Jule Loescher
My two highlights were our degree show in final year and winning Best Society with the Drama society.
I won the Universal Design Grand Challenge in the Technology category in 2023.
I was involved with Drama society, German society and Access society.
The community and sense of belonging. I was in a different college before I came to Maynooth and it was like night and day.
Design thinking changed my whole approach to problem-solving. I have applied it in so many different settings and context since I began my degree. Another often overlooked aspect are presentation skills. I've come out of this degree with a love for storytelling and communicating information in a concise and engaging way. This is a skill that is quite rare in the workplace and easily helps you stand out.
If you want to tackle real, human challenges, then this degree is for you. It is so much more than just spending time in a workshop building prototypes. It will change your whole mindset and teach you curiosity, empathy, and creativity.
Details of your career path to date
I graduated at a time when the design industry was at one of its lowest points in years. There were hiring freezes at most companies and practically no opportunities for new grads. After months of rejections and setbacks I decided that I needed to rethink my strategy and adapt my expectations. I had had a clear path in mind that I had to follow and succeed in, if I wanted to be a designer. It turns out, that there isn't one clear-cut path to success, and it took me a while to befriend this idea. Ever since I changed my perspective, I have been able to embrace every (previously unattractive) opportunity I have come across, and it has been a highly valuable experience. I am now closer to my dream job than I have ever been and I am just as determined and passionate as I was on day one of my job search. I have managed to get my foot in the door of a fantastic company and everyone I've met so far has demonstrated full support for my goals and aspirations. Despite everything, I'm certain that this is exactly where I need to be at this moment in time, so that I may become the skilled and well-rounded designer that I know I'm going to be.
Can you tell us of any career highlight to date?
A career highlight has most definitely been all the amazing people that I've had the chance to work with since I graduated. It goes to show that wherever you are and whatever you're doing, it really is the people that make it all worthwhile. Do not underestimate this aspect!
What does your current role involve?
As a Business Architecture Analyst my role is to support many different aspects of the software development lifecycle on client projects. Depending on the project, I may be involved in situation analysis, requirements gathering, testing, or even project management. I serve as a subject matter expert on business processes that revolve around the business strategy, organisational structure, unique value proposition, and product strategy. At Accenture we are working with cutting-edge technologies such as AI, cloud and XR, which is very exciting.
What do you find most interesting/challenging about your job?
Most interesting about my job is that I get to work on every stage of the software development lifecycle, and I get to learn first-hand how clients think and what they care about. These are both things that many designers don't get to experience much, which makes them really valuable skills for when I get more involved with design work down the line. I am able to bridge the gap between client expectations/business needs and user needs.
How did you find your current job?
I knew that Accenture has multiple creative teams, and I had actually applied to numerous mid-level design roles previously. After chatting to an employee at the Gradireland fair in the RDS, they recommended the Technology graduate program as a way to get into the company.
What advice would you give to Maynooth University students entering the job market, either generally speaking or in regard to your specific career sector?
The design industry is very tough for new grads, even now, 2 years after I graduated. My advice is to try and shift your perspective and find new and creative ways to forge your own career path. There is no rush, and if you stay persistent and passionate, you will end up right where you belong. More specifically, I would recommend to start building a network early. People are a lot more willing to sit down and have a chat with you than I previously thought, and you never know when they may come across an opportunity and think of you.