SAS FAQS

Very Basic:
What SAS statements would you code to read an external raw
data file to a DATA ste!
INFILE statement.
"ow do you read in the #aria$les that you need!
Using Input statement with the column pointers like @5/12-1 etc.
Are you familiar with secial inut delimiters! "ow are they
used!
!L" an# !$! are the #elimiters that I%&e use#. 'he( shoul# )e inclu#e#
in the in*ile statement. +omma separate# &alues *iles or +$, *iles are a
common t(pe o* *ile that can )e use# to rea# with the !$! option. !$!
option treats two #elimiters in a row as "I$$IN- &alue. !$! also ignores
the #elimiters enclose# in .uotation marks.
%f readin& a #aria$le len&th file with fixed inut' how would you
re#ent SAS from readin& the next record if the last #aria$le
didn(t ha#e a #alue!
/( using the option "I$$0,E1 in the in*ile statement.
I* the input o* some #ata lines are shorter than others then we use
'1UN+0,E1 option in the in*ile statement.
What is the difference $etween an informat and a format! )ame
three informats or formats*
In*ormats rea# the #ata. Format is to write the #ata.
In*ormats2 comma. #ollar. #ate.Formats can )e same as in*ormats
In*ormats2 ""!!33w. !4'Ew. 'I"Ew. 5 6E1+EN'w5
Formats2 701!I4'E18.5 week#atew.
)ame and descri$e three SAS functions that you ha#e used' if
any!
LEN-'92 returns the length o* an argument not counting the trailing
)lanks.:missing &alues ha&e a length o* 1;
E<2 a=%m( cat%>
<=LEN-'9:a;> 1esult2 <=?@
$U/$'12 $U/$'1:arg5position5n; e<tracts a su)string *rom an argument
starting at Aposition% *or An% characters or until en# i* no An%.
E<2 4=%:B1?;CD-?2D1%>
E=$U/$'1:a525C;> 1E$UL'2 <=%B1?%
'1I"2 remo&es trailing )lanks *rom character e<pression.
E<2 a=%m( A> )=%cat%>
E= '1I":a;:);> 1E$UL'2 <=%m(cat%.
$U"2 sum o* non missing &alues.
E<2 <=$um:C5551;> result2 <=B.F
IN'2 1eturns the integer portion o* the argument.
G 9ow woul# (ou co#e the criteria to restrict the output to )e pro#uce#H
Use N061IN' option.
What is the urose of the trailin& + and the ++! "ow would
you use them!
@ hol#s the &alue past the #ata step.
@@ hol#s the &alue till a input statement or en# o* the line.
!ou)le trailing @@2 7hen (ou ha&e multiple o)ser&ations per line o* raw
#ata5 we shoul# use #ou)le trailing signs :@@; at the en# o* the IN6U'
statement. 'he line hol# speci*ies like a stop sign telling $4$5 Istop5 hol#
that line o* raw #ataJ.
'railing @2 /( using @ without speci*(ing a column5 it is as i* (ou are
telling $4$5J sta( tune# *or more in*ormation. !on%t touch that #ialJ. $4$
will hol# the line o* #ata until it reaches either the en# o* the #ata step or
an IN6U' statement that #oes not en# with the trailing.
,nder what circumstances would you code a S-.-/T construct
instead of %F statements!
7hen (ou ha&e a long series o* mutuall( e<clusi&e con#itions an# the
comparison is numeric5 using a $ELE+' group is slightl( more e**icient
than using IF-'9EN or IF-'9EN-EL$E statements )ecause +6U time is
re#uce#.
$ELE+' -10U62
$elect2 )egins with select group.
7hen2 i#enti*ies $4$ statements that are e<ecute# when a particular
con#ition is true.
0therwise :optional;2 speci*ies a statement to )e e<ecute# i* no 79EN
con#ition is met.
En#2 en#s a $ELE+' group.
What statement you code to tell SAS that it is to write to an
external file! What statement do you code to write the record to
the file!
6U' an# FILE statements.
%f readin& an external file to roduce an external file' what is the
shortcut to write that record without codin& e#ery sin&le #aria$le
on the record!
%f you(re not wantin& any SAS outut from a data ste' how
would you code the data statement to re#ent SAS from
roducin& a set!
