Amy Goley ⋅ Edmond, OK 2 Marine Holdings ⋅ 15 years experience

Robert, the ERP certification is less important than the discipline it is used for. My suggestion is to gain access to company-paid training by choosing a company that has a robust SAP R/3 system in use globally and in multiple departments. I would suggest a mid-level management position in Materials Management or Inventory/Logistics. Because both areas use the ERP system in a way that can effect the bottom line, an SAP Super User certification is a likely perk. Additionally, if you choose that path. Look at companies that are Six Sigma in quality improvement methodology. So, if you are going to spend your own money, you are better off paying for the CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional). It is a fourth the cost, time, and will get you a job that not only pays you but gives you the other training too!

Christopher Ahlberg ⋅ Holtsville, NY Recorded Future, Inc. ⋅ 15 years experience

I'm a BI guy - having built 2 companies in that space. My sense of my customers hiring people for using these tools is that it's about

a) business knowledge - the data and business you'll be analyzing
b) knowledge of the tools themselves

Certification can be an indication of b) but can also be a bit shaky.

I would learn the toolsets - some of the BI tools you can more or less learn for free. Hey - start by becoming a total master (!) of Excel Pivot tables- they have their issues but used everywhere and when you know them you're half way there. Build a kick ass demo of Excel Pivot table analyzing something you're passionate about - and use that to market yourself.

That will beat any certification.

Paul Trejo ⋅ Austin, TX University of Texas at Austin ⋅ 40 years experience

Robert,

Thanks for your loyal service. Speaking from inside the UT Austin School of Business, I can add a perspective. Students today have a new career track called "Supply Chain Management." This is where software like SAP leads the way.

This field involves larger companies, and especially Manufacturing. The idea is that Inventory costs can be minimized if managed scientifically, and this can save mega-bucks for Manufacturers.

It begins in the latter part of the 20th century with Just-In-Time inventory, in which the Manufacturer would minimize Inventory costs by coordinating schedules with Suppliers so that Warehousing was all but eliminated. This was a tremendous boost to profits.

The problem with Just-In-Time Inventory, however, is that sometimes the Suppliers cannot produce fast enough when the factory speeds up production. What do you do when your minimal Warehouse is nearly empty? Pay your Supplier a premium?

You could hire another Supplier or two, but now you have to manage the Competition between your Suppliers. The target is to always have the right amount of Inventory at the right time, in the right place, for the best price available.

Simply put, the answer was Supply Chain Management. All the inventory items of all members of your Supply Chain are tracked along with all their prices and all their delivery schedules. Once that enormous stack of data is all in once place, you can begin Data Mining for the best results for the Manufacturer.

The starting point is usually the staple language of Big Data since 1980, namely, SQL (which stands for Structured Query Language). The two big vendors of SQL (and the only ones I recommend) are Oracle and Microsoft. Both offer free "Express" versions for your personal laptop. I strongly advise downloading one of them, and exploring SQL (which is an ANSI and ISO standard).

Best wishes,
--Paul Trejo

Donna Shrout ⋅ San Francisco, CA ⋅ 15 years experience

Robert,

I have been working in the SAP field for 16 years. I would take Tom's advice and check out the http://www.sap.com/ms/veterans-to-work.html#! website. This includes a form to fill out to get more information and a link to the course pre-requisites: https://yoh.avature.net/portal/2/documents/7428_Veterans_RequireUSL_r2.pdf .

In SAP, certification can only take you so far. Employers are typically looking for a combination of experience and training. The market for SAP people with functional skills is much more flat than it used to be. Those with technical skills are still well in demand. However, to take the more technical SAP courses you'll see that the requirements include strong existing technical knowledge in other platforms and technologies. You didn't say if you have experience in these areas. (If you do, SAP is a smart addition. )

Many of the job openings for SAP are in consulting. Search for "SAP BI" and you will see a number of listings. There are also support positions at companies. With the market tightening, it is more difficult to enter the field through either route. A consultant can specialize in BI, but they usually have an additional area of knowledge and a solid understanding of data strategies and reporting. For support positions, more broad ranging knowledge is usually expected since supporting BI is rarely a full time effort.

