Young Talent Graduate Program

It’s in the name, “Young Talent Graduate Program”. You can tell that this is a company that believes in young people’s potential and fosters innovation and growth in them. I was particularly looking for a company that cultivates a continuous learning environment as that would help me accelerate my growth in a rapidly changing industry.

Professionally, it definitely provided me with invaluable hands-on experience, especially in areas such as automation, AI and Microsoft Dynamics 365. We are jump into the deep end safely, as we work on real-life projects with clients, and this significantly enhanced my technical and non-technical expertise.

Our mentors go above and beyond to ensure that we are client-ready and able to add value to the business. I learned how to solve problems in different ways and gained a deep understanding of how technology drives business solutions.

Personally, I learned and continue to learn how to communicate effectively with those around me. I am learning to articulate myself so that I will be understood. I am learning how to build sustainable relationships through networking, which will benefit me in future endeavors. I am becoming more confident in presenting ideas, working within diverse teams and finding my voice within those teams. This program continues to push me out of my comfort zone, and I am grateful for that.

I believe that I now face challenges strategically and work effectively with other people, which are two skills that I will carry with me throughout my career. I am constantly in learning mode, and I believe that, because I can adapt to new emerging technologies, I will be able to become an effective consultant. This will prepare me for even greater responsibilities and challenges.

The sky is not the limit. The world is your oyster, and you are more than capable of becoming the person that you imagine yourself to be, and more, especially at this company. Learn how to come out of your comfort zone so that those around you can experience you wholly and experience all the “young talent” that lives within you.

The idea of joining an industry leader and innovator is what attracted me to join NTT DATA (Dimension Data at the time) as it was always a career goal of mine to work for the company.

The program gave me a sense of empowerment by providing us with the skills to complete our jobs but also providing us with soft skills training that we could apply outside of our working lives as well.

I've been able to apply the different skills and ways of thinking to my everyday life.

Every day is an opportunity to learn something new, and at NTT DATA you'll be given that opportunity, all you need to do is be open to learning.

The Graduate Program initially attracted me because, coming from a built environment background, I was eager to gain experience in the IT sector. The program offered the perfect opportunity to learn and gain hands-on experience in a field I was determined to break into.

At the time, the organization's graduate program was one of the most competitive, making it highly sought after by myself and many others. The program significantly contributed to my professional and personal development by kick-starting my career in IT.

Today, I am in a position where I can provide insights on how technology hyperscalers and systems integrators work, while also merging this knowledge with my built-environment background. It has also enhanced my personal development by opening up a network of individuals who have guided and advised me in numerous ways. I've gained insights from colleagues that I wouldn't have otherwise and been exposed to environments that were previously inaccessible to me.

I continuously apply what I have learned to push through my career journey. By taking the lessons and advice shared with me, I have strengthened my existing skills and pushed myself to new boundaries for necessary upskilling and exposure.

My advice to future program participants is to recognize their worth, stand firm in it, and remain agile. Absorb all the insights you can and associate with the right people.

NTT DATA's graduate program has been an eye-opening experience. Their commitment to empowering South African youth, including those without traditional technical degrees, is truly commendable. They're not just preparing us for the South African job market but equipping us to make a global impact.

The program offered ample learning experiences that pushed me out of my comfort zone, surprisingly becoming a source of personal and professional growth. A perfect example was when I was asked to MC a Women's Day event — despite initial nerves, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it and discovering a newfound appreciation for corporate public speaking. This experience, among others, showcased the program’s ability to reveal and nurture skills I never knew I possessed.

One of the key lessons I took away is the importance of being open and curious. Rather than letting a lack of experience deter me, I embraced the chance to learn new things, which in turn opened me up to exciting project opportunities.

My advice to future grads: get involved. It's the best way to learn about the company and connect with the people who make NTT DATA an exceptional place to work. Remember, you have the time now, so make the most of it.

The diversity of the program was extremely appealing. The program was focused on giving the graduates a perspective and understanding of all the different disciplines, departments and service offerings, whilst allowing us to do mini sprints in each.

Professionally, I have learnt an unbelievable amount about how businesses operate, from product, operations and finance and tying it all back together within the various systems. In terms of personal development, I have learnt to accept, challenge and work through various outcomes at work, and this has led to a deeper critical thinking in my personal life.

In my day-to-day role, I do a lot of analytics and work through data, but, being a stats major, this role I would never have thought of applying for. I think you need to work through understanding that there is so much more opportunity in roles you can apply for that you do not think would fit your current field of study.

Advice? Slow down... I think our generation is addicted to instant gratification. You will not be CEO 6 months after the grad program. You might be an associate....