!ata KNullK
What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can $e
coded in any ste!
0ptions statement2 'his a part o* $4$ program an# e**ects all steps that
*ollow it.
"a#e you e#er lin0ed SAS code! %f so' descri$e the lin0 and any
re1uired statements used to either rocess the code or the ste
itself*
"ow would you include common or reuse code to $e rocessed
alon& with your statements!
/( using $4$ "acros.
When loo0in& for data contained in a character strin& of 234
$ytes' which function is the $est to locate that data: scan' index'
or indexc!
$+4N.
%f you ha#e a data set that contains 244 #aria$les' $ut you need
only fi#e of those' what is the code to force SAS to use only those
#aria$le!
Using LEE6 option or statement.
/ode a 567/ S76T on a data set containin& State' District and
/ounty as the rimary #aria$les' alon& with se#eral numeric
#aria$les*
6roc sort #ata=
/3 $tate !istrict +ount( >
1un >
"ow would you delete dulicate o$ser#ations!
N0NU6LI+4'E$
"ow would you delete o$ser#ations with dulicate 0eys!
N0!U6LE3
"ow would you code a mer&e that will 0ee only the
o$ser#ations that ha#e matches from $oth sets*
+heck the con#ition )( using I* statement in the "erge statement while
merging #atasets.
"ow would you code a mer&e that will write the matches of $oth
to one data set' the non8matches from the left8most data*
$tep12 !e*ine C #atasets in !4'4 step
$tep22 4ssign &alues o* IN statement to #i**erent &aria)les *or 2 #atasets
$tepC2 +heck *or the con#ition using IF statement an# output the
matching to *irst #ataset an# no matches to #i**erent #atasets
E<2 #ata <<<merge (((:in = in<<<; MMM :in = inMMM;>)( aaa>i* in<<< = 1
an# in((( = 1>run>
What is the 5ro&ram Data Vector 95DV:! What are its functions!
Function2 'o store the current o)s>
6!, :6rogram !ata ,ector; is a logical area in memor( where $4$
creates a #ataset one o)ser&ation at a time. 7hen $4$ processes a #ata
step it has two phases. +ompilation phase an# e<ecution phase. !uring
the compilation phase the input )u**er is create# to hol# a recor# *rom
e<ternal *ile. 4*ter input )u**er is create# the 6!, is create#. 'he 6!, is
the area o* memor( where $4$ )uil#s #ataset5 one o)ser&ation at a time.
'he 6!, contains two automatic &aria)les KNK an# KE1101K.
Does SAS (Translate( 9comile: or does it (%nterret(! -xlain*
$4$ compiles the co#e
G 4t compile time when a $4$ #ata set is rea#5 what items are create#H
4utomatic &aria)les are create#. Input /u**er5 6!, an# !escriptor
In*ormation
)ame statements that are reco&ni;ed at comile time only!
6U'
)ame statements that are execution only*
INFILE5 IN6U'
%dentify statements whose lacement in the DATA ste is
critical*
!4'45 IN6U'5 1UN.
)ame statements that function at $oth comile and execution
time*
IN6U'
%n the flow of DATA ste rocessin&' what is the first action in a
tyical DATA Ste!
'he !4'4 step )egins with a !4'4 statement. Each time the !4'4
statement e<ecutes5 a new iteration o* the !4'4 step )egins5 an# the KNK
automatic &aria)le is incremente# )( 1.
What is <n<!
It is a !ata counter &aria)le in $4$.
Note2 /oth -N- an# KE1101K &aria)les are alwa(s a&aila)le to (ou in the
#ata step.
NN- in#icates the num)er o* times $4$ has loope# through the #ata step.
'his is not necessaril( e.ual to the o)ser&ation num)er5 since a simple
su) setting IF statement can change the relationship )etween
0)ser&ation num)er an# the num)er o* iterations o* the #ata step.
