How does an SAP S/4HANA certification help?

The standard answer would be YES!

But there is a sub-text. Any authorised SAP Training Center would not entertain a fresher. So, you need at least 2 years of work experience to make any sense of all that SAP feature functionality. Two years is not enough, but bare minimum.

Then, whether Certified or not, you make no sense to any employer unless you have some implementation experience. So, typically you will have to spend 1–2 years as some helper to a trained SAP Consultant to learn the tricks of trade and real issues in any implementation cycle. SAP is no theory, and SAP implementation is no summer project in any Institute. The entire Client business is at stake… and no-one is going to hand over reins to a novice. So, please be prepared for 2 yrs of hard work, barely paid work…. irrespective of your prior work experience in the domain, and irrespective of the fact whether you have certification or not. If you have certification, then obviously you have better chances. But, no-one will overlook a smart and on-screen skilled SAP Consultant just because he doesn’t have certification. And, once you start SAP career…. its your configuration skill-set, past projects, variety in business situations, thinking on feet and arriving at quick, practical, reasonable solutions that matters and not the certification. So, be ready to loose the edge very very quickly.

The Training Institutes never tell you this reality, because they have courses to sell. A 4-week in-class training from a recognised training partner typically costs Rs 3L, and they also have a 3 month on-line version at about the same cost.

Besides, there are already too many unemployed or underpaid SAP Consultants… or attending some small un-challenging tickets on some help-desk. SAP implementations is now almost a history…. since almost all in MSME seem to have it already. America Europe has it. Almost like DOS in Enterprise Solution. Most oof the jobs are in support or enhancements. So, I would rather forewarn all SAP freshers… or contemplating entry in SAP…. that you are making a career choice for next 30–40 years. Be sure that this is what you want to do.

Just last week I had a 40–45 yr old PP Consultant sent back from my project. He was a Factory manager before he came into SAP-PP. Had 2 years of SAP on-desk experience. Still being paid 4.5Lpa (while his earlier salary was 24Lpa). And, I sent him back because he was so totally clueless.

Two months ago, I sent back a MM Consultant from my project. He was 37 years old. 10 years of buying experience with last drawn salary of Rs 15L. He been working with a SAP implementation Partner in Support for last 2 years. Just a desk job. Totally clueless on project (he was asking me as to what does cut-over data mean). Dumped by two Clients before he came to my project. I sent him back advising him to go back to his buying career.

What I mean, is that…. SAP is not for everybody. Whether you have relevant functional experience or not. Whether you have Certification or not. Incidentally, both the guys I mentioned before were CERTIFIED. SAP jobs have shrunk in the last decade…. and, all the seats are already occupied.

So, please take a hard look at the options before you invest your 3L in Certificaation.

Best wishes!!