ABAP / BW Pre-interview questions...

former_member900892 · ‎2020 Jan 23

Hi all, and thanks for looking!

I'm one of those dreadful recruitment people you may have seen in horror films... and I'm searching for an ABAPer with three years experience of bespoke code writing and one year of BW development.

My problem is that non-coders are getting past me... I've never encountered this before. They must know they won't get past an official interview but they lie all the same. I'll ask why in the ABAP/Psychiatry Thread.

Can anyone offer brief questions and answers pitched at a three year coder, that wouldn't be answered by a Consultant of Project Manager.

Thanks in advance!

former_member1716 · ‎2020 Jan 24

5th-horseman,

One of the better ways and i prefer the most is, i ensure my questions revolve around the objects they have developed. Allow them to explain in detail about the objects they have developed, try to get the business need of the object. From there you try to alter the business scenario and examine their competency. Inquire about the challenges they have faced during the development phase. With this we can get into a better position to judge if they have really done some coding. As far as the questions are concerned for a 3 years developer below questions could help you understand their competency from the depth of the answers provided.

1) What are all optimizing techniques applied by the developer during Coding.

2) What efforts/measures are taken by the developer to improvise their coding ability every time they get to develop the object.

3) In case if they claim they have developed any objects of RICEFW from Scratch ask them to detail out on the step by step procedure.

Bringing on more scenario based questions on the table will help you to filter suitable candidates for the profile.

Regards!

matt · ‎2020 Jan 24

"Can anyone offer brief questions and answers pitched at a three year coder, that wouldn't be answered by a Consultant of Project Manager."

If anyone did, rest assured it would be added to the list that dishonest job-seekers would commit to memory.

Open questions that demand real experience are best. Like - how do you resolve the problem of a long running transformation expert routine? How can you buffer data in the start routine for use in field routines? Describe the process of creating a generic extractor. How do you look up data in an ADSO from within a routine? What about looking up data in a cube? A classic DSO? Describe how to code a custom formula. Explain how to write a HANA expert routine.

I used to work with a recruiter performing technical interviews because of exactly the problem you're having. I'd be brought in after the first screening, paid £150 a pop, back in 1998. Maybe you could find someone suitable from people you've already placed.

Edit: I see our mutual connection on LinkedIn is Alan. He might know someone suitable.

former_member900892 · ‎2020 Jan 27

Matthew, that's a great idea. It would raise my profile a little.

On the other hand, I've also started sending across call recordings of the technical part of my initial conversations for clients to listen to prior to interview. I'll try it myself first, but I've also got someone in mind for this. He's currently a candidate a well experienced.

Even if he gets the job, he could still help me out on evenings and weekends. Is £150 still a realistic rate for a twenty minute chat?

matt · ‎2020 Jan 27

I think that's a very reasonable rate.

matt · ‎2020 Jan 24

They lie because they're desperate to get a job. Read this blog https://blogs.sap.com/2014/02/21/why-faking-your-cv-would-hunt-you-for-life/. Also check the comments - they're quite revealing. I see no reason to think things have changed in the past 6 years.

Lakshmipathi · ‎2020 Jan 26

You have used ABAP Development as Primary Tag which is incorrect. Your query is not related to ABAP but career oriented and hence, I have changed it appropriately.

former_member900892 · ‎2020 Jan 27

Thanks Boys!

I'll test those questions in the coming days.

Satish, I love questions 1 and 2. I'm curious about how the improvisations take place and how they're structured. I'm looking forwards to the answers!

Matthew, thanks for the link to the article. I concluded the same thing. It's incredibly frustrating when you've got a very technical issue and are in a place where you haven't quite got the right questions.

People act in their own "perceived" self interest, however, all they're doing in reality is meeting their own emotional needs regardless of the cost to others.

Both of your comments are gratefully appreciated. Have a great, rest of the weekend.