About the SAP career.

[Former Member]

Hullo Friends,

I have completed SAP ABAP, i am searching for a job since many months but not successful in finding a right job. I have uploaded my resume to many job portals either. And, moreover i am a fresher.I am uploading my resume here can anyone go thro' it any let me know weather the resume is accurate or not .

In the meantime i am preparing myself strongly to face interview. Kindly anyone help me out with this situation.

And, i am planning to install demo version SAP software on my personal computer at home for practice is it possible to install on my PC.If yes, can anyone suggest me how to install it?

Thank you.

Ramesh J.V

[cientistaflavio]

Hello!

There are many tips on the internet about résumés and job interviews. You can start your exploration by visiting the following websites:

Résumés:

- Seven ways to perfect your résumé -

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/fgdi45eklm/tips-for-creating-the-best-possible-resume/

- 12 Myths about your résumé -

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/04/01/12-myths-about-writing-your-resume/

Job Interviews:

- Staying calm during a job interview -

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/03/26/14-tips-for-staying-calm-during-a-job-intervie...

- The easy way to psyche yourself for a great job interview -

http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/04/05/the-easy-way-to-psyche-yourself-for-a-great-job-in...

To learn about the Mini SAP, you can visit the following websites:

- What is Mini SAP? - http://scn.sap.com/thread/949935

- How to get Mini SAP - http://scn.sap.com/thread/255434

- Tutorial: how to install and use the Mini SAP (bonus: lots of links to great SAP resources) - http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/sap-and-xslt/6-tutorial-how-to-install-and-use-the-m...

Best regards,

Flávio.

[Former Member]

Hi Mr. Alves,

Thanks a ton, for this tips. But i have already prepared the resume and also preparing myself to face the interview and also preparing for the best.

The main difficulties is finding a job i have already uploaded my resume to job search websites. Everyone, are asking for a real time experience on this. But i am still a fresher.

Kindly, help me out in finding a right job. I know its inappropriate, however i am requesting you to help me out on this.

Thank you.

Ramesh J.V

[cientistaflavio]

Hello!

Please, consider reading the following comment. I think it offers a great perspective on seeking a job to work with SAP technology.

  Former Member Aug 16, 2012 6:36 PM comments on a blog Posted by Chirag Shah

http://scn.sap.com/community/training-and-education/certification/blog/2012/08/16/root-cause-analysi...

Chirag,

I respectfully disagree. The problem is one of expectation. Recent college graduate (and sometimes mid-career switchers) expect to be able to get a job working on a support team for an SAP system or as an SAP consultant, and that's not a valid expectation.

SAP systems form the life blood of any company in which they are implemented. Companies are rightly protective of their SAP system and seek the best quality employees to support/implement that system. This means that they are, in general, not going to want fresh college graduates anywhere near the system. They want employees with long track records of success and previous hands-on SAP experience. Certification is often viewed by hiring managers as verification that the applicant's hands on experience was not too limited to be of value and that the applicant has a grasp on the broad base of their area of expertise.

SAP certification is neither necessary nor sufficient to get a job in SAP support or as an SAP consultant. SAP certification is, however, a significant differentiator between two candidates with equal hands-on experience, so it does play a valid and useful part in the mid-career of folks pursuing a career in SAP. (Note to future commenters: Please do not quote the first sentence out of context. Both sentences are required to make my point. Feel free to disagree/debate the issue, but you should include both sides of the coin in the discussion.)

This immediately leads to the question: "I can't get hired without experience, but I can't get experience without getting hired. How can I break this trap?"

The answer there is that customers will promote hard working individuals in related areas into the SAP support organization after they have proven that they are effective employees and understand the business. This is, by far, the largest source of new talent into the SAP universe. I include in this employees who get included into SAP implementation projects when a company first implements SAP which is a significant component of this stream but requires you to be at the right place at the right time and is therefore not a factor for someone who is consciously trying to break into SAP.

So most recent college graduates should be looking for starter positions at companies as SAP end users, not trying to break directly into SAP configuration on the SAP support team or as an SAP consultant.

I've read your previous article, DOs & DON’Ts for SAP Career (Certification) on the basis of my on going journey from an Accountant t..., and you have my extreme sympathy for your situation, but I think it illustrate my point as well. You have a wealth of experience in Financials, but you have no hands-on experience with SAP outside of a training class, if I read your article correctly. So to an employer, it is safer for them to hire someone with similar FI experience with a history of hands-on experience with SAP, even if it's just as an end user.

This is why my primary advice to all recent graduates and potential mid-career changers is to use the experience they have to get a job, any job at a company who is already running SAP. Once hired, I tell them to keep their eye on the goal and to get as involved as they can in the change management process. That is, they should evaluate the system and look for gaps, then request that the gap be filled through the company's change management process. When the change is approved, they'll be able to work with the support team and specify the requirements for the change as well as test the change. With sustained interest, they should be able to prove that they understand the system and how it can be improved and move into the support group. Alternatively, they can use their experience with the change management process to get a job on the support team at another company because now they have a track record to show of hands on use (albeit as an end user) but also a track record of how they've helped improve the system even though it was not their primary job function. That demonstrated passion can go a long way. With SAP certification, it goes even further.

I recommend against, in the strongest possible terms, quiting an job at which the person is currently employed in order to pursue SAP training and certification. This path is fraught with high costs, high unemployment, and very low success.

Yes, the training and certification itself can be improved. Training should always evolve to meet the current market needs. But in the end, 25 days of training and a test will never be enough, on its own, to convince any employer to hire anyone. It is only in combination with work experience that someone who missed the initial recruitment into the SAP world will be successful.

I mentioned "someone who missed the initial recruitment". There is an alternate method for folks to get started in SAP, and that is to be recruited prior to graduating from their undergraduate or MBA program. Some companies specifically seek students to hire upon graduation. It's part of their business model. This is primarily the large consulting firms, but there are others. The thing you need to know is that this track is valid for only a small percentage of the overall entries into SAP careers every year. And if you are not recruited while still in school, then that path is generally closed to you and the longer, more tried and true path down which the majority of folks in the SAP universe travel is the one that remains.

I agree with most of your other points and truely value your contribution to this forum. Thank you for sharing your story and continuing to push for improvements in the SAP world.

Best regards,

  --Tom

Unfortunately, I am not able to "help you out in finding a right job". I wish you the best of luck, though.

Best regards,

Flávio Alves.

[Former Member]

Hi Ramesh,

Most of the suggestions are covered by Flavio.  One more suggestion from my experience -

1. Apply to the IT companies through the referral program.

2. If any of your friend or friend's friend is working in IT comapnies, you can send your CV to them and they can upload your CV through the referral program

The response is good thro' such programs.

Good Luck and have some patience.

Thanks and Regards

DJ

[Former Member]

Hi DJ,

Thank for your reply....! Currently i am checking with my friends about the openings for SAP-ABAP in their companies. I think probably that would help me.