How to enhance my job employability in London

[Former Member]

Dear Mentors,

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to this blog since it has helped me to become a certified SAP Associate with the multitude of sources available there.

My name is Gaetano Artino (S0010875678) and I would like to have some advice on how to enhance my career possibilities. I am looking for an entry level position and I would like to know which would be the best career path that best fits my profile.

I recently obtained a master degree with Distinction in “Business Systems Integration with SAP Technology” from Brunel University in London where I had the chance to build a solid set of technical and conceptual skills of ERP-related business processes and projects with a particular focus on the interconnection with BI solutions.

My growing set of SAP skills have been lately validated by the certification “SAP Certified Business Associate Consultant with SAP ERP 6.0”.

Furthermore, I hold a BSc degree in Computer Engineering that gives me a very solid analytical mindset and advanced mathematics, statistical and problem-solving capabilities. In addition, I am an advanced Java software developer (Swing).

During my undergraduate course I did a work placement at Irritec Srl, which is a big manufacturing company of irrigation systems, with over 500 employees over the world. At Irritec, I worked as a business analyst for almost 5 months, where I gathered requirements form business owners, system developers and IT managers, researching new developments and enhancements of business processes.

I firmly believe that my academic background is relevant but the London market is very frenetic and the preferred candidates are those ones with relevant experience and excellent communication skills even if they lack of IT skills.

I am conscious that it is very difficult for every company to find the right candidate for any job and I know that many students are facing the same problem.

I would be extremely happy if I could find a company where I can enhance my business skills to be able to compete in the market and I would be more than happy to be unpaid for the first months because I am sure that if you give me an opportunity you will be impressed about what I am able to do.

On a side note, being Italian (but fully entitled to work in UK) and having lived in London for two years now, I can contribute to build a multicultural environment, which is so important in today’s successful enterprises.

My email is tanio.artino@gmail.com and if you wish to see my profile, please have a look at the following URL uk.linkedin.com/in/gaetanoartino/

Thank you very much for reading and have a nice day

Gaetano

[eduardo_hinojosa]

Hi Gaetano

It's usual, in all markets, in all steps of your professional life, and right now, more frequent, because suddenly, right now clients are unwilling to hire consultants with some lacks (communication skills, background,...) when four years ago these gaps weren't an issue.

My only suggestion is: carry on, don't surrender. You told us you have java and ABAP skills. There are some new tools you could research (Ariba). Look for documents with these strings: ABAP, Java, Ariba, Portals and so on, check your skills and develop a strategy to sell yourself. Look for a niche where there isn't so much competition.

I hope this helps you

Regards

Eduardo

[Former Member]

Dear Eduardo,

Thank you for replying

I am very conscious that professionals are looking for the best people in the market. My language skills are good but not excellent and in the market good means not shortlisted. I must admit that this is a vent since I've hardly studied to get Distinction in my postgraduate studies, to try to have that job advantage after the graduation. Unfortunately, I have realised, that nobody cares about it and what they are looking for is just experience. What do you thing would be an entry level jobs that might be suitable for me?

At the moment I am applying for the following jobs:

Junior Business Analyst (Very Difficult - High Expectations )

Junior Java Developer (Very Difficult - Many employers require certified people with previous voluntary jobs experience)

Junior 1st line SAP Support (I have never been shortlisted)

I believe to be a very technical guy. I am a semantic web engineering with experience in 4D Ontology, NOSql Db, SPARQL, RDF and XML. However, all this technologies are completely useless at this point of my career, given the fact that they are required for more senior jobs

I am trying to define this less competitive sector in which I can be a successful candidate and I would be grateful if you could help me to define it.

Thank you once again for replying and I look forward to hearing from you

Kind Regards

Gaetano

[eduardo_hinojosa]

Hi Gaetano,

I am sorry by the late reply, but I've been thinking about your issue.

Maybe, you could research about chances related with Ariba. Please, check in the marketplace (service.sap.com) documentation about this product. See also note 1915255 - Ariba Integration for SAP Business Suite Installation: RIN. It is a product designed for working with vendor using internet, so Java (and I believe XML too) will be suitables skills for this issue. If this path is successful, perhaps you can improve your MM skills (and ABAP also), so, with the time you could be an applicant for SAP Business Analyst roles.

In the other hand, check if the skill 4D Ontology will help you for selling yourself. Here in Spain it would be a mistake (it sounds to scholar skill, moreover, here the doctors or people with a PhD hide these skills in their CV's)

I hope this helps you and I wish you the best of luck

Eduardo

[Former Member]

Thank you very much indeed,

I have read the note you mentioned and it is very useful!!

Many thanks once again

Regards

Gaetano

[Former Member]

Hi,

I have 3 years work ex in SAP Security.

Looking to do the SAP TERP10.0 MAsters in business integration SAP , at Brunel University.

Is this a good step for my career ?

Since a lot of money is at stake .