Career Advice for SAP BI veteran

Hi SAP Community!
I'm Mike. I had been an SAP consultant for about 13 years. The last 3 years, have not been working as SAP consultant.
My experience:
SAP Basis 5 years .
SAP BPS 2 years.
SAP BW / BI / BI-IP 6 years.
I have never been a team leader. Always a consultant. a Doer.
I am now in my late 30's. I would like to progress/ transition into a more suitable position.
I have attained my PMP certification 2 years ago. But, as said, no management experience.
In the last 3 years when I was out of the scene, I was doing all kinds of low wage jobs. It started with the financial crisis.
Back then, not many projects were available. What made worse was SAP BI-IP had a replacement of sorts : BPC, BO and BI Accelerator.
I had given up SAP BI for the last 3 years. Now, I want to be back into SAP line. Outside of SAP line, I feel like a loser.
I am not sure if I should go for SAP BO training that would cost me a bomb as its again all the technical details to learn.
I feel that I am too old to keep repeating learning technical things that keep changing. i have the ability to keep learning. I have proven this in my career. But I like to have a career using my SAP experience and use my PMP.
I would like your kind advice how to make my next career move. What would you recommend me to do?
Thanks for reading. Hope to hear from you.
Best regards
Michael

Hello,
I don´t have any special advice, since you´re much older and more experienced and I cannot tell how to put your skills into the best use. But.. if you would like to start with something new, "cutting edge", like BO a blog of mine could help. Check it here: /people/otto.gold/blog/2010/07/20/how-to-play-around-with-sap-and-crystal-reports-trial-versions-only Using the blog you should be able to recreate a training landscape (and it should not take you like weeks since you have "some" basis experience) and you can give it a try for free before you decide to go this way or not. If nothing else, I could spare you some money.
Wish you all the needed luck,
regards Otto

Similar Messages

Career advice for SAP Certification

Hi Experts,
I've SAP domain experience of about 6 years in MM module and wish to enroll for SAP Certification course. Can I know which of these institutes (Genovate or Delphi Computech) from Pune - India are best from both training as well as placement point of view. Interested in Faculty training program.
Also need to know if my academic qualification will hamper my placements after course completion as I'm Diploma Holder in Electrical Engg.
Thanks in advance
Regards,
Mohsin

found the answer from different forum

Career Advice for SAP Sales

Hi,
I am working as a SAP Portal Consultant and having an experience of approx 4.5 years. I am very much interested in SAP sales and marketing. I wish I can have more knowledge on the same and may be few years down the line I would love to do that.
I am currently having a Bachelors in Engg. Want to know more details over the same and need advice on how to proceed further with this.
Many Thanks!
Regards,
Gaurav Bhardwaj

Hello,
I don´t have any special advice, since you´re much older and more experienced and I cannot tell how to put your skills into the best use. But.. if you would like to start with something new, "cutting edge", like BO a blog of mine could help. Check it here: /people/otto.gold/blog/2010/07/20/how-to-play-around-with-sap-and-crystal-reports-trial-versions-only Using the blog you should be able to recreate a training landscape (and it should not take you like weeks since you have "some" basis experience) and you can give it a try for free before you decide to go this way or not. If nothing else, I could spare you some money.
Wish you all the needed luck,
regards Otto

Career Prospect for SAP IS OIL

Hi Dear Community Members,
I need your valuable suggestions and insight before I move on to the Oil & Gas Industry.
I had a IT Degree and I am in the IT industry for 10 years. I am now planning to venture into the Oil & Gas Industry as this industry has an overall promising career & a job security. Therefore I had the initiative to take on the SAP IS OIL Module hoping to break into the O&G Industries, however I am unsure how SAP IS OIL has an overall impact to the Oil & Gas Sector, like :
What is the current market share for Oil Companies using SAP Solutions and SAP IS Module?
What are the career prospects for a SAP OIL Consultant? In terms of job stability and future career path
What are the markets in the US, UK and Europe for SAP IS OIL? As I am planning to migrate there.
I am looking forward to your kind advice and input. Thank you very much in advance.
Cheers,
Gary

