Learn all about Microsoft careers and the various paths one can take within the Microsoft Technologies ecosystem with this comprehensive series of articles.
Learn all about Microsoft careers and the various paths one can take within the Microsoft Technologies ecosystem with this guide.
It was not that long ago that Microsoft seemed on track to take a more secondary role in the future of enterprise technology.
Software sales had been sluggish for some time, and the company seemed unable to keep up with the pace of innovation of its competitors. Well, things change quickly, especially in IT.
To the surprise of some, Microsoft has managed to bounce back in just a few years. It has indeed delivered its finest OS to date, Windows 10, created a new line of successful hardware products like the Surface. Thus it become a top contender in the cloud wars. Moreover, Microsoft is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the current situation. Being incredibly fortunate with cloud-based collaboration tools ranging from Azure and Office 365 to Microsoft Teams.
Hence, investing time and resources in pursuing one of the many Microsoft careers is a solid career bet. Here is a little roadmap that we hope helps guide you on your journey to personal and IT professional success.
Microsoft careers: a solid IT career investment
The surge in remote work caused by COVID-19 has greatly helped the cloud industry. Microsoft’s Azure business keeps on growing, consolidating the company’s position as the world’s second-largest cloud provider with only Amazon ahead. In turn, the increased demand for cloud know-how has led to a severe drought of talent, especially in areas like cybersecurity. Both cloud and security are highly coveted these days.
Additionally, in a world dominated by data, business intelligence is key. Here, Microsoft also reigns supreme with tools like Microsoft Power BI — a business intelligence platform that caters to business users. As an IT professional, knowing your way around MS Power BI will make you a great asset in today’s enterprise. There will always be someone in need of an expert to set up the environment, train end-users and troubleshoot.
Finally, Microsoft’s sheer size and reach, as well as its tools and platforms focused on developers. This means that a vast amount of applications and solutions are developed using Microsoft’s technology.
Ubiquity, scalability, flexibility and endless possibilities are the words that come to mind when trying to explain what Microsoft stands for in this day and age.
In addition, the Redmond, Virginia company is almost everywhere and in everything, connecting the world economy across industries, practices and solutions.
This Microsoft careers guide connects the dots and providing a holistic perspective on the Microsoft ecosystem and the various career paths one can take within.
The Microsoft Technology Stack
Ubiquity, productivity, scalability,
flexibility. These are some of the words that come to mind when trying to
explain what Microsoft stands for in this day and age. The Redmond, Virginia
company is almost everywhere and in everything, connecting the world economy
across industries, practices and solutions. Cloud, operating systems,
repositories, collaboration tools…
But, as an IT professional, you would encompass more than enough by focusing on the company’s core solutions. Here are the principal technologies in the Microsoft Technology Stack.
The different IT career paths within Microsoft
Given the breadth and depth of Microsoft’s tech
stack, the number of jobs and specialties that the environment comprises is
practically impossible to capture completely and concisely at the same time.
There are just too many.
However, you can identify a series of recurrent role across the various technologies. The company itself highlights these common career paths in its training programs.
Also explore our article on Microsoft career paths for an overview of the different career paths within the Microsoft ecosystem.
Developing your Microsoft expertise
As with other proprietary families of technologies, the best way to go about learning the basics and getting a foot in the door is through official Microsoft certifications. These provide you with a solid technical foundation while validating your expertise in front of recruiters and the overall industry.
In conclusion, there is a myriad of certifications one can obtain, based on desired role or IT career path, or depending on the specific skills you would like to acquire.
How to ensure a constant stream of work? A quick overview of best practices for maintaining a robust client portfolio that provides you with a steady stream of work.
Starting out as a freelancer is for many the realization of a life-long project. While the contractor status means there is no guarantee of job security, there are nonetheless several methods to perpetuate your collaborations and ensure a constant stream of work from loyal and happy customers. How to ensure a constant stream of work?
Here is a quick overview of best practices for maintaining a robust client portfolio that provides you with a steady stream of work.
