MY JOURNEY TO BECOMING A SAP ORDER TO CASH CONSULTANT

SAP, which stands for Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing, is a major Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Originating from Germany, SAP has grown into one of the most widely used ERP systems globally. Companies ranging from tech giants Apple to pharmaceutical leaders Merck rely on SAP to integrate and streamline their business operations.

There are various modules in SAP; each designed to handle different aspects of business processes. One key module is Sales & Distribution (SD), also known as Order to Cash (OTC). This module manages the entire order lifecycle—from capturing customer data and handling product information to managing orders, shipping, and billing. Essentially, my role involves designing and customizing the process that takes an order from placement to shipping and invoicing.

Getting Certified

Having family members with experience in the SAP field, I was advised to get certified to boost my credibility. SAP certification courses can cost around $10,000 and I didn't have the budget for that. Being the resourceful millennial I was, I turned to online resources like YouTube and various affordable courses, sometimes costing under $100 to prepare for the exam.

Self-studying was challenging and demanded a lot of discipline and persistence. Despite having basic knowledge from internships and family support, I dedicated five months to intense studying. I filled my environment with SAP materials, creating index cards and hanging screenshots on the walls. Essentially, I ate, breathed, and slept thinking about SAP. 

Navigating Interviews

The consulting industry has always been incredibly competitive. Offshore resources that pad their resumes and offer to work at a much lower rate are saturated in the market. To stand out, I needed to leverage my strengths. Through job applications and interviews, I realized that effective communication was a skill many candidates lacked.

“Men will apply to jobs on average  that they are 60% qualified for while women will only apply to jobs that they are 100% qualified for.”

Encouraged by a mentor, I began applying for jobs even if I didn’t meet every qualification. The idea was to challenge myself and expand my learning opportunities. Half the battle of becoming a consultant is the interview. I knew I had the soft skills to prove that I could rise as a team player and eventual leader in any position I would accept. I approached interviews with confidence in my communication abilities, and when faced with technical questions I couldn’t answer, I redirected the conversation to areas where I had expertise.

For instance, if asked about a topic I wasn’t familiar with, I’d say, “I’m knowledgeable about [insert topic] at a high level, but my direct experience lies more in [insert related topic].” This approach helped me showcase my strengths while acknowledging areas for growth.

Job searching is a long game and patience is the ultimate key.