Solved: Career move forward

Former Member · ‎2012 Mar 01

Hi,

I have a master in industrial engineering and 8y experience in IT. First 4 as IT consultant (non SAP) and 4y as SAP functional for a medium company (500 people around the world, mostly in Italy)

During those 4y I ve taken part/driven several projects (we make small use of consultants, we mostly learn by SAP officiale guides, forums, ecc) : ABC costing implementation, CRM sales/marketing implementation, FI-AA implementation, France/Singapore roll-out, ecc. Defenetely I gained lots of broaden experience in different modules (I head CRM-CO-SD there... the drawback is that I work for a medium company and I didn't specialize in a module. The job is quite well paid (for italian standars) but I want to move forward and get new opportunities. I tried the consulting way but my application was refused by Accenture and others because (even if they tested and appreciate my knowledge) I earn too much )))

I see only few options now:

1) move abroad and get a contract position (at least I can get more money )

2) move to project-manager position (but not so easy since nobody take the risk to enrol people with my background..consultants are normally considered)

3) give everything up and start an MBA (but I m quite old for this at 34)

4) move to a single module (maybe CRM or FI-CO)

What do you think about my plans? Could you suggest me some educations that might help me for point 2???

Thank you

eduardo_hinojosa · ‎2012 Mar 02

Hi Mauro,

Wellcome to the club !!!. I'm a business analyst, in-house consultant or as you want to tag our role in a end-user company, with a background as a senior consultant in a consultancy company and developing Financial Controlling in the company where I began to work with SAP as a CO key-user. I'm living at Spain, we know the attitude of a lot of employers in both countries (Italy and Spain).

I don't have the purpose to give advices, because it's your decision. So I prefer to share my opinion. If the current employers in our countries don't value our role in a consultancy company and/or and end-user company consider two ways. First, look for job in other countries. Second, go on in your country but learn or improve other skills, for instance, learn ABAP. I'm an economist and I'm a fluent ABAPer. It's possible to learn it. Change money by training or time to train yourself.

I don't like MBA. I prefer to suggest read an article with the title 'The managament Myth' by Matthew Stewart, published at The Atlantic in 2006. He told from his experience and in a wonderful english (not like my skeletal english) a point of view needed to think seriously about our current troubles. Surely you could find it by google. But although I don't like MBA, I disagree that you are old to do it. Usually, in high quality (and expensive) MBA's the students are 30 or 40.

Or do that I'm thinking to do. Search an employer that value your skills outside of Italy (or Spain for me), because I think that they don't know that in labour market there are segments. You have 12 years of experience !!! and with a lot of tools !!!. Perhaps you don't have a deep knowledge of all them, but sure that your knowledge about integration is wonderful. It must be a valuable asset in some markets. Conclusion: they don't want to pay that you need, you don't want to work for their rates, so there isn't market. Don't worry. They (or their customers) have a problem too.

I hope that it helps you, and good luck !!!

Eduardo

former_member13738 · ‎2012 Mar 02

Hi,

There are many people in the industry who enjoys the same situation like you earning too much.

If you are ok with less salary, you can get in to other branded companies.But that is not easy though

At 34, you are not at all aged for an MBA. You can do an MBA at any time. But an MBA doesn't guarantee you

a job with better salary unless you do it in premier B-schools.

The best possible and feasible choice is going abroad which is very easy considering your experience.

Best of luck.

Regards,

Leon

former_member184657 · ‎2012 Mar 02

My suggestion would be to take up a Project Manager position. As far as I know, you definitely need not be a single-module expert consultant to be a PM. In fact a lot of good PMs I know are those who have a wide knowledge about different modules in SAP.

Having knowledge in say, SD and having no clue about MM module or PS module, how do you expect the PM to drive a team to ensure Profitability of an SAP Implementation. The PM must be one who can co-ordinate with all Module consultants and knows precisely what kind of configuration be done when.

So maybe if you broaden your scope to a few more areas(you dont have to an expert), then you can make a good PM-material.

Good Luck!

pk

Former Member · ‎2012 Mar 02

Thank you all!

My idea is to first move abroad and then switch to PM role (double switch is too hard to believe) .. at the moment I enjoy

to have found 4y ago a company who allowed me to enter a so juicy boat!

eduardo_hinojosa · ‎2012 Mar 02

Hi Mauro,

Wellcome to the club !!!. I'm a business analyst, in-house consultant or as you want to tag our role in a end-user company, with a background as a senior consultant in a consultancy company and developing Financial Controlling in the company where I began to work with SAP as a CO key-user. I'm living at Spain, we know the attitude of a lot of employers in both countries (Italy and Spain).

