Why Employers Are Looking To Hire For ERP Implementation Jobs

A growing business will always reach a point, sooner or later, where customisable software support goes from ‘unnecessary’ to ‘nice to have’ to essential. The bigger the company when the change is finally made, the bigger the challenge they are to put in place. As the economy improves, therefore, the market for ERP systems grows – and the competition for ERP implementation jobs grows.

What Do Decision Makers Look for in ERP Implementation Jobs?

To be the kind of candidate decision makers are looking for, it’s useful to take a little time to think the way they do. Let’s look at the process from a decision maker’s point of view.

Everything starts with frustrations within the company.

Business Frustrations

Perhaps someone’s recognised that they don’t have clear, easily understood data to base ongoing strategy on. Perhaps processes are considered too slow, or there have been issues in transferring data from one piece of software to another. (And maybe that issue is that it takes too much time doing it manually, and it’s too prone to error!)

Awareness of the Issue

There are countless little frustrations that can grow as a business grows. Eventually, these are recognised by key decision makers within the business, and the decision is made to reduce or eliminate them.

Efficiency and morale are both vital if a company wants to succeed at a higher level. Eliminating problems like these is encouraged – the question is how?

Solution Finding

In looking for solutions, ERP systems will soon come up. Typically at least someone in the business will have experience working with one, or will have heard about them from a colleague at a former role.

Some research and basic cost/benefit analysis will be done to decide which ERP software to use. This might be the stage where an ERP functional consultant is brought in; their expertise may help make the decision one way or another. At this point the implementation is almost under way.

The Project Begins

Aside from the functional consultant, it’s at this point that most ERP implementation jobs are advertised. The company knows whichsoftwareit plans to use, and can start hiring accordingly.

Some projects are likely to be short and self-contained. Usually these are for small companies which make the switch early. There’s less to do and, most likely, fewer people to train. In these circumstances a single consultant might be used; one who has experience in handling projects themselves.

In other cases a range of specialists will be used. It begins with a project manager who can take oversight of the whole thing. They’ll act as an interface between stakeholders and the technical consultants, developers, and ERP engineers that make up the rest of the team.

One thing these ERP implementation jobs all have in common is that there’s usually a clear progression between them. Developers become consultants or engineers. Consultants, over time, become either senior developers or project managers.

Securing a placement in one of these roles requires an understanding of the market and – even if you’re already a PM – a willingness to learn on every project. Employers recognise that any ERP implementation will encounter surprising challenges, and showing you can overcome them is well worthwhile.

If you’d like some help tailoring your CV and finding the right role for you, our team are always happy to speak with new candidates. Contact us today.