Many roads lead to SAP

There is a formal way to train as an SAP consultant: Certifications. SAP itself and numerous training providers offer courses that train you for specific modules of the SAP software.

They are standardized, not cheap and time-consuming. And yet: in the end, they count for little in the SAP world. If you're counting on getting one of the lucrative SAP consultant jobs after certification, you may be disappointed, because in the end, it's only practice that counts.

This is due to the specific job description of the SAP consultant. SAP software, with its many different modules for industries and departments, helps companies to precisely control their internal processes and keep an eye on them in real time.

The software is correspondingly complex, but the tasks of a consultant go far beyond its operation and actually focus more on the processes themselves.

Only experience counts

It requires a well-developed ability to deal with the complexity of the subject matter, as well as strong communication skills, confidence on the floor and a willingness to deal with conflict.

You can't check whether someone has this with a certification. And that is why, in the SAP world, only professional experience counts. The typical training path for an SAP consultant begins with a technical or business degree.

In subjects such as business administration, computer science or business informatics, there are strong points of contact with SAP. The university institutes of these subjects often have SAP test installations on their own systems, where students can gain an initial insight into customizing.

As a rule, courses and seminars focus on a sub-topic, for example a programming course in Abap or a course in the basic concepts of SAP BI. Such courses are a start that paves the way for an internship at an SAP consulting company.

Alternatively, sound industry knowledge, for example of logistics processes, without prior contact with SAP software can also help to secure an internship.

Penniless interns?

Internships in the SAP world are generally paid. They should last at least three to six months so that interns can gain a sufficiently deep insight into projects and take on their first tasks independently.

A positive internship certificate that emphasizes the hard and soft skills required for SAP consultants counts more than any certification when looking for your first job.

The next step is to apply for direct entry towards the end of your studies. As many companies are desperately looking for young SAP talent, many approach students with their university marketing and present themselves at job fairs.

On the road four days a week

A willingness to travel is a must, at least at the beginning. Especially in the first five years, you can expect to be on the road four to five days a week.

In addition, in many cases a relocation is necessary. The best way to start your career is through a renowned SAP consultancy. You work for them on site in a company that is currently implementing SAP.

Later in your career, you have the opportunity to move to an SAP user company and take over the customizing and maintenance of existing systems, which normally involves hardly any travel.

An application to SAP itself can also do no harm. SAP has its own consulting division and often tackles the most difficult of all SAP projects. Working there is considered the ultimate reference in the industry.

However, if you end up in product development or product management at SAP, you will probably have had a good career, but you will not automatically become an SAP consultant.

90,000 euros after five years

However, those who can demonstrate three to five years of success in the job often achieve annual earnings of 60,000 to 90,000 euros and have hardly any problems finding another job even years later.

If they work with a personnel consultant specializing in SAP, they can almost always choose from several attractive offers and expand their career step by step.