Anyone at SAPPHIRE looking for consulting roles?

[palm712]

I am heading to SAPPHIRE next week and would love to connect with people in person who are looking for SAP consulting roles. We are always looking for talented people to join our team in Finance, Logistics, Project Management and Technical Roles!

[VenkataPidikiti]

I'm writing to express my strong interest in transitioning into a career as an SAP Consultant. I am based in Hyderabad, India, and bring over 25 years of experience in the IT field. While I am new to the SAP ecosystem, I am highly motivated and possess a strong foundation in IT principles. I have actively been working towards my goal by completing few Open SAP certifications .I am a quick learner and eager to leverage my existing IT knowledge to excel in the SAP world.

[RichDBlumberg]

Hi Venkata... You didn't mention which courses or what type of IT interest you have. That's O.K.

Whatever interests you should identify the top customers' compelling issues... challenges... SAP (& 3rd party) technology solutions...outcomes...metrics... and requirements. And then with that said... many, many companies have SAP centers of excellence (COEs) in India (e.g., Bangalore) and beyond... Google some lists (e.g., Glassdoor) and check out this SAP consulting partner site and find SAP partners. Next... network for informational discussions... keep an eye on events/webcasts... Explore Sapphire 2024, SAP TechEd 2024 (sign up for announcements). Not sure if they will have a TechEd Bangalore conference, but definitely virtual.  Stay plugged into the SAP Community and this Career Corner group (I see many hints of job opportunities when I poke around the discussion threads)! Take a step back and see where your 25 years of IT experience can be best leveraged with value and impact....And of course... along the way you'll find job postings... hear of opportunities... so be ready with a great resume... and do your homework prior to any interviews!

Feel free to share more specific questions or comments...
Regards,
Rich
SAP Consultant / Amazon Author - Job Seeking Warriors - A Mentors Guide to Winning

[VenkataPidikiti]

Hi Rich,

Thank you again for the helpful advice! I'm particularly interested in exploring how my skills can be applied within SAP Migrations to Cloud in digital world.

Taking Action:

• Customer Challenges and SAP Solutions: I'm actively researching "top customer challenges" related to SAP Cloud migrations, focusing on areas where my existing skills could contribute.
• Transferable Skills on Resume: I'm revising my resume to showcase how my Project Management, Analytics, Enterprise Architecture, and Cloud Architecture skills translate well to SAP Cloud projects.
• Open SAP Certifications: I've included my Open SAP certifications to demonstrate my initiative and learning agility.

Addressing Lack of Direct Experience:

While I understand the importance of experience in SAP implementations, I believe my strong foundation in transferable skills can be valuable for cloud migration projects. I'm eager to learn and contribute within a team environment.

How Can I Get Started?

In addition to the resources you mentioned, are there any specific recommendations for someone in my position – transitioning into SAP Cloud with transferable skills but lacking direct SAP experience?

Thank you for your continued support. I'm excited to embark on this journey into the SAP world and contribute to successful SAP Cloud migrations!

Best Regards,

Venkata Ravi Kumar Pidikiti

[RichDBlumberg]

Venkata,
Hi! The information from your reply above is helpful... Keep in mind that any job/career search is a journey. With that said, here are a few comments/suggestions...

• Leverage Current Expertise: Project management and Enterprise Architecture are very good skills and experiences to leverage... Many SAP implementations have 3rd party technology as well so your experience there is positive.
• Narrow the Field: Consider narrowing down the "Migration to the Cloud"... It's a big topic... There are "major" product/solution/technologies at a high level: Cloud ERP, Spend Management, Business Network, SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP Business Technology Platform (including Data, Analytics, AI), HCM, etc... Each is huge. Plus there's Industry focus. While you can consider all areas... focus in on what interests you and where your skills/experiences take you. 

To get direct experience... a few suggestions...

1. Network: Start engaging with and talking to those with experience at an "informational discussion" level... Perhaps your university as an alumni... the SAP Community... LinkedIn... your current network, and outreach can help you make meaningful connections, which shed the light on their journey... what they do know and going forward... and how they got their job...lessons learned, etc.
2. Are you working now? Does your current company do anything with SAP product/solution/technology? You may want to get in with a company (partner or customer) that has an SAP practice (or activities)... but start with your current expertise and then take an interest in the SAP practice (e.g., shadow a project manager, EA, etc.)...
3. Get Started: There are free SAP software trials that you can try now... FYI: I once used it to write a series of blogs, No-Code Guide: SAP S/4HANA Cloud to SAP Build Apps Data Visibility, which were helpful to build confidence and make many connections. 
4. Note: Don't depend on job postings as a primary (only) source. Identify 5 - 10 companies that interest you and keep networking towards them. 

There are multiple aspects to the SAP ecosystem... SAP, partners, and customers, etc.... Another way is to work with a customer doing what you do best.... but taking an interest in the SAP work... For example...an SAP Cloud Analytics project (as part of SAP BTP) could have technology you know plus SAP technology, products, solutions...

Of course...nothing about a job search that is easy. Sure it's great if you get a referral, but either way it takes O R C.... Optimism... Resilience... and Chipping away.

Good luck... feel free to post in 2 or 3 weeks with your progress!

Regards,
Rich
SAP Consultant / Author