'he NE1101- &aria)le ha a &alue o* 1 i* there is a error in the #ata *or
that o)ser&ation an# F i* it is not. E<2 'his is nothing )ut a implicit
&aria)le create# )( $4$ #uring #ata processing. It gi&es the total num)er
o* recor#s $4$ has iterate# in a #ataset. It is 4&aila)le onl( *or #ata step
an# not *or 610+$. Eg. I* we want to *in# e&er( thir# recor# in a !ataset
thenwe can use the KnK as *ollows !ata new-sas-#ata-set>$et ol#>i*
mo#:KnK5C;= 1 then>run>Note2 I* we use a where clause to su)set the
KnK will not (iel# the re.uire# result.
SAS inter#iew 1uestions:=eneral
,nder what circumstances would you code a S-.-/T construct
instead of %F statements!
42 I think $elect statement are use# when (ou are using one con#ition to
compare with se&eral con#itions like
select pass
when 6h(sics O?F
when math O 1FF
when English = 5F>
otherwise *ail>
What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can $e
coded
in any ste!
4; 0ptions statement.
What is the effect of the 75T%7)S statement -6676S>2!
4; 'he NE1101- &aria)le ha a &alue o* 1 i* there is a error in the #ata *or
that o)ser&ation an# F i* it is not.
What(s the difference $etween VA6 A2 8 A? and VA6 A2 88 A? !
42 'here is no #i** )etween ,41 41-4D an ,41 41P4D. 7here as I* u
su)mit ,41 41---4D instea# o* ,41 41-4D or ,41 41P4C5 u will see error
message in the log.
What do the SAS lo& messa&es @numeric #alues ha#e $een
con#erted to character@ mean! What are the imlications!
It implies that automatic con&ersion took place to make character
*unctions possi)le
Why is a ST75 statement needed for the 57%)T> otion on a S-T
statement!
/ecause 60IN'= rea#s onl( the speci*ie# o)ser&ations5 $4$ cannot #etect
an en#-o*-*ile con#ition as it woul# i* the *ile were )eing rea# se.uentiall(.
"ow do you control the num$er of o$ser#ations andAor #aria$les
read or written!
FI1$'0/$ an# 0/$ option
Aroximately what date is reresented $y the SAS date #alue of
BC4!
C1st !ecem)er 1B?1
%dentify statements whose lacement in the DATA ste is critical*
42 IN6U'5 !4'4 an# 1UN@
Does SAS (Translate( 9comile: or does it (%nterret(! -xlain.
4; +ompile
What does the 6,) statement do!
a; 7hen $4$ e#itor looks at 1un it starts compiling the #ata or proc step5
i* (ou ha&e more than one #ata step or proc step or i* (ou ha&e a proc
step Following the #ata step then (ou can a&oi# the usage o* the run
statement.
Why is SAS considered self8documentin&!
4; $4$ is consi#ere# sel* #ocumenting )ecause #uring the compilation
time it creates an# stores all the in*ormation a)out the #ata set like the
time an# #ate o* the #ata set creation later No. o* the &aria)les later
la)els all that kin# o* in*o insi#e the #ataset an# (ou can look at that in*o
using proc contents proce#ure.
What are some &ood SAS ro&rammin& ractices for rocessin&
#ery lar&e data sets!
4; $ort them once5 can use *irsto)s = an# o)s = 5
What is the different $etween functions and 567/s that calculate
the
same simle descriti#e statistics!
4;Functions can use# insi#e the #ata step an# on the same #ata set )ut
with procQs (ou can create a new #ata sets to output the results. "a( )e
more ...........
%f you were told to create many records from one record' show
how you
would do this usin& arrays and with 567/ T6A)S57S-!
4; I woul# use '14N$60$E i* the &aria)les are less use arra(s i* the &ar
are more ................. #epen#s
What is a method for assi&nin& first*VA6 and last*VA6 to the BD
&rou #aria$le on unsorted data!
4; In Unsorte# #ata (ou canQt use First. or Last.
"ow do you de$u& and test your SAS ro&rams!
4; First thing is look into Log *or errors or warning or N0'E in some cases
or use the #e)ugger in $4$ #ata step.
What other SAS features do you use for error train& and data
#alidation!
4; +heck the Log an# *or #ata &ali#ation things like 6roc Fre.5 6roc means
or some times proc print to look how the #ata looks like ........
"ow would you com$ine C or more ta$les with different
structures!