Hi Gary,
Overall if you want to be in SAP IS-Oil, one or more of the following skill is required:
SAP PRA
SAP JVA
SAP PSA/PSE
SAP Controlling
SAP Finance
Second: Its always good if you have process experience in Oil & Gas - Upstream, Downstream or Midstream comanies. If you have not then its desirable that you have some process experience as you will feel the need of it when you are learing the above module. Without knowing the modules it is a challenge.
Third: Demand of IS- Oil is good and not bad however this is focussed in specific locations around the world like : US-Texas- Houston (Energy Hub), Canada, Middle east etc.
Fourth: Considering the fact that oil prices are down now, it will probably take 6 months to 1 year time for the boom to come. so probably this is not same time to venture immediately but learning this for near futute might prove beneficial.
Thanks & Regards
Subhasish

Need advice for SAP installation on External Hard disk

Hi Gurus,
I have HP laptop with configuration of 512 MB RAM and 50 GB hard disk...i recently bought 250 GB segate external hard disk for SAP installation...My doubt here is if i install SAP in external hard disk and will it work properly if i connect my laptop?
ur advice is much appreciated
Regards
Dinesh

Hi Dinesh,
I have installed SAP on external harddisk.
And it will work properly.
But i think you need to increase your RAM.
After installation, please keep in mind one thing.
You will have to attach your external harddisk before your machine starts, because your OS will be in internal harddisk, so SAP and oracel services won't be able to run without external hard-disk.
and in case you attach after system startup, please start all services.
Regards,
Payal Patel

Career scope for SAP HCM

Hi All,
Greetings,
I am a BMS graduate and have finished my PGDBA in HRM. I have over 4 years of experience in Recruitment Industry. Now i am planning to get training and certification done in SAP HCM. Please let me know certain things about it:
1. Scope for job in future ?
2. Average salaries offered for SAP HCM freshers ?
3. Is certification necessary after getting training ?
I would highly appreciate your time and views on above.
Thanks & Regards,
Amol Choughule

Hi,
I can only suggest that it will be worth and scope is very good. You will gain not loose .
Provided you have interest to come this side .
Thanks,
Ketul

Reg Advice for SAP with RFID..

Hello Friends,
I am totaly new for RFID concept. now i want to do some project in SAP with RFID. so can u give me some guidance for SAP with RFID and how to go further for that. i mean what is the way for go further in SAP.. and plz tell me some good links wher i can find some material for RFID and its use with SAP.
Thanks in Advance.
Marmik

