Today’s post is an interesting one, you have been hearing me rant about my SAP training and module selections for a while now so I decided to shut up and let you guys hear some very good advice from the experts as well.
Who better to hear it from than a 17-year SAP veteran, who is one of the people who moderate the SAPFans forum. She is known as ‘Fish’ to the thousands of SAP newbies and experts looking for advice on the SAPFans forum, here real name Mylène Dorias. She has been an SAP consultant for 17 years, specializing in various modules including Material management (MM) SAP Basis and Security.
She agreed to do an interview and I got to ask her the questions that have been on my mind and on your minds as well. She also gives a reality check to people looking to break into SAP consulting.
Just in case you wondered, when Mylène refers to the ‘Elder race’, she is talking about the member’s moderators on the SAPFans forum who have been doing a great job since 2001. Here is the interview, enjoy.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. what you do? What field of SAP are you involved in?
Currently I am a Basis and Security Admin (SAP) in permanent employment. I have been ‘doing SAP’ for 17 years now, mainly in MM, WM, Basis and Security.
17 years! wow, that is a lot of experience. You must enjoy what you do. Do you?
Of course, I do. Everybody staying in any given job for so long a period would do this only if she/he enjoyed it (always/mostly/sometimes/any given day …).
Can you tell us what is the importance of having a passion in what you to do be able to succeed?
It’s one of the major factors that keep you going, even if success proves difficult at times. Other major factors: persistence; the will to solve problems on your own; the ability to attack problems from different angles; the ability to always learn something new; patience (that being the one buggering me still) …
When/Why did you start up SAPFans?
The ‘when’-part is a bit difficult to answer, since it is no longer traceable and I actually do not remember the year exactly: 1998? 1999? 2000?. The forum crashed in 2002 (see board ‘Announcements) and we all started again in October 2002, which is why you see ‘The Elder Race’ always with a ‘Join-Date’ of October 2002.
The ‘why’-part is much easier. I found this board whilst searching for a solution for a problem which I wasn’t able to solve myself at the time. I stayed and started giving answers to posts, recognising that I know bits that can help other people. Am still here :lol: and a global moderator now :shock:
Who else is involved with SAPFans, who are your partners?
This question is a tiny bit unclear. I do not own this board, I am just a mod. The owner is Rao Tella, last known to live somewhere in the USA. He doesn’t show up in here (except to read his PMs), but can be reached via the admins or PM.
Otherwise involved. Well, the ‘Elder Race’ of course, some of them permies, some of them consultants (freelance or employed), some of them still showing up, others long gone. Since SAP started their own forums a couple of years ago, the traffic in SAPFans has slowed down considerably.
What kind of help do people come to look for on your site?
From basic to expert questions concerning knowledge of functionality in SAP to advise on their careers or studies (certifications). GD (General Discussion) is open for everything else: jokes, games, receipes, banter and sincere, well meant insults :).
So you have experience in MM and Basis and Security, how easy is it to make a sideways move into a different SAP area?
Easy. The high level of integration in SAP software inevitably leads you through several areas (losely attached ones, e. g. setting up netservices (Basis) and making those save (Security) – or closely related ones, e. g. Account Determination (MM/FI) as follow up for Purchase Order Settings (MM-PUR). Once you crossed the border to a related topic, a complete switch-over is possible (sometimes even considered professional)
What is your view on SAP as a company first? and as a career option?
SAP is a company who developed (and persists to do so) a splendid software solution, that is – IMHO – superior to everything else on the market, due to their concept of high integration of every aspect in a business that needs software-based assistance.
On the downside: they have been growing too fast and show the same signs of degrading support, confusing marketing and product policy and arrogance as every other software giant does (e. g. Microsoft). Their efforts to offshore software development was another mistake, IMO since this caused the standards which were stable within the complete systems, to slack. So did the offshored support. They are about to get a grip on this, though.
As a career option. Hhhmmm. I truly think, that there are too many people, trying to make a career in SAP which do
- a.) not qualify
- b.) cheat their way in and
- c.) trying to go to the top without the experience necessary.
Don’t get me wrong: I am sure that there are lots of people who have the education and are trying to get the experience plus working very hard on a solid base of expertise. There are, however, many others. As a moderator of a board you get to see both types, sadly enough, more of the ‘others’.