4; I think sort them with common &aria)les an# use merge statement. I
am not sure what (ou mean #i**erent structures.
other 1uestions:
What areas of SAS are you most interested in!
/4$E5 $'4'5 -14695 E'$
Briefly descri$e 3 ways to do a @ta$le loo0u@ in SAS*
"atch "erging5 !irect 4ccess5 Format 'a)les5 4rra(s5 610+ $RL
What #ersions of SAS ha#e you used 9on which latforms:!
$4$ 8.2 in 7in#ows an# UNIE5 $4$ an# ?.12
What are some &ood SAS ro&rammin& ractices for rocessin&
#ery lar&e data sets!
$ampling metho# using 0/$ option or su)setting5 commenting the Lines5
Use !ata Null
What are some ro$lems you mi&ht encounter in rocessin&
missin& #alues! %n Data stes! Arithmetic! /omarisons!
Functions! /lassifyin& data!
'he result o* an( operation with missing &alue will result in missing &alue.
"ost $4$ statistical proce#ures e<clu#e o)ser&ations with an( missing
&aria)le &alues *rom an anal(sis.
"ow would you create a data set with 2 o$ser#ation and C4
#aria$les from a data set with C4 o$ser#ations and 2 #aria$le!
Using 610+ '14N$60$E
What is the different $etween functions and 567/s that calculate
the same simle descriti#e statistics!
6roc can )e use# with wi#er scope an# the results can )e sent to a
#i**erent #ataset. Functions usuall( a**ect the e<isting #atasets.
%f you were told to create many records from one record' show
how you would do this usin& array and with 567/ T6A)S57S-!
!eclare arra( *or num)er o* &aria)les in the recor# an# then use# !o loop
6roc 'ranspose with ,41 statement
What are <numeric< and <character< and what do they do!
7ill either rea# or writes all numeric an# character &aria)les in #ataset.
"ow would you create multile o$ser#ations from a sin&le
o$ser#ation!
Using #ou)le 'railing @@
For what urose would you use the 6-TA%) statement!
'he retain statement is use# to hol# the &alues o* &aria)les across
iterations o* the #ata step. Normall(5 all &aria)les in the #ata step are set
to missing at the start o* each iteration o* the #ata step.
What is the order of e#aluation of the comarison oerators: E 8 F
A FF 9:!
:;5 SS5 S5 /5 T5 -
"ow could you &enerate test data with no inut data!
Using !ata Null an# put statement
"ow do you de$u& and test your SAS ro&rams!
Using 0)s=F an# s(stems options to trace the program e<ecution in log.
What can you learn from the SAS lo& when de$u&&in&!
It will #ispla( the e<ecution o* whole program an# the logic. It will also
#ispla( the error with line num)er so that (ou can an# e#it the program.
What is the urose of <error<!
It has onl( to &alues5 which are 1 *or error an# F *or no error
"ow can you ut a @trace@ in your ro&ram!
/( using 0!$ '14+E 0N
"ow does SAS handle missin& #alues in: assi&nment statements'
functions' a mer&e' an udate' sort order' formats' 567/s!
"issing &alues will )e assigne# as missing in 4ssignment statement. $ort
or#er treats missing as secon# smallest *ollowe# )( un#erscore.
"ow do you test for missin& #alues!
Using $u)set *unctions like IF then Else5 7here an# $elect
"ow are numeric and character missin& #alues reresented
internally!
+haracter as /lank or I an# Numeric as.
Which date functions ad#ances a date time or dateAtime #alue $y
a &i#en inter#al!
IN'NE.
%n the flow of DATA ste rocessin&' what is the first action in a
tyical DATA Ste!
7hen (ou su)mit a !4'4 step5 $4$ processes the !4'4 step an# then
creates a new $4$ #ata set.: creation o* input )u**er an# 6!,;
+ompilation 6hase
E<ecution 6hase
What are SASAA//-SS and SASA/7))-/T!
$4$/4ccess onl( process through the #ata)ases like 0racle5 $RL-ser&er5
"s-4ccess etc. $4$/+onnect onl( use $er&er connection.
What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can $e
coded in any ste! 06'I0N$ $tatement5 La)el statement5 Leep / !rop
statements.
What is the urose of usin& the )>5S otion!
