Problem Analysis
Lots of companies run SAP, and SAP is having a good year. This means there must be tons of opportunities for jobs, and lots of money to be made in the field. You're an Oracle or Siebel pro who's out of work, so you should just have to take a few courses in order to walk right into an SAP consulting job. Right? Think again.
Problem Solution
SAP's success can be deceptive. Just because the company is doing well and growing its market influence does not translate into an easy job market, especially for consultants.
"The SAP consulting market is extremely competitive, and for the most part, the vast majority of people who are getting their feet wet in SAP are simply lucky to be in the right place at the right time with a company that decides to implement," writes Jon Reed, SearchSAP.com's career expert.
For someone determined to work in the field, experience and knowledge are important. You should be planning to make a career in SAP, not expecting for it to be a quick fix to your economic problems. While positions do exist for a determined candidate, keep in mind you'll be competing with people who have a passion for the technology and years of experience working in it. It's not a career path to be taken up on a whim and definitely not something that can be accomplished in a short period of time. First, find the area of SAP that is most pertinent to your past experience, then try to seek a full-time job working directly in that area to gain experience. Consider some training to beef up your resume. Then, and only then, you may find yourself in a position to take up consulting.
Career and certification FAQs
What does the future hold for SAP consultants?
I have SAP experience and want to become an independent consultant. How do I go about it?
Consulting 101
Home: Introduction
Scenario 1: I'm considering switching to SAP
Scenario 2: Should I become a functional or technical consultant?
Scenario 3: Planning the transition to consulting
Scenario 4: How can I avoid outsourcing?
Scenario 5: What's the right area for me to focus on?
Review: Conclusion and more resources
