[2858] in SAPr3-news
Re: One of 22 students who completed the ABAP/4 certification course.
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (David Savage)
Sun May 25 16:17:27 1997
To: sapr3-news@MIT.EDU
Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 15:17:51 -0500
From: David Savage <"wdsavage@pop3"@cris.com>
Reply-To: "wdsavage@pop3"@cris.com
James,
Congratulations! I completed my training at the SAP Partner Academy on
26 April. I had no prior programming experience of note and have just
accepted an offer with a Big 6 firm after 4 weeks. I applied to the firm
in person during my third week of training. The interview process took a
total of 4 weeks from initiation to receipt of a firm offer. Good luck
on your search. Based upon my job hunt I will offer the following
information and suggestions.
1. Do it yourself.
=20
I must have submitted 100 resumes to headhunters, friends at other firms
who could "get me in" etc and absolutely nothing concrete came of it.
Sure I got a couple of "hot calls" from recruiters who would love you to
give them every contact you know to add to their list as well as a
couple of "nibble" calls, but NONE led to an actual phone or personal
interview. It just took up a lot of valuable time.
The one that panned out was where I personally went to the firm's office
and presented myself as one seriously looking to work for that specific
firm (which was true, this is where I wanted to go).
2. Do your homework
Decide where and who you actually want to work for. The job interview
match is a two way street. Spend some time on the web visiting the sites
of every firm you may be interested in. Find out as much as you possibly
can about them. The more you know, the better you will be able to
determine if these are the type of people you would be happy working
with. The more you can share with them about what you do know about the
firm, the more impressed they will be with your interest and sincerity.
3. Be enthusiastic
This field is expanding rapidly still. It appears to me that one of the
main considerations in getting in is a "can do it" attitude. If you can
survive the ABAP/4 training, you'll be able to do most anything else
required. Specify that. Note yourself as a self-starter, leader and team
player. Those are extremely important and critical skills in this arena.
Note that you're not looking for a job, you're seeking a career. With
the Big 6, the sky is the limit. Let them know that once you get your
foot in the door, you can excel and exceed their expectations. They'll
be glad to give you as much rope as you can handle.
4. Never say No
Don't ever note something you don't know. That is only sabatoging
yourself. Instead relate it to something you do know. Let them know you
know where to get necessary information. An example might be that maybe
you don't know squat about doing RFC's with ABAP/4 but you have
transferred megs of files from the net back and forth with ftp or you
have run a bbs before. Link your current experience in life whether via
work or otherwise to the expected tasks as an ABAPer.
5. Be scrupulously honest
Regardless of what friends, associates, others in the business tell you,
you are embarking on a career where your integrity must always be above
reproach and beyond question. A Firm's reputation rests directly on the
shoulders of each and every employee. They do extensive background
checks and a lack of integrity on your resume or employment application
will kill you quicker than wide-eyed innocence ever will. Show yourself
as favorably as possible but never embellish. If you are willing to
learn, take additional training and apply yourself, note that on your
resume. These are the qualities sought. Once again, once employed you
can learn anything technical, the main point is that you are willing to
learn and can get along with others. Which leads to the next point.
6. Note your "people" skills
Once employed you represent a billion dollar investment in the
reputation and integrity of the firm. Note ways in which you have
represented others in any endeavor that shows you really are a people
person and worthy of becoming a custodian of that trust. If you're not a
"people" person, that's all right, note it. There's room for pure
tecchies too and it's better to get matched to an environment where you
will be comfortable as opposed to getting in to a situation where you
are quickly shown the door.
7. Always be polite and thankful
Whether you get past a phone interview or not, always thank your
interviewers for taking time with you. Most of those you speak with put
in a full billable day for a client and then extend their time to the
interviewing process. It is always an effort on their part. Note it and
thank them. Everyone everywhere is underappreciated. You can make
friends for life in this way and life is too short not to. I've yet to
meet someone with too many friends.
If you are rejected for a specific position, still be polite and
thankful. Ask what can you do to better present yourself the next time
around. Just this can be enough to have the employer-interviewer flag
your file for the next opening.
8. Follow up with a thank you letter or email if appropriate for every
contact.
I do this routinely with most every action I take during the day. It
helps clarify discussions by noting it in writing which avoids
misunderstandings later as well as lets the other party know you
actually noted and appreciated their effort on your behalf. It is
amazing that so few do this.
9. Don't be greedy
The market is open for those who can deliver. Make your best deal but
don't price yourself out of a job. Get in and then show them what you
can do. They will reward success. If not, the market will. The key is to
get in and get experience. If you show yourself as one who gets results.
Your firm will work hard to keep you. They invest in their people.
10. Have fun
Look your best, be professional but also be yourself. Show that you can
work hard but also the you enjoy what you do now and wish to do for the
firm. Once again, life is to short and the opportunities too great to
place yourself in a situation where you feel miserable and it reflects
on you and your employer.
Finally, I wish you the very best in your search as well as your
classmates. Who were your instructors? Let us know how it goes.
Cheers,
David Savage
wdsavage@cris.com
James Logan wrote:
>=20
> Hello!
>=20
> I=92m one of 22 students who completed the ABAP/4 certification course =
last
> Friday, in Canada. A number of us from the course are keeping in conta=
ct and
> assisting each other in obtaining SAP contracts. I will gladly forward=
any
> positions sent to my attention to the other participants in the ABAP/4
> certification program.
>=20
> About myself.
> I have 4 years IT experience.
> I have experience with database programming and setting up networks.
> I worked for Oracle in 1992-1993.
> I have four months experience with SAP. Three months were obtained as =
the
> Network administrator for Oxford University Press and one month was whi=
le
> training in ABAP/4.
> The MS Access /Visual Basic programming contract I am currently working=
on
> will be completed in the next few days.
>=20
> Please notify me of any SAP positions you know of that I or the other
> participants of the ABAP/4 course may be suitable for.
>=20
> Sincerely,
>=20
> James Logan (gurus@istar.ca)
> (416) 494-4403