'he N=6$ option creates a )u**er in memor( which is large enough to
store 64-E$IUE :6$; lines an# ena)les a page to )e *ormatte# ran#oml(
prior to it )eing printe#.
What are the scru$$in& rocedures in SAS!
6roc $ort with no#upke( option5 )ecause it will eliminate the #uplicate
&alues.
What are the new features included in the new #ersion of SAS i*e*'
SASG*2*C!
'he main a#&antage o* &ersion B is *aster e<ecution o* applications an#
centraliMe# access o* #ata an# support.
'here are lots o* changes has )een ma#e in the &ersion B when we
compare# with the &ersion 8. 'he *ollowing are the *ew2
$4$ &ersion B supports Formats longer than 8 )(tes V is not possi)le with
&ersion 8.
Length *or Numeric *ormat allowe# in &ersion B is C2 where as 8 in
&ersion 8.
Length *or +haracter names in &ersion B is C1 where as in &ersion 8 is C2.
Length *or numeric in*ormat in &ersion B is C15 8 in &ersion 8.
Length *or character names is CF5 C2 in &ersion 8.
C new in*ormats are a&aila)le in &ersion B to con&ert &arious #ate5 time
an# #atetime *orms o* #ata into a $4$ #ate or $4$ time. G
4N3!'!'E7. - +on&erts to a $4$ #ate &alue G
4N3!''"E7. - +on&erts to a $4$ time &alue. G
4N3!'!'"7. -+on&erts to a $4$ #atetime &alue.
+4LL $3"6U'E "acro statement is a##e# in the &ersion B which creates a
macro &aria)le at e<ecution time in the #ata step )( G
'rimming trailing )lanks G 4utomaticall( con&erting numeric &alue to
character.
New 0!$ option :+0LU"N 06'I0N; is inclu#e# to create a multiple
columns in the output.
W"AT D%FF-66-)/- D%D D7, F%)D AH7)= V-6S%7) I J A)D G
7F SAS* The SAS G
4rchitecture is *un#amentall( #i**erent *rom an( prior &ersion o* $4$. In
the $4$ B architecture5 $4$ relies on a new component5 the "eta#ata
$er&er5 to pro&i#e an in*ormation la(er )etween the programs an# the
#ata the( access. "eta#ata5 such as securit( permissions *or $4$ li)raries
an# where the &arious $4$ ser&ers are running5 are maintaine# in a
common repositor(.
What has $een your most common ro&rammin& mista0e!
"issing semicolon an# not checking log a*ter su)mitting program5 Not
using #e)ugging techni.ues an# not using Fs&iew option &igorousl(.
)ame se#eral ways to achie#e efficiency in your ro&ram* -xlain
trade8offs* E**icienc( an# per*ormance strategies can )e classi*ie# into 5
#i**erent areas. G
/5, time
Data Stora&e
-lased time
%nutA7utut
Hemory
+6U 'ime an# Elapse# 'ime- /ase line measurements Few E<amples *or
e**icienc( &iolations2 1etaining unwante# #atasets Not su) setting earl( to
eliminate unwante# recor#s.
-fficiency imro#in& techni1ues: Using LEE6 an# !106 statements to
retain necessar( &aria)les. Use macros *or re#ucing the co#e. Using IF-
'9EN/EL$E statements to process #ata programming. Use $RL proce#ure
to re#uce num)er o* programming steps. Using o* length statements to
re#uce the &aria)le siMe *or re#ucing the !ata storage.
Use o* !ata KNULLK steps for processing null #ata sets *or !ata storage.
What other SAS roducts ha#e you used and consider yourself
roficient in usin&! !ata KNULLK statement5 6roc "eans5 6roc 1eport5
6roc ta)ulate5 6roc *re. an# 6roc print5 6roc Uni&ariate etc.
What is the si&nificance of the (7F( in K>S,H 97F a28a?' aI' aG:L
I* #on%t use the 0F *unction it might not )e interprete# as we e<pect. For
e<ample the *unction a)o&e calculates the sum o* a1 minus aD plus a?
an# aB an# not the whole sum o* a1 to aD V a? an# aB. It is true *or
mean option also.
