{"id":9475,"date":"2021-01-10T16:42:14","date_gmt":"2021-01-10T15:42:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.consolvis.de\/blog\/how-to-prepare-for-sap-certifications-my-experience-after-passing-11-certifications\/"},"modified":"2021-06-20T22:01:31","modified_gmt":"2021-06-20T20:01:31","slug":"how-to-prepare-for-sap-certifications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.consolvis.de\/en\/blog\/how-to-prepare-for-sap-certifications\/","title":{"rendered":"How to prepare for SAP certifications – My experience after passing 11 certifications."},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” bottom_padding=”2.5%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]When starting to get certified, it can be hard to find the right path. I\u2019ve made many mistakes, wasted much time, and learned only by doing. This is why I feel it\u2019s important to share my knowledge with others heading in the same direction and want to make sure they are on the right track. With this blog, I want to help you get certified and learning about SAP solutions.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”Small Line” line_alignment=”default” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”extra-color-gradient-2″][nectar_cta btn_style=”material” heading_tag=”p” text_color=”#fe420d” link_type=”new_tab” alignment=”left” alignment_tablet=”default” alignment_phone=”default” display=”block” text=”How to become a SAP Business Technology Platform Developer in 2021?” link_text=”https:\/\/www.consolvis.de\/en\/blog\/sap-btp-developer-roadmap\/” url=”https:\/\/www.consolvis.de\/blog\/scp-roadmap\/”][divider line_type=”Small Line” line_alignment=”default” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”extra-color-gradient-2″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”8732″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_video link=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/BJHfrmW7e_Y”][vc_column_text]I don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019ve always been fascinated by those who are gifted in the art of getting certified. And yes, this includes me.<\/p>\n
To me, these are the folks who possess the ability to earn their certifications faster than their average peers. But what really sets them apart is that they don\u2019t stop there. They continue gathering as many certificates as possible.<\/p>\n
This article helps you to understand how I approach SAP certifications. It\u2019s my opinionated perspective after passing 11 of them. Not more. Not less.<\/p>\n
The funny thing is, I remember being a part of that debate on certifications. \u201cCertifications are unnecessary. I have never needed one to get a project or to keep it.\u201d Certificates are a curious thing. Some people swear by them and others say they are an utter waste of money.<\/p>\n
I fall somewhere in the middle. I have found that it doesn\u2019t hurt to get certified. But neither is there much evidence of it being the reason to win a project either. In my experience, certifications are a door opener and nothing more. That is not to say they\u2019re unnecessary either.<\/p>\n
Being asked about my certificates, it was often rather the curiosity about the number than having one specific certificate. So how does one get to 11 certifications?[\/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”8733″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”50%” max_width_mobile=”default”][vc_column_text]\nWell, with the certification packages now available, you get six attempts. That\u2019s a good number to use. However, it wasn\u2019t always this way\u2026<\/p>\n
I still remember my first certification. I had just started as a consultant in the SAP CRM environment. I felt comfortable and learned quickly. But I was a banking clerk by training, and it honestly didn\u2019t have much to do with that. Putting on the technical skills with fun to me as I was curious about computers since my youth, but I lacked formal education.<\/p>\n
To overcome my doubts, I wanted to prove my knowledge quickly. And how can you promptly demonstrate knowledge as a beginner? My idea at the time \u2013 I need to do a certification.<\/p>\n
Asked, said, done. I registered for it a few weeks later, at that time still at the ISZ in Walldorf. It was an expensive adventure. Suppose I remember correctly back in the days roughly 300\u20ac. That\u2019s the value of three attempts today. Talk about prices rising\u2026<\/p>\n
As the day of the certification came closer, it was time to prepare me for the certificate itself. Did I do the associated course beforehand? No, why should I?<\/p>\n
My colleagues still had a \u2013 unfortunately certainly five years old \u2013 manual for the course. That must be enough. At that time, I had also taken a course at the University of Duisburg Essen, or more precisely ERP4Students. That will be enough, I thought to myself. And that was the guidance I got from my colleagues as well. And on the day of the certification?<\/p>\n
Full of hope, I drove to Walldorf. The classroom was full of people doing their certifications. I was excited. We got a short introduction, and the exam started\u2026 and I just passed by chance\u2026[\/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”8734″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”50%” max_width_mobile=”default”][vc_column_text]\nHell, what happened? My preparation didn\u2019t seem to pay off. But I was already registered for another ABAP certification exam. And there, I didn\u2019t have that much luck. I failed. And I felt really demotivated on my walk (or rather drive) of shame back to the office.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\n
In my experience, materials from an old course version can do more harm than good. And if that\u2019s the case for a mature solution, think about quickly changing areas such as SAP Business Technology Platform. God knows how many products have changed their name or were scrapped since the first course was released.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\n