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R/2 -> R/3 -> ERP -> mySAP -> SAP Business Suite -> Business ByDesign

Feb 3, 2008

SAP-related Employment Options and Careers

SAP R/3 and other SAP products such as BW, APO, CRM are very comprehensive and complex, both in terms of the IT and the business dimension. A typical ‘SAP-expert’ has very good business knowledge and SAP-skills in either one to two functional modules of SAP R/3 (e.g. FI/CO and SD) or in one of the ‘new dimension solutions’ (e.g. BW). In addition, he or she will have a basic understanding of all other modules and products (Note: Understanding the new dimension products always requires a basic understanding of SAP R/3).

Becoming an ‘SAP-expert’ requires, above all, good knowledge of business processes and a substantial amount of SAP-training. In addition to that, becoming an ‘SAP-consultant’ requires good communication skills, project management skills, and problem solving capacity. These three aspects are usually gained through and evidenced by job experience in general and (SAP) project experience in particular.

Employment Options

From all the above-mentioned it is clear that you will not be an SAP-consultant once you have finished some or even all of the subjects mentioned above. The subjects will, however, be of great value for you, if you pursue one of the following options:

  1. Apply for any business position in companies currently using or intending to implement SAP products or similar products of other vendors (if your strengths are in ‘business’).

    Your SAP-skills and IS-knowledge will be regarded as a very valuable ‘add-on’ to your profile and might make the decisive difference! The practical exposure to those products will also be the basis for other employment options (after 6 to 12 months) either inside this company (e.g. functional SAP-leader) or in other companies (including SAP-consultancies).

  2. Apply for any more IT-related position in companies currently using or intending to implement SAP products or similar products of other vendors (if your strengths are in ‘IS’).

    Your SAP-skills and business-knowledge will be regarded as a very valuable ‘add-on’ to your profile and might make the decisive difference! The practical exposure to those products will also be the basis for other employment options (after 6 to 12 months) either inside this company (e.g. SAP-basis administrator, functional SAP-leader) or in other companies (including SAP-consultancies).

  3. Pursue a career as ‘SAP-expert’

    Your SAP-skills and business-knowledge will be regarded as a very valuable ‘starting-point’, but you will require further training and exposure to the software. You can achieve this either through option 1 or 2, or by finding a company or consultancy who is willing to invest in you, or by investing in your SAP-skills .

  4. Pursue a career as ‘SAP-consultant’

    Your SAP-skills and business-knowledge will be regarded as a very valuable ‘starting-point’, but you will require further training and exposure to the software. You can achieve this either through option 1 or 2, or by finding a consultancy that is willing to invest in you, i.e. employs you as project assistant and trains you. Investing in your SAP-skills might be helpful, but you would still lack ‘SAP-project experience’!

Concluding Recommendations

  • Be aware that you have learnt a lot more than you would learn in standard SAP-training courses, but still be realistic: You will not be an SAP-consultant right away, and you will not be able to apply for a typical ‘SAP-contract position’ (These are positions advertised by job-agencies who want to make quick money by hiring experienced people who do not need any training and not even guidance and supervision).
  • Pursue option 1 or 2. They are not only the best basis for 3 and 4, but also valuable if you do not intend to go for 3 or 4.
  • When you seek an employment (option 1 or 2), search for companies who are first of all looking for business or IT-skills (or maybe other skills, such as special language skills). From those short-listed, pick those that have SAP/ERP-skills as required or optional ‘special skills’.