What do the 5,T and %)5,T functions do!
IN6U' *unction con&erts character #ata &alues to numeric &alues. 6U'
*unction con&erts numeric &alues to character &alues.
EE2 *or IN6U'2 IN6U' :source5 in*ormat;
For 6U'2 6U' :source5 *ormat;
Note that IN6U' *unction re.uires INF01"4' an# 6U' *unction re.uires
F01"4'. I* we omit the IN6U' or the 6U' *unction #uring the #ata
con&ersion5 $4$ will #etect the mismatche# &aria)les an# will tr( an
automatic character-to-numeric or numeric-to-character con&ersion. /ut
sometimes this #oesn%t work )ecause W sign pre&ents such con&ersion.
'here*ore it is alwa(s a#&isa)le to inclu#e IN6U' an# 6U' *unctions in
(our programs when con&ersions occur.
Which date function ad#ances a date' time or datetime #alue $y a
&i#en inter#al! %)T)K: IN'NE *unction a#&ances a #ate5 time5 or
#atetime &alue )( a gi&en inter&al5 an# returns a #ate5 time5 or #atetime
&alue. E<2 IN'NE:inter&al5start-*rom5num)er-o*-increments5alignment;
%)T/M: IN'+L:inter&al5start-o*-perio#5en#-o*-perio#; is an inter&al
*unctioncounts the num)er o* inter&als )etween two gi&e $4$ #ates5 'ime
an#/or #atetime. !4'E'I"E :; returns the current #ate an# time o* #a(.
!4'!IF :s#ate5e#ate5)asis;2 returns the num)er o* #a(s )etween two
#ates.
What do the H7D and %)T function do! What do the 5AD and D%H
functions do! H7D: "o#ulo is a constant or numeric &aria)le5 the
*unction returns the remin#er a*ter numeric &alue #i&i#e# )( mo#ulo.
%)T: It returns the integer portion o* a numeric &alue truncating the
#ecimal portion.
5AD: it pa#s each recor# with )lanks so that all #ata lines ha&e the same
length. It is use# in the INFILE statement. It is use*ul onl( when missing
#ata occurs at the en# o* the recor#.
/ATK: concatenate character strings5 remo&es lea#ing an# trailing )lanks
an# inserts separators.
S/A): it returns a speci*ie# wor# *rom a character &alue. $can *unction
assigns a length o* 2FF to each target &aria)le.
S,BST6: e<tracts a su) string an# replaces character &alues.
E<traction o* a su)string2 "i##leinitial=su)str:mi##lename5151;>
1eplacing character &alues2 su)str :phone515C;=%DCC%> I* $U/$'1 *unction
is on the le*t si#e o* a statement5 the *unction replaces the contents o*
the character &aria)le.
T6%H: trims the trailing )lanks *rom the character &alues.
S/A) #s* S,BST6: $+4N e<tracts wor#s within a &alue that is marke#
)( #elimiters. $U/$'1 e<tracts a portion o* the &alue )( stating the
speci*ic location. It is )est use# when we know the e<act position o* the
su) string to e<tract *rom a character &alue.
"ow mi&ht you use H7D and %)T on numeric to mimic S,BST6 on
character Strin&s!
'he *irst argument to the "0! *unction is a numeric5 the secon# is a non-
Mero numeric> the result is the remain#er when the integer .uotient o*
argument-1 is #i&i#e# )( argument-2. 'he IN' *unction takes onl( one
argument an# returns the integer portion o* an argument5 truncating the
#ecimal portion. Note that the argument can )e an e<pression.
!4'4 NE7 >
4 = 12CD5? >
E = IN': 4/1FFF ; >
3 = "0!: 45 1FFF ; >
U = "0!: IN': 4/1FF ;5 1FF ; >
6U' 4= E= 3= U= >
1UN >
4=12CD5?
E=12C
3=D5?
U=CD
%n A66AD rocessin&' what does the D%H function do!
!I"2 It is use# to return the num)er o* elements in the arra(. 7hen we
use !im *unction we woul# ha&e to re Nspeci*( the stop &alue o* an
iterati&e !0 statement i* u change the #imension o* the arra(.
"ow would you determine the num$er of missin& or nonmissin&
#alues in comutations!
