Interning at SAP: Your Top Questions Answered

You asked, we answered.

We recently held a webinar for students interested in our U.S summer internship program in which we distilled our insider knowledge and had an open “ask me anything” session with alumni and a hiring manager. If you missed it, you’re in luck. You can watch the full webinar here or read on for answers to some of the most common questions we received. Answers are aggregated from various SAP Internship Experience Project recruiters and program alumni who currently work full-time at SAP.

(In full transparency we received almost 500 questions during our webinar. Answers have been edited for length and clarity. If you still have a burning question, feel free to tweet or Instagram message us.)

Q: As most of the students are filtered out based on resume, can we have a short note on how an ideal resume should look for an intern application at SAP? 

A: Ideal resumes should at minimum list our your education and work experience.  In addition, your resume should have correct grammar and spelling, and have formatting that is easy to read.

Metrics are always important. Don’t just tell us what you did, also show us the impact with numerical data. Make it personal if you can, include volunteer opportunities, passions, skillsets, etc. Make it pop with a fun experience you have had such as  going abroad, a class you took, or whatever makes you unique.

We look for passion first, pedigree second! With that being said, putting any and all extracurricular activities, hackathons, ect. is a great way to make your resume stand out. In addition, don’t forget to add any tools or technologies that you may use in your studies as well. This helps the recruiter to have a better understanding of your knowledge and skillsets!

Instructions of effective resume writing and examples can be found across the inter-web, but some big points to cover on your resume include the “Law of PESWA.”

P: Personal info

E: Education info

S: Skills (hard and soft, technology, languages, etc)

W: Working/professional sxperience (also professional/education projects)

A: Awards, accolades, achievements

Q: Is housing provided for interns / Does SAP provide discounted housing?

A: No, SAP does not provide housing for their Interns.

Q: How long does the entire application process generally take? 

A: We hire interns up until May 2019.  You application can be processed at any point until then.

There are multiple factors that need to be taken into consideration: Number of applicants, scheduling, availability of the candidate and the interviewer(s).

Q: What is more important for SAP internships: past educational experience, previous work experience, or projects that have been worked?  

A: Trick questions! These are all important! Not one holds a weight over the other, it just depends on how much you accomplished in any of the above, and what you learned and was able to take away from your work. They are all important, and when highlighted on your resume, each one can make it easier to secure a role. If you don’t have previous work experience, definitely highlight the awesome projects you’ve done.

Remember, it’s more important to consider the skills you’ve learned and how you’ve applied them in those settings. What did you accomplish using said skills in the workplace or in educational projects? Were there additional tools you learned in this journey?

Q: Aside from having a good working ethic and passion, what do you expect from your intern candidates in terms of skillset, knowledge of the industry, or experience level?

A: We are open to all levels of experience. As long as you are willing to come in a learn and grow in your role, that is all we are expecting of you. Previous internships help, but are not necessary to secure a role with us!

Q: Could you describe SAP’s company culture?

A: Work life balance is key, mentorship is core, and personal development will always be provided.

The culture can be described as both hardworking, and a family. Each and every day we work together, regardless of backgrounds, roles, departments, or levels of experience to create the best  products and experiences to both internal and external customers. We also celebrate each other’s achievements, push each other to be better, and interact with each other both during and outside of work hours.

Q: What are some of the day-to-day responsibilities of an intern? What are some of the projects you worked on as an intern?

A: No two days are the same! A brand team intern shared that they, for instance, worked on social media campaigns and blog writing. They curated sponsored posts for LinkedIn ads, and boosted candidate engagement through social media. 

Another intern shared that they investigated, researched, and provided solutions to various customer needs, collaborating with colleagues, and learning new products/solutions. Some projects included creation of a chatbot for low-level/high-volume help desk issues, a “scrub” of our knowledge center solution database to ensure all articles were accurate and up-to-date, as well as various small roles assisting colleagues with presentatio research and investigation

Q: What are some ways past interns have incorporated their outside passions into their time at SAP?

A: We have employee network groups for employees to get involved in. We also offer fun opportunities at some of the offices like lunchtime running clubs and yoga classes! 

One intern shared that their passion has always been technology, and while working as an intern they were able to increase their technology skills, incorporate new skills, plus learn about future and upcoming technologies and how they impact various businesses and industries.

Q: How would you define success in the role as an intern?

A: To define success as an intern (regardless of position), as long as you are learning and improving you are succeeding. Regardless of your position of background, if you end your internship with more knowledge and improved skills then you started with, that’s success.

Q: What problems, if any, did you have to overcome applying to be an intern or while being an intern at SAP?

A: There are so many different intern roles out there! Make sure you know what you’re passionate about and what sounds interesting to you. Apply to the roles that spark excitement for you! It can be easy to become overwhelmed by the various roles and apply for many without fully considering your passion for those roles.

If anything, the internship process can increase your time management, communication, and collaboration skills as you learn to handle the commute, new software/job, and how to ask questions.

Q: Do you have any tips for preparing for technical interviews?

A: Come with all you have and give all you can and you will see the outcome as positive and productive.

Be confident -- even if you don’t know an answer.  Confidence is key for interviews and life. If you have a question or situation that you are unfamiliar with, do the best you can and be confident in that. Also, follow up a question or situation that you feel didn’t go well, by showing/explaining that you are willing to learn more/how to do the function in a better way.