Hi marmik,
I am compiling some of my previous replies to
queries on similar lines probably would help you....
1.RFID-What is it's purpose!
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a
state-of-the-art technology for extensive
identification of every type of object.
It enables rapid and automatic data acquisition
via radio waves.At its most basic level, Radio Frequency Identification ( RFID ) is a wireless
link to uniquely identify objects or people.
RFID is a means of capturing data about an object without using a human to read the data.
The object of any RFID system is to carry data in suitable transponders, generally known as tags,
and to retrieve data, by machine-readable means,
at a suitable time and place to satisfy particular application needs. Data within a tag may provide identification for an item in manufacture,
goods in transit, a location, the identity of a
vehicle, an animal or individual.
Where it will be used mainly.
RFID is becoming more popular in applications
where other identification technologies, such as barcodes, are no longer sufficient
(e.g. logistics, material management,
industrial automation, services etc.).
POSSIBLE COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS OF THIS SYSTEM
Electronic Article Surveillance(EAS)
logistics
Asset Management
Waste Management
Yard Management
Fare Collection
Animal Identification
Luggage Tracking in Airports
Industrial laundries
Fugitive Emission Detection
Totes/Conveyor
Vehicle Identification
Automotive Anti-theft
Employee Identification
The list continues.It can be used in man
Advantages of RFID:
Contactless identification
Reads through many materials like cardboard,
wood etc.
Unlimited reading and writing of the memory
Identification takes less than a second
Simultaneous reading of various transponders
Resistant to harsh environmental conditions,
such as extreme temperature, humidity etc.
Shape and size of the transponders can be
adapted as desired
Transponders can be completely integrated
into a product
High security due to copy and password
protection or encrypted data communication
RFID Adoption (RFID Now)AND Growth Prospects
RFID DEVICES are beginning to replace
magnetic-stripe security cards for unlocking
doors and granting access to secured areas
especially at facilities with special security
needs, such as military installations.
The most visible use of RFID, though, is
probably the automatic toll payment systems
that rely on readers at toll plazas to scan
tags attached to the windshields of passing
cars. The reader records the tags ID and then
deducts money from a prepaid account.
These systems are designed to allow cars to
zip through toll plazas ideally without stopping
or even slowing down very much .Known as
E- ZPass in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and
other states, as FasTrak in California, and by
different names elsewhere, RFID-based automatic
toll systems have been operating for several years.
RFID Growth Prospects(RFID FUTURE)
Why the RFID market is set to expand rapidly
1.Auto-ID Center at MIT produced standards: EPC,
Air-protocol, Savant, ONS.
2.Cost of tags is dropping rapidly
3.The coming RFID tsunami is real and it has
two mega-sized supply buyers written all over it:
Wal-Mart and the DoD.
Walmart, the worlds largest retailer, and the
US Dept of Defense (DOD), are two powerful
entities that have launched initiatives to
implement RFID in their logistics operations,
motivated by their needs to cut costs and
streamline their supply chain in their
organizations.Wal-Mart has mandated that
its top 100 suppliers adopt RFID for palettes
and cases by January 2005.
4.In the coming years, Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) could have a major
impact on any enterprise involved in the
production, movement, or sale of physical
goods. RFID's unique attributes will enable
new applications and radical changes to business practices. RFID technology is a powerful
Auto ID solution that can significantly
increase efficiency and productivity.
Implementing an RFID solution requires a
thorough understanding of the capabilities and limitations of this emerging technology.
So the future is absolutely very bright
SAP RFID Solution Package
The SAP RFID solution package provides a
complete auto-ID middleware solution connecting
RFID data directly from auto-ID data capture
sources, such as RFID readers and device
controllers, and integrates the data directly
into enterprise applications . It converts
raw RFID data into business process
information by making the associations from
key business rules, master data, and transactions
to raw RFID data .
SAP-RFID
SAPs RFID solution is packaged as a standalone
solution package built on top of SAP Web
Application Server 6.40, and consists of:
SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure
SAP Event Management
SAP Enterprise Portal
Backend ERP adapters to SAP R/3 4.6C
and greater
SAP Auto-ID Infrastructure
Auto-ID Infrastructure is compatible with
SAP R/3 4.6C or greater, and it also has
adapters for SAP Warehouse Management, SAP
Business Information Warehouse, SAP Supply
Chain Event Management, SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization, and all SAP NetWeaver components.
Auto-ID Infrastructure is designed to synchronize
EPC and RFID information into your ERP systems by providing a complete, multidimensional data model
of RFID-enabled assets, including:
1.EPC number
2.Asset location
3.Status
4.Last RFID read point
5.Handling unit number
6.Packing hierarchy association
(such as item, item-to-case, or case-to-pallet)
It then maps this data to your SAP R/3 system
via association to handling units (HUs). Handling
unit headers include a standards-based HU number, weight, volume, and dimensions. HU content
includes material number, quantity, unit of
measure, batch number, plant number and location,
and stock category (such as consignment), as well
as serial number and inspection lot data.
These HUs are then associated with EPC numbers
and are integrated into the appropriate transaction
for processes such as production orders, transfer orders, sales orders, delivery (ASNs) and receipt, shipment, picking and packing, and inventory move
and packing operations.
Because it is built on SAP Web
Application Server,
Auto-ID Infrastructure supports multiple
communication interfaces (HTTP, SOAP, WSDL,
SOCKET/ TCPIP), as well as mobile interfaces
to PocketPC 2003 and Mobile Linux (Sharp).
It runs on Windows (XP, 2000, NT), Unix, and
Linux, and supports Oracle, SAP DB, DB2,
and Microsoft SQL Server
Now if you want to have some more technical
information on RFID ,u can refer the below
mentioned sites
1.     www.aimglobal.org
2.     www.rfidjournal.com
3.     www.rfid-handbook.com
4.     www.sciam.com
5.     www.tagss.com
6.     www.dynasis.com
7.     www.copytag.com
8.     www.ean-int.org.
And if you want to know more about SAP-RFID
you will get lot of information on SDN
as also rightly mentioned by ARUL.
1.http://service.sap.com/scm
2.http://help.sap.com/autoid20/helpdata/en/2d/4ac13f2ad10228e10000000a114084/frameset.htm-this
a help for SAP AII.
Regards,
Pawan P. Khilari
Message was edited by: Pawan Khilari
Message was edited by: Pawan Khilari

