Having been let go from SAP America after working 16 years, I'm have to admit I've been out of touch with job market and not getting any meaningful responses for the numerous positions applied through the standard job search sites. How are you all in the US looking for new opportunities, is it purely based on who you know/networking or is there anything I'm missing ?
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"I've sat on numerous calls on various topics, and those people that have had their cameras on, they all seem to be in the VERP age bracket and older." -- speaking of which, what is the VERP age bracket? And what, really, do they mean by "retirement"? That term usually connotes a life-long pension, rather than a payout. Can you share at least a rough outline please?
So much changed since I started at SAP 22 years ago.
My experience after a "few months" looking is that it's relatively easy to find implementation work at customers or IT shops if that's in your background. If you were a developer like I was, that door isn't really open to you.
Be clear about what interests you in a new role.
Map out what you did and how it made a positive impact on SAP while you were there. Do this before you forget the details. Your resume has to show more than what you did and who you did it for.
Talk to people. Go to trade shows. Let people know what you are looking for.
Apply for gap jobs online. Work on your next career move everywhere.
And if you can find me on LinkedIn, I'm happy to connect. Good luck!
Was a VERP eligible person who declined it and then they say, no we insist you take it. After 24 years with SAP doing software (35 total), the job market is not good at all for someone of my age. Trying to get into something else is proving to be a challenge because people are looking for long term investment where I'm looking 4-5 years before retirement. As part of the separation, SAP provides out placement service. I've sat on numerous calls on various topics, and those people that have had their cameras on, they all seem to be in the VERP age bracket and older. Very unsettling to see.
Do some casual freelancing jobs on the side, don't sit around and lose money while waiting for job interviews to come up, you may have to reduce your CV down for a filler job while you look for a main job. Back with my previous employer I was doing food and Amazon parcel deliveries on the side to make up for the sh*t salary I was getting in a time of high inflation so don't feel ashamed for doing those gigs as a white collar professional.
Spend 2-3 hours a night applying and spend the rest of the day working odd gig jobs (ideal because you can work when ever you want and if an interview comes up go for it).
The lesson here is you need to keep your cash flow going while applying for opportunities. Don't sit, lose money and wait for a welfare handout. This advice also goes out to young professionals.
It may be hard to get a job which pays as much as google's but it is not that hard to get one with SAP's pay check
I am impacted after a decade here but I learned so much here. I started from scratch when I joined here but I am starting from an experience now. I got a call in the first week and cleared my first interview after a decade. Full remote position. Buying a Tesla with a severance package. Don't lose hope guys. There are so many opportunities out there. Keep trying, you'll land a good one. I'll keep my search on and hope on to better ones. Enough of loyalty to these corporate greedy business companies.
It depends what skills you have in product and/ or business.
safest option is to pick up freelance if available while you wait for permanent roles. Your network can help you some extent but in general you are on your own writing your life book.