SAP Jobs Frankfurt: How to fill open SAP positions in 5 days
Has your SAP position in Frankfurt been vacant for over 60 days? The shortage of SAP specialists is costing your company up to €1,500 per day in lost productivity. Discover a proven 3-step process to acquire handpicked candidates in just 5 days.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The Frankfurt market for SAP jobs is extremely competitive, with over 550 open positions driving salaries up to €106,300.
An unfilled SAP position can cause costs of over €1,000 per day due to project delays and productivity losses.
A specialised 3-step recruitment process can reduce the time-to-hire from over 60 days to just 5 days for the first candidate profiles.
<p>The job market for SAP jobs in Frankfurt is swept clean. Currently, dozens of companies are competing for a small pool of top specialists, particularly for the S/4HANA migration. The average time to fill IT specialist positions in Germany often climbs beyond 60 days, delaying projects by months. Many CTOs and HR managers waste valuable time on unsuitable candidates from generalist agencies. This article shows you how to shorten this process from weeks to days. We analyse the market situation with current figures, define the most sought-after SAP profiles, and provide you with an immediately actionable guide to filling your vacancy in record time.</p>
The Frankfurt SAP job market in figures
Content
The cost of a vacant SAP position
Every day a SAP position remains unfilled incurs measurable costs. Projects like the S/4HANA migration are delayed, which, according to industry estimates, can incur opportunity costs of over €1,000 per day. A financial services provider in Frankfurt saved 40% of internal resources by automating its HR processes. Without a suitable SAP expert, the entire team’s productivity can suffer by up to 15%. Searching through generic job portals often results in hundreds of unqualified applications, reviewing which alone can cost 20 to 30 working hours. A specialised partner like our SAP headhunters can accelerate this process by 90%.
The right SAP profile in 5 days: The 3-step process
Our proven process delivers first-hand selected candidate profiles to you in just five working days. We have perfected this approach over seven years while filling 120 demanding tech positions. Here's how it works for your SAP vacancy:
Day 1-2: Detailed kick-off call. In a 60-minute conversation, we analyse not only the technical requirements but also your team culture and the three most important project goals for the first 100 days.
Day 2-4: Targeted direct outreach. Rather than waiting for job ads, we actively reach out to suitable candidates from our network of over 5,000 tech specialists. Only about 5% of candidates in the market are actively looking for jobs.
Day 5: Presentation of the top 3 candidates. You receive a shortlist of a maximum of three candidates who fit technically and culturally to 95%. Each profile is provided with a detailed analysis from our side.
This focused approach reduces your interview time by at least 50%.
In-demand SAP Modules: These Skills You Need in Frankfurt
The demand for SAP experts in Frankfurt is largely driven by the S/4HANA transformation. Companies that haven't migrated by 2027 risk losing support for their core systems. Therefore, experts with S/4HANA experience are 20% more expensive than those with only ECC knowledge. The following skills are particularly in demand:
SAP S/4HANA: The central next-generation ERP system is by far the most important qualification.
SAP FI/CO: As Frankfurt is a financial centre, there is consistently high demand for experts in financials and controlling.
SAP EWM & MM: Due to its proximity to Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe's largest freight airports, the logistics modules Warehouse Management and Materials Management are extremely important.
SAP SuccessFactors: The digitalisation of HR processes is significantly driving the demand for this cloud module.
A look at our successful placements shows the high demand in these areas.
Define the ideal candidate persona for SAP roles
Top SAP candidates in Frankfurt receive three to five job offers weekly. To win them over, you need to offer more than just a good salary. A clear project roadmap is more important to 70% of SAP experts than a company car. Successful companies define a precise candidate persona that goes beyond technical skills. Consider these four factors:
Project Focus: Is it a Greenfield implementation or a Brownfield migration? Top talents prefer projects with creative freedom.
Remote Work Proportion: Do you offer at least 40% remote work opportunities? This is a decisive criterion for many candidates.
Professional Development: Do you allocate a budget of at least €5,000 per year for certifications (e.g., SAP Activate)?
Team Structure: Are you looking for a generalist in a 5-person team or a specialist for a 50-person department?
A precisely defined role attracts the right candidates and accelerates the process by up to 10 days.
Optimising the interview process for SAP experts
A slow interview process is the most common reason why top candidates drop out. An IT company was able to reduce the hiring time from three weeks to five days by streamlining its processes. More than 40% of SAP specialists lose interest if they don't hear anything within 48 hours after the first interview. Make your process streamlined and respectful:
A technical contact in the first interview: Candidates want to speak to experts in the field, not just the HR department.
Practical case study: Provide a small, solvable task that requires no more than 60 minutes of preparation and offers insight into the daily work.
Transparent communication: Give clear feedback after each round within 24 hours.
Maximum of two rounds: A technical interview and a final conversation with the team lead should suffice.
An efficient process signals an agile company culture, which is a hiring criterion for 8 out of 10 tech experts.
More useful links
Statista offers an infographic on the number of full-time employees at SAP.
Bitkom provides a press release about the current shortage of IT specialists in Germany.
Bundesagentur für Arbeit provides a PDF document on the labour market for ICT professions and its transformation.
Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) offers comprehensive information on the German labour market.
Frankfurt Business delivers insights into the IT and telecommunications industry focus at the Frankfurt location.
Hays offers a detailed job profile for SAP consultants and their requirements.
Horváth & Partners presents a study on business transformation and the benefits of SAP S/4HANA.
Deutsche Bundesbank provides information about IT locations and career opportunities in the field of information technology.
FAQ
How long does it take to hire an SAP developer in Frankfurt?
The average time to fill an IT specialist position in Germany can be 60 days or more. With our specialised recruiting process, you will receive the first handpicked candidate profiles within 5 working days and can often reduce the total time to contract signing to under 30 days.
Which industries in Frankfurt are seeking the most SAP experts?
In the Rhine-Main region, the banking and insurance sectors, the chemical industry, commerce, and logistics are particularly well-represented. Large companies such as Deutsche Bank or Fraport have a constant need for SAP specialists.
What does working with Nova Search cost?
Our service is success-based. This means you will only incur costs if you hire a candidate we have presented. The initial strategy consultation to analyse your vacancy is completely free and non-binding for you.
Why should I hire Nova Search even though your core market is Java?
Our success is based on a method perfected over years for identifying and engaging highly specialised tech experts in markets with an extreme shortage of candidates. We apply this proven 3-step strategy with the same precision and speed to the SAP market to achieve the best results for our clients.
Do you also offer support in filling SAP freelance positions?
Yes, our network includes both permanent experts and freelance SAP consultants. We can provide you with a flexible solution for your project, often within 48 to 72 hours for short-term assignments.
How do you ensure the quality of the candidates?
Each candidate undergoes a multi-stage qualification process. This includes an in-depth technical screening by our experts, as well as an assessment of soft skills and cultural fit in a personal interview. We provide you with only those profiles that meet our high quality standards at 100%.
