
	Home > Ask the SAP software/management Experts > SAP Careers and certification Questions & Answers > Career move for ABAPer

Ask The SAP Expert: Questions & Answers

EMAIL THIS

Career move for ABAPer

EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Jon Reed, Years 2002-2008

		Pose a Question

		Other SAP Categories

		Meet all SAP Experts
		Become an Expert for this site

Digg This!

StumbleUpon

Del.icio.us

QUESTION POSED ON: 09 July 2004
I'm an ABAP programmer and have been involved in this field for the past 3 years. I have done ABAP programming in various modules of SAP viz., SD, MM, PP, PS, HR, PM, FI and CO, and various categories of ABAP mainly SAPScript, BDC, transaction, user exits and reporting, classical, interactive and ALV. I have 1 year of experience in VB and JAVA programming and worked in CAD for 3 years with Auto CAD Solidworks packages. I was also working as an instrumentation engineer where I was basically doing maintenance work. Based on this background, what would be the best field for me to look into while keeping my interest apart for now? The following are my choices:

1) Functional consultant - PS, PM
2) mySAP components, mobile sales, CRM, EBP, SEM, BW
3) Remain in ABAP and learn advanced technologies in ABAP ALE/IDOCS, Workflow or as and when they come.

Thanks for the detailed information on your SAP background. I'm not 100% clear on how you narrowed your future options down to the three scenarios you listed. In particular, it is not clear to me, with option two, whether you are implying making a jump to the functional side of SAP or not. After all, there is plenty of technical work on mySAP components as well. I'm going to assume that your first two options are functional and the third is technical. In that case, I would definitely recommend that you remain technically focused, as per option three, and build on your current strengths. This is a tough SAP market, and you need to be drawing on all your skills in order to capitalize. It's not the best time for a functional transition. On the other hand, your reference to "advanced ABAP technologies" seems a little like "last generation." How about getting skills with SAP Java Connector, iViews, or the Portals Development Kit? How about adding some BW/SEM development experience to the mix? Or perhaps APO-CIF skills? How about NetWeaver XI, which replaces the SAP Business Connector? And add BAPI exposure to the mix also. XML and iXML have also been coming up a lot lately. I like the idea of staying on the development side where you have deep expertise, but I would recommend some intense research and pursuit of SAP "next generation" development environments.

Digg This!

StumbleUpon

Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT

	SAP Careers and certification
	How to build an SAP functional resume: SAP consulting advice from Jon Reed
	How to get into SAP Basis
	Job prospects in SAP security
	Moving to SAP SCM
	Breaking into an SAP career: Climb the ladder
	What is the MDM market like right now?
	How big is demand for SAP CRM consultants?
	Holding experience in ABAP, do I go SAP XI or BI?
	Breaking into SAP with an IT background
	Breaking into SAP HR

SAP training and certification strategy

SAP needs to do more with centers of excellence, analyst says

SAP forms closer link with LinkedIn

SAP job market: What are the hot SAP skills and what's cooled off

SAP job market: Building a future in an SAP career

Recruiting programs, economy have lessened SAP skills shortage, SAP says

How to maintain SAP consulting success in a market downturn

Why SAP skills pay keeps climbing, and what skills will augment your resume

SAP debuts BPX certification: A closer look at SAP's business process focus

TechEd:SAP offers new business process management certification

The SAP job quiz 2008: How well do you know the job market?

SAP training and certification strategy Research

RELATED RESOURCES

2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems

Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts

Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary

Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.

Browse our Expert Advice
Operating Systems IT Management Networking Database	Security Servers and Storage Applications and Development Career Center

SAP White Paper Topics

SEARCH

TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.


TechTarget Corporate Web Site \| Media Kits \| Site Map All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2000 - 2009, TechTarget \| Read our Privacy Policy SearchSAP.com is a search service provided by TechTarget and is completely independent of and not affiliated with SAP AG.