In January, Bridgepoint Consulting had a class of recent college graduates join the Systems Integration team. Our class went through a specific program designed for us, with more intense onboarding and training compared to the team at large. I’ve captured here what we thought of our experience.
New Hires and Fresh Perspectives
I interviewed five of my newly hired NetSuite Consultant peers at Bridgepoint to learn how the company has compared to their expectations. In the second blog of a three-part series, we’ll discuss the work itself and career opportunities at Bridgepoint Consulting.
Is the work you do what you expected?
Consulting and the ERP space are new to me, so I didn’t have a clear picture of what Bridgepoint would be like coming in. I had anxiety about being thrown into things that I didn’t feel prepared for and having to figure things out, but the extensive training and support of everyone who works here alleviated my worries.
Pat Dunn
Before joining BPC, I expected the work to be challenging in a functional way. In reality, the work is more business-oriented than I expected. I have enjoyed learning more about accounting and how companies function behind the scenes. So much thought goes into something as simple as placing an order.
Victor Perez
I have a background in ERP systems, so the work in NetSuite is similar to what I expected. However, as a functional consultant we don’t just deal with NetSuite. It’s also about helping clients with change management and involves using management consulting skills – not just being good with computers. We have to be able to consult with clients on a variety of topics outside of just NetSuite.
Connor Ontiveros
What is a typical “day in the life” like at BPC?
During the new hire training, we’re typically up and ready to go by 9:00 AM. There’s lots of video-call time involved in the first few weeks. We worked through training videos and exercises. Then, we’d come back together bringing our notes, ideas, and questions to the whole group. There were many opportunities to organically build relationships and collaborate with the other new hires.
Pat Dunn
A typical day of technical training for me started with getting up at 6:30 AM, working out, then having coffee and breakfast. We had a few meetings a day to check-in, watched training videos for a few hours, and completed exercises to practice what we’d learned in the videos. After work, we sometimes have happy hours, or I would meet friends for dinner or go for a walk.
Melissa Bradford
On Sunday nights, before the week starts, I’m excited because I like going to work. During our technical training, I liked to start work as soon as I got the chance. I love having the flexibility to start work whenever I’d like. I would look at my notes from the day prior to see what needed to get done, work through the videos and training exercises, join meetings, and get ahead on deadlines.
Victor Perez
On a typical day of client work, I start around 8:00 AM. I always check my emails and Teams chats to make sure I haven’t missed anything. My day depends on what meetings I have and what I’m working on. At lunch time, I go for a walk or the gym or eat in the garden to get some fresh air. I usually get off around 4:30 or 5:00 PM but sometimes I work until 6:00 PM and don’t even realize it because I enjoy the work. I don’t ever feel needed past 5:00 PM or pushed into working more than I should. BPC understands the boundaries of work life and personal life.
Alex Barnett
What are the top benefits BPC offers you in your career?
One top benefit of BPC is that if an area interests you, they’ll provide the resources for you to venture more into it. They’re very supportive of whatever career direction you want to pursue. I majored in business but have an interest in the technical side of the work. I have found so many resources at BPC to help me explore the technical side more.
Melissa Bradford
A top benefit of working for BPC is the ability to work from home or go into the office whenever I’d like. There’s a push towards certifications, which makes me want to be better at my job. There are quarterly bonuses. The mentorship program for new hires is great – the mentors help introduce you to other BPC employees. The social and cultural aspects of BPC are top benefits as well.
Alex Barnett
One of the top career benefits BPC offers me is the ability to learn skills I’m interested in through work. For example, I plan to learn HTML, JavaScript, and SQL. I also get great consulting experience by working with clients.
Victor Perez
What do you enjoy most about the work you do? What do you find most rewarding?
The work I do as a NetSuite Consultant is interesting and keeps me thinking. I really enjoy the problem-solving aspect of the work. When a super tough problem comes up and I can solve it, that’s really rewarding. I also like being able to help out coworkers solve problems or with work if their plate is too full.
Melissa Bradford
I like that my work is very collaborative and team-oriented. Being able to make an effective impact on a project, even from early in the role, is very rewarding. I feel like I actually worked and made a difference.
Connor Ontiveros
I really like problem-solving. It’s the most interesting thing to me. I enjoy learning about how different companies handle their business processes, then working towards solutions. It brings a feeling of accomplishment when you figure out how to create the result you intended.
Pat Dunn
The most rewarding part of my job is helping clients. As a new consultant you may think you don’t have the answer to a client’s issue. But finding the answer – even if it’s a simple fix – and solving a problem for a client, it’s really rewarding.
Victor Perez
At BPC, I like that the work changes all the time; it’s not a cycle, it’s always different. I really like being busy, and I enjoy checking things off a list and seeing the progress I’ve made.
Alex Barnett
