Getting back into an SAP career after a Break, like maternity leave, injury, or a sabbatical, can be tricky. The challenges include changes in the job market, more competition, lower confidence, lack of recent experience, new technologies, and increased family responsibilities. While you might feel eager to return, these issues can make you question your abilities. But if you’re passionate about working with SAP again, don’t worry. It’s easier to restart your career than you might think.
Restarting career After Break
Let’s read about how to restart SAP career;
Mental Strength
After a career break, many people struggle to believe in their abilities. They may feel unsure or incapable. However, mental strength plays a big role in overcoming this. Even if you can’t find a significant source of strength, like the ocean, try speaking to yourself in the mirror. Building your mental strength and confidence is crucial to getting back on track in any career.
Identify Key Strengths
It’s important to know what you’re good at. Consider which SAP modules you’ve worked with, like SAP Basis, ABAP, or functional modules, and which areas you are most skilled in. Check if those skills are in demand in the job market. Consider learning something new if your skills are not enough. Your strengths might only sometimes be related to SAP.
They could include communication skills, industry knowledge, business understanding, teamwork, or being a good cultural fit. Sometimes, having strong contacts and a good network can be your biggest strength, helping you find job opportunities.
Update Your CV
Updating your CV after a break can be tough, but it’s essential to highlight your skills, experience, and achievements. With recruiters spending only a few seconds on each CV, it’s crucial to make a strong impression quickly.
Avoid grammar or spelling mistakes, and focus on creating one CV that reflects your true abilities rather than multiple versions for different jobs. Joining an online SAP course is also one of the best options for gaining knowledge, and it can be used as an add-on qualification.
Explore New Areas
Technology is changing quickly, and old software can become outdated fast. You can’t just learn one tool and use it forever. To stay ahead, you must keep learning new technologies to think for an SAP career after Break.
SAP is constantly changing too, with areas like HANA, BPC, Mobile Computing, SAP Business Objects, FSCM, and SuccessFactors becoming important. Find out which of these areas interest you and start learning. You can learn independently, but for more complex topics, it might help to take an online SAP course for hands-on practice.
Understand the Demand
The demand-supply rule is simple: when supply goes up, demand goes down. This applies to the SAP job market, too. If many people have the same skills, salaries and opportunities drop.
To stay ahead, focus on learning the skills in demand. Every year, new people enter the market, increasing competition. To stand out, you need something unique.
When starting, focus on something other than salary. Asking for a high rate can reduce your chances of getting a job. Build experience first and keep salary expectations reasonable.
Ability to Convince
Convincing an employer about your skills can be hard, especially if you have a career gap. Employers want to be sure you can help their business and bring good results.
To stand out, show a positive attitude and eagerness to learn. Talk about how you can share knowledge and support the team. Use your time in the interview to show you are valuable and committed. Getting the job will be easier if they see you are reliable and hardworking.
Concentrate on Hands-On Skills
Regular practice is key for a SAP consultant. Without it, even strong skills can fade over time. Keep brushing up your hands-on experience to stay sharp and perform well in technical interviews and your job.
Perseverance
Perseverance is one of the most important qualities for success. With it, your skills matter very little. If you stay committed and work hard, nothing can stop you.
Never give up until you reach your goal. Keep going, even when things get tough. Just like gold gets better when heated, you become stronger by overcoming challenges. Obstacles make success more rewarding. Make perseverance a habit, not just for getting a job, but for everything in life. With focus and hard work, success will come.
Restarting your SAP career after a break might feel tough, but it’s doable with the right steps. Consider joining an SAP course that allows learners to acquire more industry knowledge, leading to better career opportunities in the job market.
