Solved: Getting into SAP Functional with non IT Background

Former Member · ‎2015 Sep 09

All,

A friend of mine finished Bachelor of Arts in English in India and wants to change his career to IT. So, he is taking SAP Functional Course currently. He seems to be very interested in SAP now after the classes and looking forward to apply for opportunities in few months.

I was kind of not sure, how feasible is his approach. All the folks I have involved with in SAP has a background degree in IT or atleast Engineering degree and they came on to IT. But this friend of mine, is switching from BA Arts into SAP Functional.

Can someone provide any input on, if companies in India hire candidates with non-IT and non-Engineering background such as in English ? I also understand getting a job in SAP may need experience, without it it is hard to crack into the market how ever, is it generally possible to get into SAP with English degree?

thank you

narnei · ‎2015 Sep 17

Hi,

First of all let me appreciate you for helping your friend.

But ask your friend to interact in SCN directly by browsing other discussions in SCN - Career center so that he will get good idea on SAP discussions rather then asking one or 2 persons.

Then as suggested in above reply its not mandatory to have a technical degree for SAP, but usually companies will prefer if you have.Once you get initial entry in SAP then its all depends on your area of expertise only.no need to worry about degree, there are lot many people in SAP came from regular degrees.

Also best way to enter into SAP consulting world :

1.Having good business knowledge.

you can Suggest your friend to continue the same procurement job to learn procurement & inventory process, also how the other departments and different functions with in the organisation are working what kind of systems/methods they are using what are the challenges facing by business root causes and solutions approached by company and product based knowledge ....etc.If they are using SAP then he can interact with people slowly to get into that.

Once he got some knowledge then he can think on interested module get good knowledge in SAP module.

2.Become a SAP end user : If he get job as an SAP end user its really wonderful and he can learn lot many things in business wise and as well as SAP module wise obviously he will get good exposure on SAP consulting side where he can switch to SAP consulting easily.

Even IT companies will prefer SAP (business) end users in consulting side.

Regards,

Rao

shaik_sajid · ‎2015 Sep 09

Hi,

For SAP Functional, IT or Engineering Background is not compulsory.

However IT Knowledge will be like a added knowledge.

Most Important for a SAP Functional is a Domain Knowledge which is very important.

Many years I ago I have met a Great MM Consultant who did not have any degree, he was some store keeper but he had the fire inside along with the Intelligence.

He worked hard and studied well and struggled a lot and at the right moment he got opportunity to work as a SAP functional and he flourished and became successful.

In short its not only degree, many factors and luck of getting the right opportunity at right time is also important.

Coming back to your question, if he is a fresher it will be really hard to get...But if he has Domain Experience then his chances are better.

Regards

Shaik

Former Member · ‎2015 Sep 09

Hello Shaik,

thank you for your input. He does have some years in procurement/inventory from domain point of view and he is focusing on Supply Chain in SAP.

I fully agree with you on luck/experience all will also play a factor but I was kind of want to see how the companies look into candidates profiles and would they reject the candidates if they do not have Engineering or IT degree else... provided the candidates have domain experience/SAP training or experience without IT degree they can still be considered for opportunities and how this is taken generally in the market.

thanks

shaik_sajid · ‎2015 Sep 10

Hi,

In India the Big IT Giant Companies do look into degrees(ie., HR looks into that).

But in my experience, the smaller and mid companies and Project Managers do not see degrees they see experience and if you can deliver the SAP tasks on time with right Quality.