Become
indispensable
To become irreplaceable, you have to develop a unique value proposition and, of course, get your work done on time. First of all, it is important to honour your commitments as agreed upon at the signature of your contract. But then you must go beyond and work to bring added value to the project. Inject a bit of your personal touch to make yourself stand out.
Becoming indispensable means that from the very first interview, you must make sure to stand out, without going overboard. Your interview should not be a simple question/answer exchange, but a real discussion between professionals. Keep in mind that the person you will be working with is not your employer. You collaborate together, for a common goal. Anything that can bring a real, personalised touch to the project and that is not offered by all the other freelancers is to be highlighted. This will encourage your customers to seek to collaborate with you over the long term.
Finally, remember that skills alone are not enough. It is essential that you find the right positioning between professionalism, rigour and proximity. You will thus assert your personality and demonstrate charisma while projecting confidence.
Establish a healthy line of communication
Healthy communication between a freelancer and their clients is essential to ensure long, win-win collaborations. So how do you do it?
Check in regularly, but without being pushy or appearing overly eager
Show your interest in the company and its projects. Typically, contractors who show an interest in the client’s broader work are more likely to snatch long-term collaboration contracts
Do not hesitate to ask for feedback on your work and to be proactive in proposing ideas This is greatly appreciated
Do not be afraid to clarify any unspoken or perceived misunderstandings. If you do not dare to discuss a potential issue for fear of string up the waters, the problem could end up weighing heavily both on your morale and your client’s satisfaction with your work
Anticipate your next mission. Ask questions about or propose future projects, as well as if you can help in any other areas. Besides giving you vital insight into your client’s operations, this attitude will help you become a long-term partner who goes beyond individual assignments and provides more strategic support
Stay visible
Once a mission is completed, and if you have received positive feedback, it is advisable that you connect with your points of contact over social media and professional networks like LinkedIn. This of course requires an active presence on the various platforms, as well as a solid online image.
Keep your profiles updated and add new content on a regular basis. You can also publish promotional offers like discounts, or new services and skills you have developed.
If you are visible enough, your clients will remember you and your professional qualities. They will call on your services again, especially if you offer them loyal-customer discounts based on the volume of work requested.
Spoiler alert: Artificial Intelligence is the future of work. Or at least part of it. This is not to say that everyone will become an AI engineer. But in just a few years from now, a large part of job positions will require or reward AI skills that help employees be more efficient and dedicate themselves to higher-level tasks. Especially in areas like IT, where human error can have dire consequences. So what online AI courses are best to get you up-to-speed with this booming discipline?
AI has experienced a major explosion in popularity in recent years, becoming one of the fastest-growing roles in job markets across the world. Indeed, just at the beginning of the 2020, a LinkedIn report identified AI-related skills as the fourth most in-demand skills group among employers. And that was before the pandemic set in.
Since then, Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a compelling choice for students and professionals who want to keep up with innovation and trends. Analytics Insight points out very good reasons to study AI in 2023.
Bottom line: believe the hype. It’s about time you put on your AI boots if you still haven’t done so. Here are five courses to get you started that touch upon some of today’s core AI skills.
Find your next assignment on our freelance and permanent IT recruitment platform, or join Mindquest so you don’t miss out on any job opportunity!
If you are not quite sure, start with the fundamentals. This Coursera course by IBM provides a good introductory overview of artificial intelligence and its many aspects:
2. One of the most popular online AI courses : Python
Pythonis to AI what English is to Shakespeare’s plays. Thus, this nimble yet powerful language is one of the most popular among programmers and engineers, and, if you haven’t gotten around it already, well – you should.
This course on Udemy kicks
off with a Python crash course and then gets into its data science and machine
learning applications, covering the most widely used Python libraries and tools
for AI (NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib…):
In essence, machine
learning is the use of algorithms to process data, learn from it and then act
according to these learnings. Machine learning allows computers to autonomously
learn and improve processes and assessments through experience, without being
explicitly programmed beforehand. It’s pretty much ubiquitous these days –from
your phone’s predictive keyboard to web searches.
Moreover, developed by Google Brain Team, TensorFlow is an open-source library for numerical computation with powerful AI capabilities. TensorFlow is Python-friendly and is currently one of the most in-demand AI skills.
This video offers a
great hands-on introduction to building neural networks with TensorFlow:
The course requires
previous Python literacy, so you should not jump into it before learning the
language.
Last but not least, NPL is a branch of artificial intelligence that focuses on analyzing, understanding and producing human language. It is an integral technology to many everyday features of the digital economy, from autocorrects to chatbots.
This Codecademy course
provides a practical and project-based introduction to NPL:
Are you looking for IT mission opportunities in the Tech and IT sectors on a freelance or permanent basis? Mindquest can help you find your next IT mission opportunity. Find your next mission by browsing our freelance and permanent vacancies available on our digital recruitment platform.
Knowing how to improve your online visibility is key to your career success. Here’s how to optimise your LinkedIn profile as a tech or IT consultant.
Knowing how to improve your online visibility is key to your career success. In terms of visibility on the web, LinkedIn is a must. Here’s how to optimise your LinkedIn profile as a tech or IT consultant and get that dream job.
IT consultants: how to highlight & optimise your LinkedInprofile
With more than 600 million users worldwide, 40% of whom are active every day, LinkedIn is a major tool for freelancers of all backgrounds. IT freelancers who manage to build a complete and optimized profile are way more likely to appear first in search results and attract the most interesting recruiters. Here are a few steps to make your LinkedIn profile shine and set yourself apart from other IT consultants.
Take care of your LinkedIn profile
The first element to take care of is your profile’s presentation. Your profile should be cared for and frequently updated, allowing you to appear in the best light possible for your future clients. This implies taking care of several elements:
A professional and impactful title
LinkedIn allows you to describe your activities in 120 characters. You need to choose an impactful title, being creative to attract the attention of recruiters while remaining professional. Note that the title is the element that appears directly in the search engine results. It is therefore important to pay particular attention to it. In addition to appearing after your name, the title will largely impact the recruiter’s first impression.
It is advisable to include in the title the mention of your consultant status as well as your area of expertise. The title should include the main search keywords related to your profile.
A professional photo that represents you
A profile with a photo is always more likely to stand out. The photo must be taken from the front, always clear and of good quality. Preferably, you should be smiling –, without exaggeration of course.
A concise summary of your profile and
the opportunities you seek
In this rather summary, list your skills and detail your professional experience. So, if you are hyper-specialized in a particular sector, do not hesitate to include that in your summary: this may interest recruiters looking for very technical skills. It is also an opportunity to add your diplomas, your most significant professional successes and everything that makes a company more likely to choose you than another consultant. Try to demonstrate as much as possible that you know how to anticipate the needs of a business.
Also do not forget that your LinkedIn profile allows you to give information on what you are looking for: types of job, location, aspirations in terms of projects and professional development … With this simple step, you will avoid being contacted by recruiters who would approach you with ill-suited assignments or positions.
A more detailed summary of your past experiences to optimise your LinkedIn profile
Your LinkedIn profile is the ideal support for detailing your experience and the various positions you have held — just as you would do on your CV. You can provide background information, technical stacks, and tasks associated with these projects. Focus on your accomplishments by highlighting concrete results.
Share relevant content about IT consulting on LinkedIn
To improve your visibility on LinkedIn as an IT freelancer, it is strongly advised to share content frequently. You can share all kinds of content, including:
Links to articles related to your area of expertise and your favourite subjects
Infographics or videos to spread a message visually and thus make it more impactful
Posts in text form, to share news about your professional life for example.
Articles that you have written on the platform, to highlight your knowledge of specific subject. This requires a certain investment in terms of time but can really help you enhance your profile.
It is better to share content regularly, without necessarily looking for the quantity. Unlike other platforms where the organic reach of posts requires sharing content on a daily basis, LinkedIn works differently. Also, remember that LinkedIn now accepts user tags and hashtags, which improves thematic search.
Last tip: don’t hesitate to share and comment on the posts of other people in your network. Taking part in conversations about your areas of expertise will allow you to position yourself as an expert and to be identified by recruiters for the best missions.
In charge of mapping out and executing the management, monitoring, security, and privacy of data. Data Engineers are proficient in a platform’s different data services and tools, using them to:
Implement data storage solutions
Manage and develop data processing
Monitor and optimize data solutions
Design data storage solutions
Design data processing solutions
Design for data security and compliance
Data Scientist
Not to be confused with a Data Engineer, this role requires deep knowledge of data science and machine learning. Expertise in data modelling is a must.
A good MS Data Scientist knows well how to:
Set up data lake relationships
Learning workspace
Run experiments and train models
Optimize and manage models
Deploy and consume models
Developer
At the frontlines of deployment and operations, developers partner with architects and administrators to design, create, test and maintain cloud applications and services.
Among the core competences of developers:
Development of infrastructure and storage
Development of platforms and solutions
Implementation of security
Monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimising solutions
Connecting to third-party services
DevOps Engineer
Advocates of agile methodologies for software development, DevOps professionals unify teams, processes and technologies to streamline the product pipeline.
Designs, develops and maintains Internet of Things solutions and devices within MS environments. From coding to the set-up of physical devices, the IoT Developer is responsible for:
Implementing the Azure IoT solution infrastructure
Provision and management of devices
Implementing Edge Processing and managing data
Monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimising IoT solutions
Implementing security
Security Engineer
The title here says it all. Security professionals protect the integrity of data, applications and networks by implementing threat detection and security controls.
Functions include:
Managing identity and access
Implementing platform protection
Managing security operations
Securing data and applications
Solutions Architect
The Solutions Architect is actually the first person to be involved in a platform’s deployment process. Architects must have a deep understanding of the entire ecosystem to design solutions that run on it.
They must have expertise in:
Deployment and configuration of infrastructure
Implementing workloads and security
Creating and deploy apps
Implementing authentication and securing data
Developing for cloud and for other storage
Determining workload requirements
Designing for identity and security
Designing a data platform solution and a business continuity strategy
Designing for deployment, migration, and integration
Designing an infrastructure strategy
Want to learn more about the various Microsoft career paths and how to pursue them? Explore our comprehensive Microsoft Technologies careers guide.
Freelancing is often spoken of as the future of work, the career prospects are very promising. How to advance your career as in IT freelancer?
Freelancing is often spoken of as the future of work. Many people turn to this way of life to gain more autonomy and freedom and be able to focus on the kind of work they enjoy the most. In the world of IT in particular; where the share of freelance workers keeps on growing, the career prospects are very promising. Freelancers are not limited by that many obligations and can develop professionally as they wish. How to advance your career as an IT freelancer?
When you are an employee in a company, your career development is often planned and monitored by the HR department or by management. When you are a freelancer, you have to put in place a professional development plan by yourself.
Here are a few tips on how to do that.
Technology and IT, a rewarding sector for freelancers
In the digital and technological fields, freelance workers generally have no difficulty finding new assignments, but finding the dream assignment is another story.
With equal experience, a tech or IT consultant such as a full-stack developer will have less difficulty finding interesting opportunities than a freelancer in the creative arts. The technology sector is a one particularly sought after by companies, with the best organisations competing to attract and retain the best talent out there.
Top freelancers performers in tech are in high demand, and that is an advantage for anyone who is qualified and passionate about their area of expertise.
Advance your career as an IT freelancer: specialize to evolve
The top freelance consultants are usually former junior freelancers who have evolved through countless assignments over the years. The choice of your missions, then, is key in the construction of a solid professional progression.
Expert profiles, those that are very specialized in a given technology, are very popular with companies. Think carefully and specialize in a skill or technology that is booming right now or will do so in a couple of years. Consultants specializing in cloud, cybersecurity and data science are very popular right now. For example, as companies wage a war for talent to fulfil their digital transformation goals.
By choosing a promising area of expertise and developing your skills over time, you can achieve a higher average daily rate (ADR). Keeo on re-skilling so that your rate can increase over time. It is about constantly re-evaluating the added value of your work for your clients.
Evolve by taking on managerial functions
Another option to progress in your career when you are an IT consultant is to become a manager. Project managers or team leaders tend to access managerial responsibilities. Which often validate their technical or business skills, and allow them to work on larger projects.
This type of evolution is often considered the golden road to progress when working in IT. Since it allows you to “climb the ladder” in a consistent way. But managerial roles are not suitable for all profiles and are not an end in themselves for many IT freelancers, who prefer to focus on their area of expertise.
Manage your own skill development in order to advance your career as an IT freelancer
To develop your career as an IT consultant, you obviously need to gain experience. But don’t neglect training! And that’s not only because technologies keep evolving at a rapid pace. But also because you need to devise a solid methodology to speed up your skill development.
The staffing as a whole is undergoing a profound and rapid transformation. But what about the IT staffing sector? IT staffing enjoys all the benefits...
If you are an S/4HANA expert living the 9-to-5 life, chances are that you have considered going independent at some point. No one would blame you. Becoming a freelance S/4HANA consultant can be a solid career choice
Proof of this is the resurgence of self-employed workers we have been experiencing since 2018. However, this sweet desire often clashes with the harshness of reality. Plus, this lifestyle is not for everybody.
Hence the importance of being prepared. It is essential that you ask yourself the right questions at the right time. Focus on these essential questions.
Here are a few honest questions you should ask yourself before blindly jumping head-first into the unknown.
The real reasons for your wish to be a freelance S/4HANA consultant
The first question you need to answer bluntly is why you really want to become a freelancer. What are your underlying motivations? Would you like to have more free time or no longer depend on an employer? Or is it because you would like to have a wider variety of projects from which to choose? Is it for financial gain?
If your main arguments are mostly “anti-wage,” well – that is not always a good sign. There is the danger of opting for independent employment as a means of escape rather than as a set career goal. If it is only a question of no longer being a permanent employee, it is very likely that you will quickly be faced with the harsh reality. Being a freelancer doesn’t mean drinking French press coffee and decorating your table with a succulent plant while strumming a few hours a day on your keyboard. It is a real commitment, a new way of living and organising your day.
You should take a look at what kind of relationship you have with work, identify your professional aspirations and define your priorities.
Assess your strengths and areas for improvement
Most often, someone embarking on a freelancing life already has years of salaried employment behind their back. They are, hence, well aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Making an honest self-assessment is a must to orient your future moves.
If you are disorganized by nature, for example, it will be good to put an effort into developing your organisational skills. You could use one of the many apps targeted at freelancers or improve your time-management methodology.
You should also pay attention to your starting point. If you are starting with a non-existent network, this is a disadvantage that you will need to work harder to overcome. If you have a financial safety net, then you have an advantage compared to those who start without any safety net.
However, don’t turn these disadvantages into barriers. On the contrary, these must be seen as challenges to overcome, to push you to go even further and stay motivated.
In some cases, it can be a good idea to do a little training before you start, to network a little and save enough money to be able to deal with unforeseen events. Take advantage of this period to clarify and outline your services offer and make a business plan.
Defining your offer and your target audience
Freelancing encompasses a large number of roles and services. An S/4HANA consultant must properly market their expertise in order to be successful. Their profile must fit into often-searched categories and nevertheless stand out from competitors.
There are many questions to ask yourself at this stage:
What services should I offer? Which kinds of jobs do I want to do as a freelance S/4HANA consultant?
What elements should I highlight to stand out from my competition? What are my strengths?
How much is this kind of work worth today?
Who is my offer for?
Pay attention to state and European regulations
This step is crucial. Depending on the country you plan to operate in, there will be several legal forms and statutes that you are obliged to comply with. Efficient management of your fiscal and employment status takes knowledge and caution.
For example, you should find out about the rules governing sick leave and unemployment benefits before you start. The world in which you enter is radically different from the salaried one.
Creating a personal business entity is a good place to start. Administrative and management procedures are greatly facilitated and you can often benefit from advantageous social contribution rates. Taxation is also interesting here.
Working with industry-savvy recruiters can also help you choose your status and navigate the regulatory landscape.
Explore our definitive S/4HANA Careers Guide. to gain more insights into S/4HANA careers and how to best approach them.
With any self-employed activity, tracking your performance is necessary to identify what works and what needs to be improved to achieve optimum results. The slow summer months can be a good time to carry out this type of assessment and ensure you are doing the best you can to be a successful IT freelancer.
But what are the best indicators of success
for your self-employed activity? Follow these key indicators to draw
appropriate conclusions and make effective resolutions, both in terms of income
and of work methods
Has your turnover increased compared to
the previous year?
What was your turnover this past year? Was
it higher or lower than the previous year? Although freelance income can vary widely
from month-to-month, looking at the bigger picture will help you assess your
performance. Compare this year’s figure with what you achieved the previous
year over the same period. Deduct from it the percentage of evolution. If that
percentage is negative, it might be time to change certain things.
When calculating your turnover, do not
forget to take into account all your expenses. Then divide your total turnover
by month to get a comprehensive overview of the year.
Did you have more expenses than last
year?
Another indicator of the health of your one-person business is the total amount of your expenses, especially compared to the previous year. As a successful IT freelancer, your charges should be in theory low, especially if you carry out your tasks at the client’s office or from your own home.
If the expenses incurred are made in the
interest of your activity and this has resulted in an increase in your gross
turnover, this is a good sign. On the other hand, if your expenses have
increased more than your earnings, you have things to ask yourself.
Are you managing your time well?
Time management is essential for any successful IT freelancer. You must organize your days to be as productive as possible while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. thinking of allowing yourself moments of rest.
But that is not all: as an successful IT freelancer, you must also reserve some time for housekeeping. Make sure you allocate time to deal with administrative duties, as well as to search for your next assignments.
Have you managed to retain customers
this year?
Customer loyalty is a key indicator of a successful IT freelancer, as it reflects the ability to build trust and ensure satisfaction with clients. The higher your loyalty level, the more likely you are to be contacted again by this client. But you are also more likely to get good recommendations; the best asset for finding new assignments.
You can also look at your customer
portfolio and calculate your average income per customer: you may find that
some customers have asked for too much time compared to what they paid you.
If you are doing short assignments and a client represents almost all of your turnover, you are in a delicate situation that must be taken into account. You in danger of depending too much on this unique client. In the case of long missions, this indicator is obviously less relevant.
Looking for the definitive S/4HANA careers guide? Here's everything you need to know about pursuing a career in the new incarnation of SAP's ERP
Looking for the definitive S/4HANA careers guide? Here’s an overview of everything you need to know about pursuing a career in the new incarnation of SAP’s ERP; S/4HANA.
The clock is ticking for companies across the globe to migrate to SAP’s next-generation ERP suite. With the German company discontinuing official support for its currently most used ERP (ECC6) in 2030; those businesses working with the legacy software must now go through the lengthy and resource-intensive process. And that is great news for you.
Although S/4 is the future of SAP ERP and organisations adopting SAP for the first time are jumping directly into the newer platform; expertise in S/4 remains elusive as many companies are still waiting to carry out the migration.
Whether you are interested in learning more about S/4HANA or you would like to expand your expertise, these are golden days for SAP specialists. The generational change in both the workforce and SAP’s ERP offers an unparalleled opportunity for consultants and in-house talent alike. Take advantage of it. Develop your S/4 expertise with this S/4HANA careers guide. The rewards will be plentiful.
Any S/4HANA careers guide should start by clarifying exactly what S/4HANA is.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are all-encompassing software toolsets with capabilities extending across most business functions and departments. From accounting and human resources to procurement and supply chain management, ERP software allows organisations to easily plan and execute operations from a single platform. The speed, efficiency and cohesiveness derived from its use have made ERP a staple of business management. As well as one of the most profitable specialisations in the IT world.
