The SAP BW position was sold as an opportunity for growth, training, and specialization. It represented a downgrade in pay in my case, so the least I expected was an actual investment from the company.
In reality, support was limited, expectations were unclear, and the overall environment felt far less structured than initially presented.
One of the most concerning aspects was the mandatory training/payback agreement attached to the role. Employees were expected to sign a clause requiring repayment of approximately €4,000 + VAT for training-related costs if leaving the company before a certain period.
The problem is that the value itself felt highly disproportionate considering:
1 There was no actual external certification delivered matching that amount (only a "certificate of attendance" for an online course)
2 The training quality and structure did not justify the cost being charged.
3 VAT on training expenses can potentially be reimbursed through Portuguese government, meaning the company could effectively recover part of the amount while still charging the employee the full value.
4 The clause created a strong sense of pressure and dependency rather than genuine investment in employee development.
The overall feeling was that “investment in people” was being used more as a retention mechanism than as true career development. Would NEVER recomend to anyone.
