My lateral entry into SAP Consulting
Michael is now in charge of process consulting in the area of SAP Excellence at the All for One Group. He has now been with the company for seven years, when he entered IT consulting as a career changer. We spoke to him about his job and the career change.
Michael, you didn't get into IT consulting via the "classic" career path, but as a career changer. Tell us what you did before that.
Michael: I studied mechanical engineering. In the last position I was employed as a manager in a medium-sized company. It wasn't about IT consulting. I was responsible for manufacturing and materials management. It was more about the management of the operational areas, new production concepts and similar topics.
How did the step towards consulting come about?
Michael: I was able to gain a lot of experience with our customer. I wanted to pass this on. Personally, what appeals to me most is the opportunity to consult on various customers and projects, and of course the contact with a wide variety of people. When you leave the customer and you are told that it was a great day and that the advice has helped you, that is the motivation I need for my job.
As a career changer, how did you acquire all the IT know-how?
Michael: When I started, I completed a 4-week training course at SAP to become a certified supply chain consultant and first learned the basics there. I then taught myself the actual SAP knowledge that I needed for the consultation at the beginning with on-the-job training, through exchanges with colleagues and trying things out.
What should you have for the job as a SAP consultant?
Michael: The ability to listen well, knowledge of a specialist area – be it production, logistics, HR, finance, or something similar – a certain affinity for software, as well as a communicative streak and the will to always learn something new.
