Don't put all your eggs into one basket

During these gloomy economic times not a day passes by without another analysis and prognosis of how the current slowdown is going to affect the permanent and contractual (global) SAP job market. Make no mistake: It is important that industry experts try to make sense out of the current market situation. Let me look at this from a freelancer’s point-of-view. From where I stand, a lot of opinions and outlooks are made from restricted angles. Let me clarify this: when I say “restricted” I mean a limitation in terms of location and SAP sector. As a result, some advice might be perfectly reasonable in one location or sector, but not in another.

SAP Freelancing markets differ from country to country

For example, the legal and cultural environment that a contract ABAP generalist or Netweaver Architect finds himself in Germany, the Netherlands or United Kingdom can differ quite significantly. Labour market regulations, contractual specifics and a general approach/tradition in the use of contract workers, to name but a few, all have an impact on the individual market situation in each country. For decades the UK has already enjoyed a more flexible labour market, where use of contractors is far more commonplace and accepted as in Germany, for example, although things are improving in SAP homeland. In the US the picture might be similar or different altogether. In addition, government rescue plans in individual countries might support or restrict the future of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), a group to which freelancers belong.

Why am I saying all this? Well, I am trying to point out how complex the market can be. Whilst the current explanations and outlooks are all justified and important, I feel that the number of “unknown’s” in all of this are still very high. Obviously this also depends if questions are being asked (ie are companies interested in specific areas such as the “SAP contract market within EMEA” ?). I also want to set the scene for my own antithesis, namely that I think that not all SAP consultants (both permanent and contract) should go and find a niche to specialize in – at least not yet. This is in contrast to a lot of current suggestions and advice.

Why should an experienced SAP development consultant go for niche at this moment in time?

If you’re already a specialist in one particular area of SAP, say IS Utilities Configuration and Development, then you’re in pretty good shape during these current hard times. But industry solutions and niches always have the danger of becoming overcrowded or (more likely) saturated. So if you’re contemplating a move into a niche then be aware that aquiring the skills can take some time. By the time you’re in the game the depression might be over, most implementation projects are over, are bedding in (with only outsourced support work left) and you could have lost out by not being flexible enough to get out off your niche again. Niche might also mean that you have to do a lot of travelling to find those niche companies.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!

On the other hand, remaining a generalist in these times could mean that you’ll be able to work on different levels (analysis, development, training, mentor, team lead, project management, etc). There’s IT departments out there who have snippets and short-term work available during hard times that could keep you afloat until the time things are picking up again. This might also mean that you do not have to travel as far as a specialist, whose work might be scattered all over Europe or the US, for example. I am basically saying you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket.