SAP Certification - worth it?

[Da Integreatah]

Hi all,

I am in a situation, where I could be able to take a SAP certification exam, but I am questioning is it worth it? I have approximately 3 yrs SAP implementation experience (within PP and MM) and at the moment I am working as an employee at a non-Big5-SAP partner company. My goal is to gather at least a year of extra experience "under my belt", and go into full-time contracting after that.
What I am asking is, that is it easier to get contracts as a certified vis-à-vis non-certified contractor? And how does certification affect the hourly or daily contract rates? I have taken some SAP courses listed as prerequisites for certification, but I know it will take some time and effort to pass the exam.
Any answers/experiences will be appreciated, thanks!

[Churchill]

If someone else is paying, then go ahead.

[cojak]

Experience is more important than the certificate for SAP as it's difficult to get in to (unless you're branching out into other areas).

But as Churchill says - if someone else is paying, do it.

[Da Integreatah]

To Churchill

Yes, this is the case. Eventually, I would need to pay back (it's in my contract) some of the SAP courses I've taken, in case I decide to go within 2 years time. But how does the certification affect the rates? Is it +1 € extra per hour etc, or is there any effect? I could imagine that during low season it's safer to have a certificate, but now it seems that it's really "seller's market", so am I wasting my time/money by working for a company? And have you any experience of having to pay course fees back to your employer for the courses taken (within the time-limit in the contract), OR will the next employer usually sort it out? In my case it's around 15k€, so it's kind of a hinder to leave straight away, in case there is no certainty of the future!

If someone else is paying, then go ahead.

[cojak]

will the next employer usually sort it out?

????????????????

The next 'employer' will sort it out - your company will be the next employer. So you will have to take the hit.

The next client will not sort it out. They expect a contractor/business to come in, do the job and leave.

Your question means that you are thinking like a permie. If you want a permanent job paying more next time, that's fine. Otherwise you need to do a lot more research than just what qualifications you need to get the next 'job'.

You need to learn about what makes a self-employed/business contractor.

[cojak]

I didn't vote because there wasn't a 'Think more carefully about this' button....

[milanbenes]

i think certificate makes no difference, it's a case of can you do it do you know it can you answer the questions at the technical interview

pp/mm then you're functional with only one module, from what I have heard for functional agents want 3 or modules undere your belt


all the best, have you considered getting into .Net

Milan.

[Da Integreatah]

Thanks,

Could you give me some examples of the technical interview questions you usually get, when looking for new contracts?
And are you sure about the agent requirements? Specializing to +3 modules sounds like utopia to me? All the consultants I've ever worked with master maybe 2-3 modules after +5 years (senior level) of relevant SAP work.. of course, there have been these Blueprint experts, who say in their CVs that they pretty much handle everything within SAP R/3 (and R/4 ), and leave the project after the blueprint is done..
I have done pretty much everything within functional MM (Purchasing/sourcing) and PP (production/planning) and I consider those as separate modules/functions within the company although the integration is evident.

i think certificate makes no difference, it's a case of can you do it do you know it can you answer the questions at the technical interview

pp/mm then you're functional with only one module, from what I have heard for functional agents want 3 or modules undere your belt


all the best, have you considered getting into .Net

Milan.

[milanbenes]

do you have a time machine ?


what is R/4 ?



Milan.

[Da Integreatah]

LOL .. a short reply to your question, YES!

do you have a time machine ?


what is R/4 ?



Milan.