S/4HANA is SAP’s response to the enterprise’s move to the cloud and its need for faster data processing. Half of all business data is estimated to be already in the cloud. More and more companies are taking business-critical applications off-premises, and few applications are more critical than ERP systems. At the same time, the modern enterprise requires data insights and operational efficiency that were simply out of reach for legacy ERP software.
Labelled as SAP’s next-generation ERP, S/4HANA will effectively replace the ubiquitous ECC6 suite. When official support for the latter is discontinued in 2030.
Migration to S/4Hana
The migration to S/4HANA, has many steps and can accommodate several approaches. Companies moving into the new ecosystem can do so by building on top of already existing systems or by starting anew (brownfield vs. greenfield implementation). Regardless of the chosen approach, however, you can be sure of one thing: all projects start with the blueprinting
As a world-leading ERP provider, SAP provides a comprehensive catalogue of solutions that only experts can implement and help run smoothly. Accordingly, there is a constant stream of demand for IT professionals with SAP skills. What’s more: demand outweighs supply in some areas of expertise. Chief among these is S/4HANA.
According to a report by Resulting IT, only 8% of organisations using ECC have made the transition to the new iteration of SAP’s software suite. That is alarming, especially considering that the report estimates the current product set has over 400 million lines of code and many companies have invested millions customizing it. These will have to be re-written when moving to S/4HANA. But that’s just the beginning of the story.
When it comes to S/4HANA, the difficulties in finding talent that is well-versed in the new environment multiply. There is a generalised lack of experience in the live or near go-live stages of the transition. Although 48% of SAP specialists declare having been involved in S/4 projects. A significant portion of these are solutions architects. And therefore only have experience in the early blueprinting stages of the project.
Couple that with the fact that; just in the UK alone; 40% of SAP experts plan to retire within the next 10 years, and we are looking at the perfect storm.
The expertise that you will develop and need will vary depending on the type of projects you take.
Additionally, and just as with ECC6, there are two main categories of S/4HANA expert profiles: functional and technical. These two categories often overlap with one another, and the best specialists have a combination of the two.
Go beyond this S/4HANA careers guide and learn more about all the different roles within S/4HANA.
Developing your S/4HANA expertise
At the theoretical level, the best way to go about honing your S/4HANA skills is to resort to SAP’s official learning portal, SAP Training. There you can find a myriad of courses and certifications that will help you master the various tools in S/4.
While the courses are free, you must pay a fee to obtain the official certification. But we highly recommend you do so, since they are a great measurement of how prepared you are and validate your expertise in front of the SAP community. They will look great on your CV
The courses and certifications are a good option for newcomers to the SAP ecosystem. But also for seasoned professionals looking to upskill and add new S/4HANA capabilities to their toolset.
No matter how good your S/4HANA careers guide is, and in addition to learning the basics and getting certified, you must get real-world experience working with S/4HANA. The way to go about it will depend on how many S/4 projects you have previously collaborated with, as well as your knowledge of ERP systems and business domains.
To those who are completely new to S/4HANA, it can be challenging to get a job in a field that requires previous experience. But you can get around this barrier.
Be ready to take a pay cut in exchange for a role in S/4HANA projects, even if it is through positions that are more junior than those you would normally pursue. Think of it as an investment in your future. Make sure to highlight the suitable skills that you already possess, like ERP expertise or knowledge in and business.
The importance of attending events
You should also keep an eye open for any relevant industry and networking events. Attending will give you a better feel for what it is like to work in S/4 and will provide you with actionable tips on how to build your career. You can even often find companies looking for new talent among attendees.
Re-orient your CV to highlight your S/4 focus and skills. Present yourself not as an IT expert with S/4 know-how, but as an expert in S/4HANA. Try to get involved in a wider variety of projects that allow you to build deeper and more comprehensive expertise. Again, industry events are highly recommended to stay up-to-date with current trends and best practices and network with other professionals. Keep learning. Stay tuned regarding software updates, new certifications.
There is always room for improvement. Once you have some S/4HANA experience on your back, focus on becoming a true expert in the technology.
