The path of an ABAP programmer may not be easy, but the effort put into learning certainly pays off. Firstly, in order to learn the mechanisms of the language, you need to have access to SAP platforms that are not easily accessible to IT students. Secondly: ABAP requires: work, learning. There are also more fashionable languages: JAVA, .NET, Scala, Go, Python, and many, many others, posing no barriers apart from learning the methodology. However, companies, especially mega-corporations, are very sensitive about security, and the systems created by SAP were written with this aspect in mind. Moreover, they have been on the market for a very long time, thus proving their long-term reliability. Let us add that software developers are paid well in Poland. ABAPers are a particularly specialized group working primarily for large businesses. If you are just starting your IT studies – this is something you should bear in mind.
Today our clients use many different technologies and different programming languages, including Java, Python, JavaScript, but ABAP remains crucial in the production of innovative products, such as S/4HANA – the latest generation ERP system – says Witalij Rudnicki, director in the global Developer Relations team at SAP.
We asked the youngest consultants at Hicron about their opinion on ABAP, here is what they had to say:
1. “Work for companies like Hicron”
Michał, 22 years old, student of Computer Science in Business at the Wroclaw University of Economics and Business.
SAP ABAP Junior Consultant at Hicron, first level SAP application support.
Michał reached Hicron through HIckaton, a hackathon for ABAP developers. Previously, he had only heard about the term. It did not change the fact that he had always wanted to be a software developer. Today he says that if it had not been for ABAP, he would have probably learned another programming language. His high position at HIckaton and successful recruitment gave him the opportunity to work full-time and he does not regret this decision. He moved to extramural studies to get as much work experience as possible. Anyway, Hicron is his first job, so he not only had to get used to his duties as an ABAP developer, but also as a company employee. He appreciates the flexible working hours, great atmosphere, and opportunities for development. He claims that ABAP developers, unlike those using other languages, must have knowledge of business processes, and even though the language itself is relatively simple, the most common problem is the business context, without which it is impossible to program in ABAP. For those who are still considering their career path, he has this to say: start your career in a company like Hicron, where you can learn more in a 3-month internship than during your entire studies.
2. “Do what you enjoy”
Klaudia, 23 years old, student of Management at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology.
SAP ABAP Junior Consultant at Hicron, Service.
Klaudia found herself at Hicron thanks to a job fair and the need to complete her student internship. She heard about ABAP while studying at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology, but she became interested in it only after starting the internship at our Wrocław office. She decided that this was the area closest to the subject of her studies. And even though this is not the pinnacle of her professional dreams (she claims that if she were not an ABAP developer, she would be the pink Power Ranger), she likes the scope of her responsibilities and the job itself. What she finds most satisfying about her job is correctly working code, and she treats strict deadlines as professional challenges. She has the following advice for job seekers: Do what you enjoy. Quite right! We can also add that since Klaudia is with us, we have had much less Putties in our codes…
3. “Take advantage of your internships and see what you’re good at”
Jacek, 24 years old, student of Computer Science in Business at the Wroclaw University of Economics and Business.
SAP ABAP Junior Consultant at Hicron, first level SAP application support.
Jacek’s path was similar to that of Michał, he also took part in HIckaton and learned about the existence of ABAP, a separate programming language in SAP. Before our paths crossed, Jacek studied Computer Science in Business and had previously worked as a wireless network service technician. When he was a child, he wanted to be a doctor, but today he encourages all young people looking for a job: try every profession during an internship and see what you’re good at and what you really like to do. This will make it easier for you to learn, and the work will bring more satisfaction. He claims that if it were not for HIckaton, he would continue to take part in various competitions and internships related to programming to gain the skills necessary on the job market. As he himself believes, the biggest challenge on his current position is to combine continuous education with improving skills and professional duties.
4. “Be confident during interviews”
Małgosia, 23 years old, majored in Systems Engineering at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology.
SAP ABAP Junior Consultant at Hicron, Service.
When she was a child, Małgosia wanted to become a meteorologist, later she became interested in IT. If she had failed to become a great software developer, she would have become a Project Manager. When she joined Hicron, as part of her internship, she chose ABAP programming from the available development paths. As a result she learned a lot about her future job and how to solve tasks. Regular training in various fields combined with self-study helped her take the first steps in solving tickets in cooperation with seniors and mentors. What she appreciates most about Hicron is the people and the atmosphere. No wonder! The greatest satisfaction comes from solving programming problems. She claims that being an ABAPer in the Application Service Support is not a typical programmer-developer job. They create solutions from scratch, while the work of an ABAPer work is more about finding errors and exceptions in existing solutions. She recommends the following to people starting their careers: Be confident during interviews!
5. “Do not start learning on the 6th semester of your studies and test yourself in different areas”
Kacper, 23 years old, majored in Computer Science at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology.
SAP ABAP Junior Consultant at Hicron, first level SAP application support.
As a child, he liked to play football and this is how he linked his career to sports (he worked in a football club), later he wanted to become a journalist. Still, as a computer science student, he was interested in various positions in IT and that is how he heard about SAP and ABAP. Previously, he worked on the support of one of the largest applications of a Swedish car manufacturer. Kacper ended up at Hicron when he took part and won a HIckaton. He enjoys logical puzzles and problem solving, which he associates with his work at Hicron. He believes that programming is available to everyone. The biggest challenge seems to be getting to know the vast possibilities offered by SAP and really understanding the business needs of clients, which is indispensable if you want to work in this environment. The status “completed” in the ticket system gives him the greatest satisfaction. The most important advice Kacper has to give to those entering their professional life is: do not start learning on the 6th semester of your studies and test yourself in different areas before you decide to start working. Programming itself gives you dozens of possibilities and it is worth choosing the best one for you.
Want to know more? Find out what an ABAP consultant’s work looks like!
