Current SAP market

[kempc23]

State of the SAP market?
Hi everyone
I posted on here two months ago that I was considering contracting and got some good advice.

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...ntracting.html

I have spent the last couple of months trying to move things forward and taken a lot of the advice I have found on this forum. In my spare time I have studying towards two SAP certifications. I have passed one already and will take the second in around 6 weeks. For me this has been extremely useful not necessarily for the certification itself, but mainly for the amount I have been learning. Plus, it has made me feel much more confident about getting through any technical interviews.

Finally, and probably most importantly, I have finished another good SAP project, so that can go on my CV. I am up for promotion in Jan, and am planning to leave around March. There are some SAP opportunities around here, so if I can get myself another 6 month stint somewhere before I leave, I think I will be in a great position.

Im sure there most be loads of people on here who work on SAP in one way or another, so wanted to get peoples opinions- Is it a good place to be right now? I am a functional FICO consultant, and I have also implemented New GL.

I check the job boards every day, and there are always jobs that I would be a good fit for, but its hard to now how many other people are out there! Solid Consulting experience seems to be well valued, as does an accountancy qualification, which is great. There also seems to be a regular flow of jobs, which is also good news. £500 day rate definitely seems achievable, £450 seems relatively comfortable to achieve.

Finally, from my research, everyone seems to be saying Australia and SAP are red hot at the moment. If there is anyone out there doing that sort of thing, I would really like to hear from you what it is like

Many thanks
Christian

[kempc23]

115 views and no replies? Someone here must work in SAP

[oracleslave]

115 views and no replies? Someone here must work in SAP

SAP? That's like Oracle for the poor right?

I think the only way you will get a true indication of whether your plan will work or not is to actually apply for roles. Whilst there may be plenty of things on jobsites that you would consider yourself a good match for, you could well be competing against thousands of more experienced contractors who are also applying so until you try and actively land one of these contract roles you will in my opinion never know. There are plenty of other things that will affect your ability to land a role too. Your notice period, how well known in the SAP market you are, which agencies know of you etc.

Good luck.

OS

[NotAllThere]

SAP? That's like Oracle for the poor right?

It certainly is. Because after you've bought it you'll be quite poor.

Australia does seem quite warm for SAP at the moment, from what I hear.

Among my freelancing colleagues in Switzerland, we all seem to have plenty of work, compared with two years ago. Budgets are not quite so tight. Mainland (EU) Europe seems to be improving as well. But I'm not getting many calls from UK agencies, which indicates that maybe there isn't so much work there? £500 for a FICO consultant seems on the low side.

[Brussels Slumdog]

SAP has gone offshore

Most of the configuration work is now done offshore so you need either management skills ,language skills , Country specific or Industry skill in Europe . This was my last experience before finding my contract in Geneva (I have 15 years experience)
I have read your original post and I believe that although you may not have the technical skills you are a qualified Accountant and therefore if you market yourself correctly you have a chance in the contract market.
The Problem is trying to convince the agents.
Switzerland, Belgium(French plus Dutch), Norway(IS Oil ) Germany
France seems to have died.
Countries that used to accept English only speakers now require you to speak the local language.
(The Dutch word for Profit Center is De/Het Profit Centre) Who the F**K logs in to SAP in Dutch or Danish?
Basic certification FICO skills is very competitive but if you have experience in CO-PC (Product Costing), Treasury, Country specific Latin America (Brazil), Russia Industry specific (Retail Banking IS- OIL Joint ventures), SD MM integration.
You must have SAP Certification plus EXPERIENCE or several years EXPERIENCE only to find a contract.
90% of the Indian subcontinent falls for the SAP Certification trap. Without the experience they have wasted their time.

[Clippy]

Most of the configuration work is now done offshore so you need either management skills ,language skills , Country specific or Industry skill in Europe . This was my last experience before finding my contract in Geneva (I have 15 years experience)
I have read your original post and I believe that although you may not have the technical skills you are a qualified Accountant and therefore if you market yourself correctly you have a chance in the contract market.
The Problem is trying to convince the agents.
Switzerland, Belgium(French plus Dutch), Norway(IS Oil ) Germany
France seems to have died.
Countries that used to accept English only speakers now require you to speak the local language.
(The Dutch word for Profit Center is De/Het Profit Centre) Who the F**K logs in to SAP in Dutch or Danish?
Basic certification FICO skills is very competitive but if you have experience in CO-PC (Product Costing), Treasury, Country specific Latin America (Brazil), Russia Industry specific (Retail Banking IS- OIL Joint ventures), SD MM integration.
You must have SAP Certification plus EXPERIENCE or several years EXPERIENCE only to find a contract.
90% of the Indian subcontinent falls for the SAP Certification trap. Without the experience they have wasted their time.

Reminds me of one of the desktop support bods at my last place.

Paid for himself to learn SAP in India with a view to getting a job/gig thereafter.

Didn't have the heart to tell him his lack of experience may be a problem.

[lukemg]

Fortunately there is an easy way to find out if you are in demand - get applying. Don't worry about the agents, they will cut you dead as soon as look at you so they can survive a bit of time wasting.
Fire some CV's off, lie that you are available at 2 weeks notice due to cutbacks at your current place, boss has made it clear you can go - anything more and you won't get a sniff of contract work.
IF you are getting interviews, you are in demand and I hope you can convert. If you get some positive feedback but nothing concrete, maybe there are too many others out there.
BEWARE - agents trying to backfill your position by contacting your boss - don't give any names, say you want to be sure before anyone at current place finds out.
good luck....

[kempc23]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I do have 5 years experience of SAP, and have worked on 5 different projects. Only two of them were proper "hands-on" stuff, in the other roles, I was functional lead, or managing the config guys.

The reason why I am following the certifications is not because I think they will get me a job, but because the learning behind them is very worthwhile, and should hopefully supplement my experience.

Based on my research, I think I will be able to secure contract roles, but need to keep my skills sharp so that the rate is at the higher end of the scale.