SAP didn’t help that matter with their ‘Certification-Made-Easy’ policy – but again: they seem to get a grip on this, also. Hopefully time will filter out all the second-rate consultants and developers and leave the real experts. Wait and see.
A lot of people looking to start a career in SAP, for whatever reasons
From your experience, can you tell us what a newbie needs to know, maybe a reality check that it is not all it is hyped to be or maybe it is… let us knowA newbie to SAP needs to know the software in the ‘area’ (module) she/he is working in, down to the last bit and tool. More importantly though: she/he needs to know the business processes of the company/customer exactly. Plus the business needs, of course. Such is not done, coming freshly from a University and having one or more certificates in SAP. This needs years of experience.
The quality of a SAP consultant shows when she/he is able to match the business processes/needs against the software, whilst keeping an open eye on possible future changes whilst trying not to re-invent the wheel.
Custom made developments may be necessary, hence should be expertly designed, flexible for future requirements and done in a way that enables easy maintenance and or portability. This is not done, coming freshly from … see above.
What you call hype, bases mostly on the assumption that one can come out of school, get a few SAP certificates and start earning the big money. Deadly. wrong. In the long run, this will not work out. Experience is the key to being a successful SAP consultant.
Unfortunately, all the ads of SAP-Education and other institutes try to keep this under the carpet. Which gains them the ‘tarnished’ reputation they have now. Sadly enough, there a enough flim-flam operations out there that ride the wave of the SAP hype and cheat unknowing/inexperienced people out of their money for education/certification … which is why we on SAPFans try to convince freshers to gain experience first, certification later.
Still, current worldwide recession or no – I think, a career in SAP is desirable, if one is willing to work extensively on ones knowledge of the software and on the business experience. This takes years. Every type of expertise does.
Coming back to your advice on gaining experience first, certification later. How does one gain experience first? It is not easy these days to get a company looking to hire a fresher. Is it not better to get some kind of training to put yourself ahead of some of the competition.
Yes and no :| Having had (extensive) SAP training without holding a job to which to apply this training is like training for your drivers license without ever having sat in a car – and with much the same result, I guess. Just to stay with that metaphor: there might be some advantage in trainig first – it’ll give you an edge in interviews and so on, but it surely will not enable you to make a perfect U-turn in a 40 ton truck at 70 mp/h on first try. every employer will still know, you’re a fresher.
Maybe we can agree on this line: training -> experience -> certification. The certificate in itself does you no good, it is (in its essence) a piece of paper stating the expertise you have achieved by training+experience. I am not alone in this: most of the ‘Elder Race’ of the SAPFans thinks like this, search the ‘Education’-forum – one example here:
Of course, you are absolutely correct that these days it won’t be easy to be hired as a fresher. These days you cannot even apply for a SAP job without having a University Degree of some kind … for the ‘Elder Race’ this was different – most of us have never seen a University, we came from all other jobs into SAP. So, there’s merit your emphasising the value of training. But. Theory alone will still not help you with that U-turn
That was the interview and I want to say a special thank you to Mylène for giving us her insights. For me it has been very helpful.
Do you have any other questions you would like to ask? Feel free to ask it in the comments and I am sure I can get her to come back and answer them.
If you want to get in touch, Fish resides at the SAPFans forum as a global uber-moderator. She and the others from the ‘Elder race’ will answer any questions you might have on SAP.
How to increase your chances of starting a successful SAP career
You might be asking yourself,
Is SAP right for me?
What are my chances of getting a good SAP job?
The good news is you are not alone. A lot of people have the same questions as well. What is even better news? I have written a series of articles that answer these questions and many more on SAP Unveiled.
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How do you get the first real life implementation experience coming from a background that has not such experience
My name is Gautam,just completed BE in IT,I wanted to make my career in SAP/ABAP,so one Steel company told me to do the course in SAP/ABAP and after that they will recruit me in there organization as they have SAP implemented in their company,job is sure as I have refrences,but my query is that is the experience really going to help me since I will not be doing any implementation just providing them the SAP support,but should i do,As most of IT companies asks for exp in SAP implementaion to get a job later on…
Hi –
I read your article with interest, but don’t understand how it helps bring the fanbook back?