I don't have the purpose to give advices, because it's your decision. So I prefer to share my opinion. If the current employers in our countries don't value our role in a consultancy company and/or and end-user company consider two ways. First, look for job in other countries. Second, go on in your country but learn or improve other skills, for instance, learn ABAP. I'm an economist and I'm a fluent ABAPer. It's possible to learn it. Change money by training or time to train yourself.

I don't like MBA. I prefer to suggest read an article with the title 'The managament Myth' by Matthew Stewart, published at The Atlantic in 2006. He told from his experience and in a wonderful english (not like my skeletal english) a point of view needed to think seriously about our current troubles. Surely you could find it by google. But although I don't like MBA, I disagree that you are old to do it. Usually, in high quality (and expensive) MBA's the students are 30 or 40.

Or do that I'm thinking to do. Search an employer that value your skills outside of Italy (or Spain for me), because I think that they don't know that in labour market there are segments. You have 12 years of experience !!! and with a lot of tools !!!. Perhaps you don't have a deep knowledge of all them, but sure that your knowledge about integration is wonderful. It must be a valuable asset in some markets. Conclusion: they don't want to pay that you need, you don't want to work for their rates, so there isn't market. Don't worry. They (or their customers) have a problem too.

I hope that it helps you, and good luck !!!

Eduardo

Former Member · ‎2012 Mar 02

All of your options are viable. I can't tell for sure, but it sounds like you had significant leadership role in the projects at your current company. If you're considering going the PM route, look into getting PMP certified. With your experience plus PMP certification, you should be able to find a spot within one of the big firms as a PM or as an Independent. Also, I would recommend researching Accelerated SAP implementation methodology and perhaps getting certified in that as well.

If you choose the MBA route and location is not an obstacle, there are several MBA programs which include SAP certification. I can think of at least one in Australia and several in the United States. Google "SAP University Alliance" and you'll find lots of information on MBA programs which include SAP.

I've never been brave enough to go the independent consultant route. I've always been afraid of the consequences if one of the customers (through administrative snafu or whatever) ends up slow paying for 6 months. Make sure you have a comfortable nest egg before you take that leap! Also, if it were me, I 'd research some of the various companies that can handle billing and insurance, etc.

Hope this helps!

Best regards,

--Tom

Former Member · ‎2012 Mar 02

Hello,

first thanks to everybodyu2026 I didnu2019t expect so many and valuable answers!

@Eduardo:

Yes Italy and Spain are quite similar on many aspects (and normally not the positive ones). About abap Iu2019m quite practice on abap, abap oo, bsp, smartforms and lsmw. Iu2019ve used and practiced all of them but, honestly, Iu2019m researching a job where I donu2019t have to use them anymore! 

@Thomas:

If Iu2019ll do an mba Iu2019ll target 1st or 2nd tier Europe MBA (too lazy to go through USA green card regulation) and there SAP UA doesnu2019t matter much. Iu2019ve already considered PMP certifications and Iu2019m evaluting where to take the mandatory course. In your opinion do PMP worth more than SAP project management certification? (I admit that Iu2019m not a big fan of SAP certificationu2026 especially because all the recruiters I asked told me that they are quite ineffective for experienced positions)

By the way, in the meantime, Iu2019ll try to share my knowledge in the CRM and CO forumu2026 Just to give back all that I got from this forum

Thank you again!

Former Member · ‎2012 Mar 02

Project Management is rarely done well on SAP projects. PMP brings a welcome rigor to the process. While the ultimate proof is how you perform -- can you pull off a project on time and on budget -- PMP certification does at least communicate that you've been introduced and at some levels have practiced sound project management practices. I have found that PMs with PMP certification do better than those without.

It's funny. Very few folks see project management as the path to fame and fortune, probably because it's obvious that it's hard work. On the other hand, folks seem to view SAP Certification as the EZ Pass to success (They don't know that it's actually work experience + hard work that makes success and certification is only icing). This has caused a tremendous influx of folks who get certified because they know how to study and test well but don' t have any real experience. (Microsoft has the same problem.) The resultant increase in "Certified on paper, but useless in real life" job applicants cheapens the value of the certificate. In my opinion, PMP certificates haven't suffered in that fashion.

Having said that, the Accelerated SAP methodology is based on PMBOK standards and is very useful in SAP implementations when run correctly. Even if you don't want the certification, taking classes and truly learning the methodology will be useful to your career.

Hope this helps!

Best regards,

--Tom