Results are in from a year of SAP Rankings surveys on SAP consulting rates in 2011.

The average SAP consulting rates for 2011 are noted below in over 70 SAP categories.  The overall average for all categories was $120/hour for SAP consultants with 10 years of experience.  As you would expect, the categories with the highest rates are the one with the more specialized categories.  The lower rates include SAP categories that are more common and mature.  

You can find SAP consultants to fill your SAP jobs on SAP Rankings.  This service is now free.  Just log on to browse the consultants that are categorized and ranked.    Contact the consultants directly about your SAP job opportunities.

You talked and we listened.  We added this free functionality so everyone can direct contact SAP consultants. That mean SAP companies, SAP recruiters, SAP consultants, SAP analysts can  use SAP Rankings to find SAP resources.

By Scott Corwin -- Managing Partner of Future Technology Solutions (FTS)

1. Recruiters are paid to fill a job not find you a job. Try not to take it personally but do understand this is how they make a living.

1. Are you a good candidate? Recruiters do like to place good candidates with good companies. An old colleague of mine once said there is no such thing as a bad company or a bad candidate; you just have to match the two.

1. Building strong relationships with recruiters. Follow up once a week via a call and once a week via an email. If a recruiter has information about an interview for you or the next steps they WILL call you. More than that detracts from the recruiter doing their job…getting you the interview.

1. Keys to the kingdom. Recruiters often hold key information about positions, companies hiring, and specific hurdles hiring managers put in front of candidates.  They are always willing to share that information with the candidates they believe to be their personal top choice.

1. Preparation is the difference between the top candidate who gets an offer and the runner up. Does your resume really present you well? Do you have a plan on how you are going to be successful? Know the market, the competitors and industry news.

1. Q & A with the recruiter. This should really go both ways, but understand the recruiter is trying to qualify you IN, not knock you out of consideration for this position.  They need to know specifics and will ask hard questions. Just be truthful.

1. Compensation. This is the reason we all work. In vision your recruiter as your talent agent. They get a piece of the action because they put you in the job in the first place.

1. Really good recruiters are hard to come by. Sorry brethren… Unfortunately for one reason or another not all recruiters are best in class. Some recruiters are trying to do the job of 4 people. You are looking for one job and look how time consuming that can be. Image trying to fill 30 spots, all in the next 48 hours…

1. Be nice. Be professional. Transitioning to a new job or career can be stressful, we get it. Just don’t make your recruiter your shrink. Be sure to communicate clearly with your recruiter what is the most important criteria for you to make a move.  Nothing is more frustrating to a recruiter than doing all the work required to get you the offer to have you then so no.

1. Karma and referrals. Pay it forward. Do you want to be top of mind of a recruiter? – help them with a referral. What goes around comes around. I’ll personally go out of my way for someone that has already gone out of their way to help me.

Scott Corwin is the President for Future Technology Solutions. 4FTS.com offers more information and job opportunities. Scott has been a leader in the technology and recruiting space for over 20 years. He brings a unique perspective and shares how to benefit both candidates and clients alike from the dramatic shift in the business world. 

SAP Rankings releases the ability for users to rate SAP Consultants.  In the past, user ranking were only calculated from an objective algorithm based on SAP experience.  Based on the feedback from the users, we have allowed the ability for consultants to be reviewed.  This more subjective rating system will give hiring companies a better insight into the the type of consultant being reviewed.

SAP Rankings makes it even easier for SAP consultants to be included in the online directory listings.  New functionality from LinkedIn allows SAP consultants to simply click the "Apply with LinkedIn" button to submit professional information.

The "Apply with LinkedIn" button can easily be found on each SAP consultant listing page. Once an SAP consultant or SAP analyst submits their information, SAP Rankings will categorize and confirm information.  The consultant or analyst will then be listed in the SAP Rankings online directory.