SAP Career Advice for newbie

I've been working for this a company a year now and feel stuck. Started as functional in HR module - did this for about 6 months and learned how to write functional specs. This position ended. Was retrained in ABAP for two months. Now moving into a technofuctional support role in SD module. My problem is that I'm having a hard time getting noticed and no work is being given to me. My manager seems confused as to what my actual role/activities/tasks should be.
For those with experience or maybe have dealt with this previously. What are some things that I should do to get work, get noticed, and learn on grow at this position? Should I ask for work? Should I ask to shadow? I need some direction. Your advice is greatly apprieciated.

If I were you, I would spend all your free time here on SDN. There are so many rescources you can explore... If you couldn´t spare a minute because of tons of work to do, you would get stuck as well. At the moment you may have the same problem as me - I am too young for a responsibility. Use this time carefully and increase your value for your employer. And think about it this way: You pay me, don´t give me work and I increase my value, but probably... you won´t ever venefit from my increased value:)) Prepare your career for a new employer. Decide what career you want to pursue, work hard and next change the job.
Regards, Otto

Career advice for a Query designer

Hello all!
I have been working with SAP and BI for about 3 years, one year of training Customer Service Advisors on how to use SAP and 2 years of working in a reporting team creating reports and dashboard using the BI tools.
I don't have any formal training with computers, although I am computer literate and can write simple html and python coding.
I'm feeling a little lost in how to continue my career - what options do I have with my current experience? What should I be learning to make the next step?
Thanks in advance!
Rhys

Well, you have hands-on experience in BI. Why not continue with that? There'a a lot of scope there. BI reporting is not the end of the road. You can become an expert in modelling, become an Architect, probe into BIA etc.
You could also look at SAP BO (Business Objects) as an alternative or addendum to your career.
pk

Is there is any career opp. for SAP HCM?

hi,
I am from payroll background, i woudl like to pursue the SAP HCM for better career opp. however, many clients are now opting for Sucess Factors. So is it worth doing SAP HCM now?

Hi,
I guess SAP bought Successfactors, and developing on its own. So, you may not find SF with out Surname as SAP in future.
Please browse thru Success factors website.
Please forgive if there is any mistake in my comments....
Please also wait for Experts suggestions...

RE: Help deciding Career Path for SAP

Hi all
My name is Shaun and I am currently studying as a Bachelor in Economics, Majoring in Accounting and Economic History.
I am currently on the way to complete my degree soon. and I currently started utilising SAP and would like to explore which avenue I could go
I am not sure whether I want to do a CA or should I just go straight and be a SAP Certified Consultant.
Here are my questions
1) are there career paths which I can use to be in SAP where I can directly be a SAP Consultant without doing CA
2) If I decide to go CA and become a SAP Certified Consultant, what are my options?
3) What are the available options for Financial & Accounting Management but utilising SAP
I do apologise if I have given any ambiguity, more than happy to help specify if need be
I await anyones response! Much apppreciated
Regards
Shaun

Hi Asif,
Given your educational background, SAP CRM(Customer Relationship Mgmt) & SAP SRM will be a good choice for you to pursue your career in SAP.
Please check out blogs in this community site to have a detailed formal knowledge on these modules.
Regards,
Gopal