In addition to cultivating your S/4HANA skills, you must define a career strategy. What’s the best way of becoming a highly coveted expert? There is not a simple answer to this question. Especially since the rapid evolution of the talent market has blurred the traditional line between permanent contracts and freelancing.
Permanent position & Freelancing paths
A permanent position offers you greater stability and social protections. Giving you access to more economic benefits, like unemployment and certain contract regulations. It also lets you enjoy the totality of a company’s corporate benefits, whether it’s paid tuition or a gym membership. Something you wouldn’t have access to as an independent employee. This can be decisive in newer fields like S/4HANA, since you might be able to benefit from free training and career development programs.
On the other hand, freelancing makes it easier for you to develop a wider range of skills by working on different projects. This broader experience is very attractive to employers. At the same time, businesses are more likely to hire freelancers for S/4HANA projects, as there is a shortage of skilled workers and S/4 implementations often have a specific duration.
Independent workers must deal with limited social protections, fluctuating activity and internal red tape. However, the average daily rate of SAP freelancers is well above the average rate of salaried employees in most countries. They also express high levels of job satisfaction, with 4-out-of-5 freelancers claiming to be happy with their lifestyle.
Conclusion
Depending on the stage of your life cycle you find yourself in, you’ll tend to favour one option over the other, and that’s totally fine. Both paths are complementary and have their perks and disadvantages. Additionally, the relative novelty of S/4HANA is a key factor to consider when making your decision.
Given how competitive today’s IT jobs market is, most of us can use a few pointers on how to find a job in IT.
But, first of all, let’s get something out of the way: the question of whether it is best to look for a job when employed than when unemployed.
There are many reasons why someone would think looking for a job while unemployed is harder. Hiring companies might be suspicious of your trajectory when you have been out of the game for a while. They could think you lack certain skills or drive; that there’s something missing from your profile that led to you being unemployed.
On the other hand, looking for a new job when you already have one shows ambition, nonconformity. It is proof that the IT talent market values you and gives you more leverage when negotiating your contract conditions.
Well – yes and no.
There are many good reasons for an IT professional to be out of work. You might be waiting for the perfect project, planning a change in direction. Or perhaps you simply wanted to take some time off after a few intense projects in a row. That’s especially true for freelancers, who often experience employment gaps in between projects.
These four simple steps can be of help to find a job in IT, whether you are employed or unemployed.
Develop a solid portfolio to find a job in IT while being unemployed
Chances are you already have a great deal of experience under your wing. You’ve worked for interesting companies, played a key role in noteworthy projects, helped bring to light successful products.
Beyond including all that experience in your CV, putting together a short portfolio can help potential employers get a better picture of your skills and strengths. It doesn’t need to be a portfolio as polished as. Let’s say, that of a designer or a graphic artist – a simple explanation of every one of your best projects will suffice. If you’re after a programming job, put together some of your best code.
Gather your references
Nothing validates your capabilities better than satisfied former employers. Instead of waiting for the hiring company to ask for your professional references, present them upfront. By doing so, you will be showing proactiveness, confidence in your professional profile. It will also help you stand out among other candidates.
A good letter of recommendation by an ex-colleague who is in a good position and/or company at the moment can be very helpful as well.
Keep on learning
This is something you should do even if you are not looking for a job at the moment. Since technology is continuously evolving, your success as an IT pro depends in great part on your ability to keep up with the most in-demand skills – both technical and other, softer skills.
Take advantage of the many free online IT courses out there. Develop new skills, challenge yourself. It will show employers you’re not just standing there, idle, that you are ambitious and in constant motion.
Find a job in IT by attending industry events
It’s true: the pandemic has put on halt most in-person industry events. However, and just like the rest of the business world, these get-togethers are adapting to the new reality.
Webinars, online Q&As… These events offer a great opportunity for you to gain visibility within the community, to talk or chat to potential employers and let them know you are looking to find a job in IT. It’s always easier to get your foot in the door through an in-person (or online) introduction.
