How I become SAP Consultant- Rahul Prakash in careercenter

During my school days, when our home appliances used to go out of order and serviceman invited for repair, out of inquisitiveness I jump by his side to see what exactly he is doing inside the machine. Staring at me he must be thinking why I am disturbing him to perform his job. Those days the words like IC, diodes, transistors, resistors seems very fascinating.

In our place, the career path was fixed either become doctor or an engineer. Exactly following the trend, I joined one of the esteemed engineering college of India and graduated in ‘Metallurgy and Material Science’ specialization. No idea why I did engineering, no clue where I would end up doing job. Finally, I was placed in a manufacturing company in India and started working. Very happy that I have found a nice job, importantly salary and freedom to spend.

While working in shift operations, I had my first encounter with SAP, one day my boss asked me to order in SAP system few items like hand gloves and gas masks. Totally perplexed !! What is this SAP stuff? , How to do this? I had no idea, I took his help, and he told that on the desktop computer screen there is an Icon i.e. SAP logon pad. I just followed each and every steps of how to create a purchase requisition written on a separate notebook and clicked on button save. That was a nightmare to me. GOD, I did that! and after 2 days I received my indent items. That was the first time I realized the power of SAP ,  how fast a business transaction takes place.

Working for about couple of years still I had no clue why am I working there? My seniors suggested If you want to excel in career and earn handsome go for MBA.  I did MBA in Marketing and IT , while pursuing the program we underwent course on basic awareness in SAP. Many of us were unaware - Is SAP a word , company or something else? In that due course of time I started reading about ‘SAP’ and got infatuated with SAP terminology.

The placement season has begun and my batchmates were started getting job offers, going out of league I thought why not to make a career in SAP. Year 2008 was tough for placements and for job seekers, since recession had badly hit the market. IT companies were cancelling campuses visits, although I managed to sit in couple of companies but was rejected, reason was I  had no previous IT experience. At that time looking for SAP job without having relevant background was a distant dream. Time passes by and I kept trying finding a job in IT, Alas!! Only thing I received was rejection.

Wherever I appeared for interview the HR person have one similar question to ask – Do you have SAP background? I said no I do not have, then I am sorry, there is no opportunity for you. Is it not an Irony that until someone doesn’t get a chance to work, how he/she will get an experience!!

The more I was rejected the more I got determined to find a SAP job. I used to get motivation in the quote by Vince Lombardi- “Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can.”

MBA degree got over and my education loan EMI was started. I was jobless for an year. Everywhere only rejections even I tried for 10K (Indian Rupees) per month job. 

One day I got an offer for Assistant manger- Sales position from one of the largest Indian steel company. Finally, the good time has returned – what next? Still I wasn’t happy as I didn’t landed where I wanted to be. The only satisfaction that I had was working as SAP end user. But unaware which module I am using? After settling down in my job , I started building my sales and marketing skills and understanding the entire end to end business process i.e. order to cash.  Off late I realized that as an end user I am working on SAP SD module and that paved the way for me to find a job in SAP SD.

While at work  I was also exploring possibilities how to get into the SAP SD. Having Sales and operation domain, I got an interview call from one of the big consulting company. Interview was scheduled and I was totally unaware about the SAP SD questions !!

In the interview there were many questions asked from customizations and pricing/OTC concepts. I failed miserably since as an end user I had only seen SAP screen and few reports for example  transactions like order creation (VA01), Customer Account Line Item Display (FBL5N), Customer Master data etc. and No idea how this SAP stuff works behind the screen. 

In couple of months I faced 3 interviews – but failed there too. Finally at my last interview I dared to ask from interviewer about my feedback – He said you have good domain experience but no SAP experience except as an end user.  May I suggest!! why don’t you go for SAP SD certification from one of the SAP authorized training center. Probably after certification, you will have fair chance of qualifying interviews.

The very next day I went to the training center , I enquired about the course and the fees was approx. 3.5 lakhs (Indian rupees).  Oh My God!! I have EMI running for education loan and now this 3.5 Lakhs, where should I go. I approached bank it was very difficult to get loan due to my existing loan and on top of that bank’s high interest rates.

I was clearly looking at my destination but how to overcome the hurdle of arranging money. Come what may, I will go for certification – somehow I arranged money with family and friends?

I joined the course and started romancing with the classroom environment during the entire course duration. Now I was equipped with SAP knowledge and clearly able to correlate my domain experience with the SAP SD concepts. This day it’s curtain how this SAP stuff works behind the screen. On final day of the exam, Just before clicking submit button. I closed my eyes and said If I love it I will get it. I pressed the button; hurray, I passed the exam with excellence.

I can’t express that moment I have had experienced – big big relief that one hurdle is over.  Within a month I got my first call and I cleared the interview in one largest Indian IT company.  After Interview, while coming out of the company’s sprawling campus I looked back at the Gate- I said YES I HAVE DONE IT. YES  I HAVE CROSSED THE GATE.  The all credit goes to SAP certification program and the value it holds in the corporate SAP world.

I can proudly say that SAP certification program has given me a launch pad to start my career in SAP. Now I am a SAP SD consultant working in projects to support our customer realizing their business benefits using SAP.

The people who wish to pursue carrier in SAP may surely take an advantage of SAP certification program. Before that, one should ask from within that am I really wanting to do this, or just like that because it has good career option providing white color job and handsome salary / foreign trips.

Globalization , cultural diversity and vast knowledge sharing platforms  has brought ample opportunities in every walks of life , one can now make career in any field provided where one wish to be.

Live your dreams and keeping trying some day you ought to make it true.