2012 Jul 31 6:24 PM
Hello, I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I am a recent graduate, who completed a degree in Computing & Information Systems. For a while I've had a strong interest in ERP systems and SAP and wish to persue a career in it.
The Problem is, I have no industrial experience whatsoever (apart from a few sales assistant jobs).
I recently got a placement on a Masters course in Brunel University called; "Business Systems Integration (With SAP technology) - you can read about it here; http://www.brunel.ac.uk/siscm/disc/postgraduates/masters/business-systems-integration-with-sap-techn...
The course gives you some hands on SAP experience, but I don't know if this would ever be enough to penetrate the SAP job market, especially when I have no industrial experience. I recently also have an opportunity, to pursue a job in "Helpdesk Analyst" (basically, helping people with technical, computer or IT related problems).
Now the question; Which option should I take;
1. Do Brunel Masters course, 1 year, and then try to seek employment in a SAP based environment. (Even though I don't have any industrial work experience)
or
2. Take the "Helpdesk Analyst" job, and do the Masters SAP course as part time, in which case it will take me 2 years to complete. This option, after 2 years, may give me some industrial experience, thought I'm not sure if Helpdesk Analyst is anyhow going to improve my chances of breaking into the SAP employment market.
So I wanted to ask, can I get away with 1.? Or do I definitly need to try and go for 2, in order to get the best chance?
2 years is a long time, and doing a job + masters part time, may be somewhat difficult, who knows. But, if I did the 1 year masters full time course, then I'm going to be fresh, without any industrial experience (just some experience in using SAP systems during the actual course). And I'm worried this may not be enough to be able to penetrate the Job Market.
I need some advise, and that soon.. as I got my job interview just around the corner.
2012 Jul 31 7:00 PM
Hi Jake Jake,
Please read the following 3 blogs and then respond when you're done so we can have a discussion on your remaining questions.
You can also find additional related information at SAP Career Blog Links, but I think those first three blogs cover the majority of your questions. Your best chance to start your career in SAP directly, BY FAR, is to get recruited before you complete your Master's program and it looks like time is running out on that. Once you graduate, that window closes and the path becomes much longer. Check out How did you get your start in SAP? and Storytime! How did you get your start in SAP? for examples.
I hope this helps!
Best regards,
--Tom
2012 Jul 31 7:00 PM
Hi Jake Jake,
Please read the following 3 blogs and then respond when you're done so we can have a discussion on your remaining questions.
You can also find additional related information at SAP Career Blog Links, but I think those first three blogs cover the majority of your questions. Your best chance to start your career in SAP directly, BY FAR, is to get recruited before you complete your Master's program and it looks like time is running out on that. Once you graduate, that window closes and the path becomes much longer. Check out How did you get your start in SAP? and Storytime! How did you get your start in SAP? for examples.
I hope this helps!
Best regards,
--Tom
2012 Jul 31 7:42 PM
Thank you for your invaluable reply Tom, I read the links.
I feel I definitely have the passion for it, it grew on me the first time I had to do an indepth study of Shells transition to an ERP system known as SAP. And since then, I've always wanted to learn more about it.
However, if I understood it correctly, it seems the stress is being put on finding an entry level job in a company that uses SAP. It may be that you don't do anything with that technology just yet, but there's a chance you might and that is what I should be looking for.
I feel, given my situation this may be difficult or easy, just depending on my fortune. If I take the helpdesk Analyst job, I could gain experience in IT/hardware support, and try my best to look for a company that uses SAP that I could join and potentially work on the SAP system with. Though, this isn't something I can assuredly guarantee myself (unlike Analyst Job + Masters).
What would you best advise Tom? Should I take the Masters part time, where I can learn a lot about SAP, ERP and Business Processes - and also take the Helpdesk Analyst Job?
Would that be my best chance?
2012 Jul 31 8:18 PM
The first thing you should do is check to see if Brunel has an apprenticeship program and/or an active on-campus recruiting program through the career center or something similar. Since you have not yet graduated, it is still possible that a consulting company will recruit you directly out of your Master's program. Ask around and see if that's a normal occurrence at Brunel.
If Brunel does have an active apprenticeship program, but there aren't no companies who have SAP participate, this is your opportunity to find out which companies are running SAP and approach them to see if they DO want to participate. The advantage there is that if you can talk them into joining the program, you're probably have a lock on getting the first internship.
Do you have any idea what type of work you'd want to pursue in the SAP realm? (see FAQ: Different Career Paths in SAP or FAQ for SAP NetWeaver Admin (SAP Basis) Careers). If you're hoping to become a functional consultant, then it would be better to find an entry level job more business function related. If you're hoping to become a Basis person, then Helpdesk Analyst isn't a bad place to start. Also, extending the time it takes to complete your Master's while working does allow you to accumulate more hands on experience, which can definitely help when you try to get your next job. If you're wanting to be a programmer, then the helpdesk analyst job probably won't help.
It would be best if the helpdesk analyst job was at a company who ran SAP and if it doesn't and you can find an internship at a company that does, then you're better off at the company that does run SAP.
I would break it out this way:
If you can get an internship at a company that runs SAP or get recruited directly, then go for the 1 year Master's, because you're probably going to have an SAP job ready when you get out.
If you can't get an internship or get recruited directly, then take the helpdesk analyst job and the slower Master's. This will allow you to have some solid experience to reference when you finish your degree and start to look for that next level job.
Whatever path you choose, always strive to exceed expectations. Volunteer to fix problems just because they need fixed, without worrying about reward. This attitude has served me very well in my lifetime and I'm sure it would help accelerate your career as well.
Hope this helps!
Best regards,
--Tom
2012 Jul 31 9:37 PM
Thanks you once again for a piece of advice I'll definitly remember. Taking your time out and helping people with their issues really shows your passion for the subject, which is inspiring.
As for Brunel, the opportunity is there for it to happen, it just means I'll have to work extra extra hard to get the chance. I'm going to go for the 1 year course.
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Special Features
Our Master's students are encouraged to carry out their dissertations in collaboration with companies as a way to enhance the skills and knowledge acquired during the course. Brunel has a long-standing history of industrial partnerships with employers helping us to produce talented, versatile graduates with highly sought-after skills.
Such partnerships enable us to provide our best students with dissertation projects proposed by companies as part of the Industrial Dissertation Programme (IDP) offered by the Department of Information Systems and Computing. IDP-based dissertations allow a select group of students to gain valuable industrial experience that is highly valued by employers of IT specialists.
In addition, such collaboration gives our students the opportunity to apply state-of-the-art technology in a real-world situation and an ideal environment in which to complete their dissertation.
Dissertation projects with companies will be offered to a selected group of students after a competitive selection process.
During the Business Systems Integration course, students gains hands-on experience of SAP technology. In addition, they can opt to take the SAP TERP 10 certification course which is a recognised industry qualification. This will be delivered in a two-week block at the end of the programme.
Students who successfully complete the certification module will be certified as:
‘SAP Consultant Solution Architect ERP – Integration of Business Processes with MySAP ERP
Once again, thanks for your input, it's helped me gain some confidence. As for the SAP role I'm probably looking towards technical basis.
2015 Feb 03 11:10 AM
I have 3 years work ex in SAP Security , at accenture and I have the same placement at Brunel.
Should I take the leap , since there is a lot of money at stake and are there any jobs after the course with the 3.5 years of work experience.
Thanks
Do let me know , I have to start process of admission asap.