SAP

I work in a customer-facing position at SAP. I have had the opportunity to work with Fortune 10 companies, small companies, public sector entities, and everything in between. The reputation of SAP gives me instant credibility with the customer as the vendor representative. I have the opportunity to develop a trusted advisor relationship with my customers and work with them on business-critical projects, giving direction, providing leadership, and support as they implement SAP's software products across their company.

It's easy to maintain and build that credibility with the wealth of documentation and colleague support. I am able to find answers to product questions and develop solutions to implementation challenges, knowing I can count on other colleagues across the company supporting me.

SAP gives me the opportunity to do what I love to do every day at customers around the world that I would never have the opportunity to touch otherwise. I have the freedom to assume as much responsibility as I wish and rise as high in the company as I am able.

Expertise, hard work, and results are generously rewarded based on my abilities.

Customer-facing positions can be high-stress since you're the face of SAP and dealing with decisions that cost millions of dollars and can make or break the customer's company financially. You have to continually study and add to your body of knowledge as new information becomes available on an almost daily basis. You have to continually increase your skill sets to remain relevant.

This is not a job; it's a lifestyle. If you don't approach it that way, you'll burn out quickly. The advantage of SAP is the (earned) perception that customers have about the quality of our employees. The disadvantage is that you have to live up to that perception every minute you're in front of the customer.

If you're looking for a 9-to-5 job with very specifically defined, repeatable tasks, SAP is probably not for you.