Career Suggestion for SAP+JAVA+SQL Skill Set

Dear all,
I would like have a career suggestion, to go about in SAP Functional/Technical.
Presently ,working in SD/WM Fuctionalities as an User(For last 2 yrs,Previously AS/400, Now SAP).I am proficient(to an extent) in Core Java,Java Scripts & PL/SQL.
Please suggest how to go about for a career in SAP, whether Technical/Functional & the market openings that can be eyed on.
Looking Forward for your valuable comments & suggestions in view of my career growth
Thanks & Regards,
Chandra Mouli .K

Hi ,
SInce you are from Functional background, it is better to opt for Techno Functional , and also you have Java knowledge also ,so you can explore Netweaver technologies like XI,EP also.
Regards
vijay

Career advice for ABAPer

Hi all,
Am an ABAPer with18 months of experience.
Can somebody tell me if my ABAP knowledge will be utilised if i shift into BO.
Thanks.

Dear rookie,
I have not used BO but what is for sure, it is a product not developed by a proprietary language called abap.
I think there is zero abap in BO.
Cheers.
enjoy! oh my! SAP!!!

Career for SAP Basis consultant

Dear Friends,
I am into SAP Basis, most of the jobs have been outsourced in UK as such there are hardly any jobs in sap basis . Please can u kindly suggest me what is the next best option for SAP Basis for more career opportunities. Please kindly suggest me, I don't have job for last 10 months.
Thanks.
aarya

I am trying to reply all the bullets in your post one by one.
Some of the agencies (AtoS and some others) I have got in touch with to discuss this certification have suggested doing SAP SD or MM certification, keeping my experience in view. If I do it what is your guess how soon I could find a job with this certification.
for training and certification you can go to any SAP authorized institute , you can find many depends upon which country you are presently staying.
What kind of salary will I be able to attract if I do get a job. Currently I am getting good salary by auto industry standards (around $15K). As per the information I have got the starting salaries in these roles are some times less than half of what I am getting now.
if you are already at $15K (1,50,000 US Dollar if i correctly understand) then you are earning much higer then a SAP consultant having a decade experience in SAP. Better look for management job. If salary is the criteria.
Finally how fast is the growth in this industry? Let us say I do the certification spend some $500 and join a company with salary less than half of my current. After doing this, as per your experience how soon will I be able to reach or exceed the salary I would have been getting otherwise (assume I perform fairly well in my SAP role ;-).
refer the above one
So finally should I go ahead with the certification?
Certification is optional , if you just have user level experience you may not be knowing all what comes within an module, i still recommend training as it give you all back ground about SAP and you can understand most of the master data piece to create a right foundation for a module.
Hope this will help you.
Thanks
Ritesh

Advice on SAP GRC career

Hello,
My name is Vijay and I am from Denver, CO. I will be graduating with a Master's degree in Information Systems next month from Colorado State University. I have got a job as a ITPA Associate with a big four firm. My job description reads
1. Assisting clients in matters of Data Assurance, ERP Controls, IT Risk and Security Assurance,Data Protection and Privacy, Project Assurance, and Advanced Risk and Compliance Analytics
2. Providing ERP controls services to help audit and non-audit clients address risk and control needs around ERP systems
3. Assessing, recommending, designing and configuring controls as they relate to businessprocesses, ERP application security, and Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC)".
4.Designing and assessing control related services around major ERP systems; and
5.Translating business requirements to efficient and integrated ERP control frameworks.
I am very new to SAP GRC. Can you please guide me through how to form a career path in SAP GRC?
Thanks,
Vijay

Hi Vijay,
SAP GRC is good career path however you start your career basically as a sap security junior associate and finally lands up in the jobs like:
SAP Security and Controls Consultant
Senior SAP Security and Controls Consultant
SAP Security and Controls Administrator
SAP Security & GRC Consultant
SAP GRC Manager
SAP Process Controls Experts
SAP Advisory Manager - IT Risk Transformation etc.
Thanks & Regards
Subhasish

Career Advice for SAP BI veteran

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for