where as the business does not like providing this sort of information." -- Technology, Graduate

  "There can be bonuses at the end of the year; it depends on the company performance." -- Technology, Graduate

Interviews & Assessments

• "I had a phone interview, followed by an assessment day. At the interview, I was interviewed by the head of solutions delivery. There was also an individual and group exercise. In addition to technical skills, they also tested business knowledge and soft skills." -- Technology, Graduate 
• "I had two rounds of interviews – one phone interview and then an assessment day with group exercises and an individual interview. The interviewers were from the business unit you were applying for and did the best they could to make you feel comfortable. The questions were generally competency based." -- Technology, Graduate

  "The processes is quite thorough, I had to face an online application form, a telephone interview, an assessment centre, and then finally a further face-to-face interview. I would say about 1/6th of applicants that go to the assessment centre will be offered positions. The assessment centre day was structured around a case study and required a presentation based upon solo understanding of the study. Here you are placed in a room with other applicants but asked to work alone. Following this, the group activity seemed to look for teamwork and the way you interact with other people carrying out a task." -- Technology, Graduate

  "Three rounds: 1 – Assessment form, 2 – Phone interview, 3 – Assessment Centre. The assessment day consisted of several aptitude tests, presenting a case study resolution and a one-to-one interview." -- Technology, Graduate