Adding to the excellent advice from Amy, if you focus on an area in which you have solid experience and background, you can then use that experience to get your foot in the door. One related area, less technical, in which certifications is very meaningful is project management. PMP certification is available for those with experience (requires and exam and coursework as well as references for prior project work). There is also a similar certification for those with less experience who take courses and a qualification exam.

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco, CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Amy,
Great information and advice, thanks! Can you further discuss the CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) certification and its potential value to job-seekers and also to employers?

I also encourage Veterans to join professional organizations (such as those that issue certifications, e.g. APICS.org) and GET INVOLVED. Professional organizations offer formal and informal mentoring programs, networking opportunities, and skills-development opportunities.

Below is advice I have previously offered to other Veterans that may be relevant here.

Credit goes to Amy Goley for mentioning the CSCP certification that APICS issues.
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Researched the various mentoring programs that APICS and CSCMP offer, and consider applying to some of these programs.
APICS Mentoring
http://www.apics.org/gsa-main-search#mentor|allResults#!

http://www.apics.org/benefits/apics-e-mentor-program#!

http://www.supplychainchannel.org/communities/viewcommunities/communitydetails/?CommunityKey=21fa9feb-9323-4935-be8b-fd962220fe8c#!

http://www.apics.org/community/volunteer-with-apics/mentor-an-apics-scholar#!

CSCMP Mentoring
http://cscmp.org/search/node/mentor#!

http://cscmp.org/career/mentorship-program-young-professionals#!

http://www.cscmp.org/sites/default/files/user_uploads/educational/downloads/mentorship-program-application-information.pdf#!

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In regards to professional organizations, don't merely join, GET INVOLVED!

* Find locals chapters.

* Reach out to leadership of local chapters by email AND phone and introduce yourself

* Ask how you can help.

* Request informational interviews and request advice for launching your career.

* Request formal and informal mentoring.

* How else can you get involved?

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco, CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Robert,
Can you please tell us about what our might want to do next, your career goals, your skills and your interests?
-Tom

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco, CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Robert,
* Do you know the names of the certifications?

* Conduct further research by studying job-listings.

e.g.
http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=%22sap+hana%22&l=
http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=%22SAP+BusinessObjects%22&l=
etc.

* Are you familiar with SAP Veterans to Work? I advise you direct questions to the SAP Veterans to Work program. Please report back what you learn so others can benefit.
http://www.sap.com/ms/veterans-to-work.html#!

Benjamin Lowe ⋅ Short Hills, NJ Verizon ⋅ 25 years experience

Here is my two cents. I work in the business intelligence and supply chain communities and a board member of APICS. I know that SAP is one of the stronger performers. All three areas--BI, supply chain and SAP are growing. Supply chain is growing at 20% and BI or analytics is growing similarly. SAP has a strong offering--a combination of HANA and BW--which enables BI. So as far as a career, I think it is a good choice and one has a long and lasting future. Good luck.

Robert Koehling ⋅ Desoto, TX U.S. Air Force, Technical Sergeant ⋅ 20 years served

Wow! Thanks so much for all of this information. I am going to have to digest it all. I have applied and took the online training offered by SAP Veterans to Work and was pretty disappointed in either my ability or the course itself. Either way, I felt pretty unprepared when I was taking the cert exam. I was going to go the classroom route this time if it were worth it. I am in the HVAC service industry right now, but looking for a career change. I am 12 months from completing a Bachelor's Degree in Logistics, but maybe I will see how much longer it will take me if I switch to Supply Chain. I know my school offers that and I debated which one to enter when I enrolled.

Thanks again for all of your words of wisdom!!

Rob