This post originated as a reponse to an article on JonERP.com about “the biggest mistake that SAP job seekers make”. I’ve tried a few times to add it as a comment, but for some reason it just doesn’t seem to like it, so I decided to post it here and trackback it. There is a lot of talk about “passion for SAP” in this article and that’s what I am mainly focussing on.
SAP and Passion ?
Developing a passion for SAP is certainly something that has happened to me over the last decade! But to be honest, I didn’t specifically choose to end up within the SAP arena. “SAP Passion” was something that developed over time, especially when I started getting involved in the “hot stuff” (a little contradiction to Jon’s post), such as SAP Web App development and CRM. However, this was after 4 years of solid SAP SD, FI, MM development support work and upgrade projects. A cowboy has to earn his spurs, I guess.
So how do you develop a passion for SAP when you’re a newcomer?
To start with, SAP is not an area to easily get passionate about! There are lots of other areas in IT (web design, Flash technology to name just two) that rather get your “IT juices” going. Having said that, everybody’s different and like in all other areas of IT/life, I think the following points might help if you want to break into SAP-Land:
- look beyond the SAP plate
- immerse yourself with technolgy that is not connected to SAP (yet) or on the brink (Web 2.0, social media)
- use conventions, meetings, networking tools (Twitter, LinkedIn, etc) to surround yourself with other SAP peers and collaborate
- read SAP and industry news
- find an employer that invests in your skills
I hope there is a little help in those “lines of wisdom” above.
Jon Reed
November 12, 2008 at 7:32pmHey Michael! I’ve got your comment posted in my blog entry now as well as a detailed response to it. I was walled out of my comment approval for a couple days but we’re back up and running. The last comment I submitted to your site has not appeared either, strange, we have bad comment karma. 🙂
Anyhow, I think your observations that passion in SAP sometimes has to be cultivated by finding the right skills and role are absolutely spot on. I won’t share all the details from my blog posting response to you on my site because it was kind of long winded, but I too had to work on finding ways to unleash my passion for SAP, so to speak, by finding my “right role” in the market. Like you, this definitely meant becoming independent, though in my case, it’s more of an independent analyst role but the same principles you note apply.
And yes, I do think “hot skills” are important, I probably downplayed that in my own post just to make an alternate point. But, as I see it, it’s all about adding those hot skills that logically extend from your core rather than a mad pursuit of moving from one area to another, all in pursuit of what’s hot.
Anyhow, I’m enjoying your blog and if this comment goes through I’ll add some more over time.
– Jon Reed –