Future TalentEd Summer Term 2020 Summer 2020 | Page 10

EMPLOYEE PROFILES
STUDENT RESOURCE
Gatsby Benchmarks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
FROM
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
TO...
SAP APPLICATIONS
CONSULTANT
Salima Topadar combined her creativity with
an interest in tech to work for Capgemini,
a global leader in consulting, technology
services and digital transformation.
So, what do you do all day?
I work with my team on client projects where we’ve been hired
to implement a software/solution for their business. I attend client
meetings and take down actions; keep track of the actions
spreadsheet; put together training materials, and populate data
in the systems for demo purposes.
My tasks are always changing as I’m asked to help on different
activities whenever possible. As a consultant, I’m expected to
gain certifications in the software I’m consulting in, to enhance
my skills, so alongside my projects I’m also studying for my
certification exam.
What key skills are invaluable to your role?
Communication skills are vital when you’re working with clients
and communicating across all levels of the business. Being a
team player and having the ability to work efficiently in a team is
very important. As you will likely be travelling and staying on site
a great deal you must be prepared and motivated to do the
commute every week.
Alongside these skills, not only will you need to have confidence
in your academic strengths, but you’ll need to be able to solve
tough problems, thrive in a position of responsibility, give great
presentations, develop strong relationships and always be
prepared to step up to a challenge.
Why did you choose to study information technology?
I had an interest in technology from a young age, which actually
stemmed from being artistic – I’m a creative person who enjoys
creating visually appealing work. I combined both interests
and started using the computer to design websites, logos and
much more.
From there, I derived interests in other areas of technology such
as programming, and decided to study computer science at
university. This not only gave me programming knowledge but
skills in other areas such as high-level project planning, research
and report writing. Knowing that with computer science I could
go into almost any IT role, I thought this was the best option for
me as I hadn’t decided on a career path at that time.
“I had an interest in technology from
a young age, which actually
stemmed from being artistic”
How is information technology useful in your work?
My IT A-level covered many areas which have been helpful in my
role. For example, Microsoft Excel was a big module at A-level
and, as a consultant, Excel is used extensively. Having been taught
report writing and how to conduct analytical research has helped
me to complete certain tasks more proficiently. Project
management was also covered, teaching us how to create Gantt
charts to understand the different stages of a project, which has
been very beneficial in this job.
Without having studied IT at A-level, I feel I would have fallen
behind. If I’d had to learn these skills alongside my role and
certification training, it would have taken me longer to complete
tasks as well as to understand certain system operations and
how projects are run.
What further qualifications would you need for
your role?
As a graduate SAP applications consultant, coming onto the
scheme you will need to hold a degree. Tech-related degrees
are not a necessity for this role as you will be trained. However, if
you do have one, it will put you at an advantage for grasping SAP
application knowledge quickly and efficiently (you could be
working with XML files and other content that is covered at degree
level). Other qualifications required are a pass in GCSE maths
and English.
What qualities help you thrive?
Not only have my studies supported me in grasping this role
quickly, but completing a year in industry, working as a business
analyst at a corporate firm during my degree, also helped massively.
This gave me an insight into the corporate world and the opportunity
to work with clients and carry out implementation and testing,
which is a part of my role today.
I’m also very adaptable, so I’ve been able to familiarise myself
quickly with any changes and to continue producing high-quality
work. Lastly, I always try to be proactive by asking questions and
doing my own research to ensure that I fully understand the
client’s requirements.