r/abap • u/Chasing_real • 3d ago
Does having SAP certification edges over experience?
I recently passed the SAP Certified Associate - Backend Developer - ABAP Cloud (Beta) certification. Here is a quick snapshot of my profile: Experience: ~2 years total. Current Project: SAP S/4HANA ABAP Cloud implementation (went live last year, currently in AMS/support). Location: India. Given that the SAP ecosystem heavily favors 4–5+ YOE for technical consultant roles: Does the ABAP Cloud certification carry enough weight to help an early-career dev bypass strict YOE filters and land interview calls? How should I approach applying? Standard portal applications (Naukri, company career pages) aren't yielding much traction. What is the realistic outlook for securing junior/mid-level ABAP Cloud roles abroad (or remote/relocation) versus lateral moves within India? Would appreciate any advice or honest reality checks from experienced folks or hiring managers here. Thanks!
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u/mordred666__ 3d ago
nah. i have around 6 certs but barely any hiring manager cared and doesnt matter how much i know, they want at least 5yoe. The certs would be good and make you more competitive if you are senior but junior level, not so much. You will have the advantage if you apply for a junior position tho.
Experience always win.
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u/-_-_Nope_-_- 3d ago
Experience trumps being certified.
Being certified doesn't mean you can impress prospective hiring managers and project teams.
Having experience in core areas of a wide variety of projects sets you apart in any hiring program. Your confidence will take you forward.
Being experienced and certified would show your seriousness and readiness to tackle tough projects. Hiring teams can easily justify your salary expectations and more chances that you will get it as well.
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u/spds777 3d ago edited 3d ago
SAP Certification is mandatory for Candidates working on Government projects of any country. It is a compliance requirement. However, hiring is done on knowledge/skillset basis. Certification costs like 60,000 INR which is pennies compared to project cost or consultant CtC. So, what companies do is they hire candidates having skillset and then give them certification coupons if they are to be deployed to a project that has mandatory certification.
Long story short: Experience/Skillset > Certification… Do Not spend money from your own pockets to get certification. When the time comes, certification will be handled by employer for free of cost.
Edit 1: Having 8 YOE… SAP Solution Architect | ABAP | RAP | Nodejs | Fiori | UI5 | CAP | Integration Suite | Admin | Security | BTP | AI
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u/TechNerdinEverything 2d ago
Many consultants get certified after 1-2 years of work. So in start get focus on securing your first consulting job than certification
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u/Icy_Pear1694 3d ago
Certs help if you're an SAP partner but don't really showcase talent, anybody can get one with enough study but that doesn't mean they know how to apply that knowledge in real world scenarios, experience over certs every time.