Thinking

People experience - the Clarasys way

Written by The Clarasys Team | November 10 2021

What is it about Clarasys that makes our people experience, what they describe as, such a special place to work?

Since the inception of Clarasys, its people have been, and continue to be, the priority of the business, over and above revenue targets. The work culture and environment that people experience at Clarasys are defined with the employee experience in mind.

Clarasys’ people continue to be the special ingredient that makes Clarasys what it is today.

Since launching ten years ago and moving to the US two years ago, Clarasys has evolved into a global support system that encourages its members to expand and explore their interests. So what is it that makes Clarasys so unique and special? What is the fuss all about? Here we will talk with two current US consultants about their Clarasys’ experiences.

How our people experience client responsibility

One of the greatest differences between Clarasys and other consulting firms is its eagerness to get consultants in front of stakeholders. Consultants are encouraged to provide value wherever they can and find ways to take on more responsibility in any client project they are placed in.

Jimmy

“At my previous firm, I was often in a supporting role and struggled to find opportunities with meaningful stakeholder interaction. During my first project with Clarasys, I outlined my goals and was encouraged by my Engagement Lead to run workshops and collaborate on project structure/ways of working. Clarasys allows me to take on as much responsibility as I’m comfortable with and has changed how I think about providing value. I have the autonomy and backing to point out what I think could be done better and the support to improve what I think needs improving.

Kian

“I used to work at a large consulting firm. For my first project, I was randomly placed on a Health Care and Public Service engagement as a quality assurance tester. For the next 2 years, I felt I could not escape that role or industry. My requests to career coaches were not heard and my development was pushed aside as long as I was profitable and my charge-ability rates were high. After a long engagement, I often only had a week on the bench to find a new role, before I was placed in another testing gig. I’ve had the opposite experience at Clarasys. I meet weekly with my coach to reflect on my goals. I feel that I have a say in my future roles and role off dates if I’m interested in trying something else.”

How our people experience internal responsibility

Clarasys is an employee-owned firm. Its employees share in the profits and are responsible for running and growing the business.

When we are faced with a decision that impacts the business, we are encouraged to “act like an owner” and make that decision ourselves. This mantra is essential to our flat hierarchy and allows us to move quickly.

The company is composed of communities that span both the UK and US offices and are focused on exploring new ways to improve the business and its offerings. If you’re interested in CX, D&I, sustainability, pro-bono work, or technology, there is a community to get involved in and an OKR (our collaborative goal-setting tool) to work towards. And unlike most firms, Clarasys makes sure internal work is prioritized.

Kian

“Clarasys has given me the opportunity to grow beyond my project roles. Outside of my day-to-day project responsibilities, I am able to take on leadership roles that interest me. For my client, I am part of building out the strategy and innovation client service framework. I help determine the direction of the account, what opportunities the account should pursue, and mitigate risks ahead of time. This role gives me the extra insight into the health of the account and its broader impact.”

Jimmy

“At Clarasys, I have had the opportunity to participate in community meetings on a variety of topics and discover additional roles and responsibilities outside of my client work. For example, within the sustainability community, I am part of the team that runs our internal engagement, which involves organizing events, podcasts, and round tables. I’ve also had the opportunity to act as the Scrum Master for the US office and am responsible for facilitating our internal work here. If we have ideas on how to grow the business, we are encouraged to begin chipping away, no matter how large the goal.”

Clarasys work culture

Clarasys is based on the idea that sharing knowledge is the best way to support growth.

Everyone at Clarasys has a coach. Every day, our collaborative tool ‘Chatter’ is filled with people asking for tips, posting weekly updates on their lives, or highlighting one of the numerous opportunities to learn (e.g. sit in on a project spotlight, be trained in customer journey mapping, attend salesforce admin school, take emotional intelligence training, etc.)

Jimmy

“I really enjoy how easy it is to reach out to someone and ask for input. I also appreciate the candidness of the feedback I receive and how receptive those are to my feedback. There is an incredible number of things going on each week, and I have had multiple opportunities to learn and earn certifications through Clarasys.

The coaches at Clarasys allow you to make the most of the opportunities at the company. They are focused on identifying the goals that matter most to you and making sure your personal wellness is prioritized.”

Kian

“Clarasys has an incredible work culture. They value their employees’ well-being above all else. Clarasys strives to make everyone T-shaped. This means that consultants have an understanding of all the disciplines across a project, allowing them to visualize the project holistically and deliver the right outcome for the customer.

Clarasys is also extremely willing to help others out which leads to a fantastic people experience. Oftentimes, when an employee is stuck on a deliverable or needs advice, they ask the broader clarasys network via Chatter.

More experienced employees come rushing in with advice or past work to help guide. There is no culture of “me first” or “coworkers are my competition.” We’re all in this together and try to help each other out as much as possible.”

If you are interested in learning more about Clarasys, please get in touch. To apply to become a member of the team, check out our latest job vacancies here.