'o #etermine the num)er o* missing &alues that are e<clu#e# in a
computation5 use the N"I$$ *unction.
#ata KnullK>
m = . > ( = D > M = F >
N = N:m 5 (5 M;>
N"I$$ = N"I$$ :m 5 (5 M;>
run>
'he a)o&e program results in N = 2 :Num)er o* non missing &alues; an#
N"I$$ = 1 :num)er o* missing &alues;.
Do you need to 0now if there are any missin& #alues!
Xust use2 missingK&alues="I$$IN-:*iel#15*iel#25*iel#C;> 'his *unction
simpl( returns F i* there arenQt an( or 1 i* there are missing &alues.
I* (ou nee# to know how man( missing &alues (ou ha&e then use
numKmissing=N"I$$:*iel#15*iel#25*iel#C;> 3ou can also *in# the num)er
o* non-missing &alues with nonKmissing=N :*iel#15*iel#25*iel#C;>
What is the difference $etween: x>aE$EcEdL and x>S,H 9of a' $'
c 'd:L!
Is an(one won#ering wh( (ou woul#n%t Yust use
total=*iel#1T*iel#2T*iel#C> First5 how #o (ou want missing &alues
han#le#H 'he $U" *unction returns the sum o* non-missing &alues. I* (ou
choose a##ition5 (ou will get a missing &alue *or the result i* an( o* the
*iel#s are missing. 7hich one is appropriate #epen#s upon (our nee#s.
9owe&er5 there is an a#&antage to use the $U" *unction e&en i* (ou want
the results to )e missing. I* (ou ha&e more than a couple *iel#s5 (ou can
o*ten use shortcuts in writing the *iel# names I* (our *iel#s are not
num)ere# se.uentiall( )ut are store# in the program #ata &ector together
then (ou can use2 total=$U":o* *iel#a--M*iel#;> Xust make sure (ou
remem)er the Io*J an# the #ou)le #ashes or (our co#e will run )ut (ou
won%t get (our inten#e# results. "ean is another *unction where the
*unction will calculate #i**erentl( than the writing out the *ormula i* (ou
ha&e missing &alues.
There is a field containin& a date* %t needs to $e dislayed in the
format @ddmonyy@ if it(s $efore 2GB3' @dd mon ccyy@ if it(s after
2GJ3' and as (Disco Dears( if it(s $etween 2GB3 and 2GJ3* "ow
would you accomlish this in data ste code! ,sin& only 567/
F76HAT*
#ata new >
input #ate ##mm((1F. >
car#s>
F1/F5/1B55
F1/FB/1BF
F1/12/1B5
1B/1F/1BB
25/1F/1B82
1F/1F/1B88
2/12/1BB1
>
run>
proc *ormat >
&alue #at low-QF1Yan1B5Q#=##mm((1F.
QF1Yan1B5Q#-QF1X4N1B85Q#=Z!isco 3earsZ
QF1X4N1B85Q#-high=#ateB.>
run>
proc print>
*ormat #ate #at. >
run>
%n the followin& DATA ste' what is needed for (fraction( to rint
to the lo&!
#ata KnullK>
<=1/C>
i* <=.CCCC then put Q*ractionQ>
run>
What is the difference $etween calculatin& the (mean( usin& the
mean function and 567/ "E4N$H
/( #e*ault 6roc "eans calculate the summar( statistics like N5 "ean5 $t#
#e&iation5 "inimum an# ma<imum5 7here as "ean *unction compute onl(
the mean &alues.
7hat are some #i**erences )etween 610+ $U""413 an# 610+ "E4N$H
6roc means )( #e*ault gi&e (ou the output in the output win#ow an# (ou
can stop this )( the option N061IN' an# can take the output in the
separate *ile )( the statement 0U'6U'0U'= 5 /ut5 proc summar( #oesnQt
gi&e the #e*ault output5 we ha&e to e<plicitl( gi&e the output statement
an# then print the #ata )( gi&ing 61IN' option to see the result.
What is a ro$lem with mer&in& two data sets that ha#e #aria$les
with the same name $ut different data!
Un#erstan#ing the )asic algorithm o* "E1-E will help (ou un#erstan#
how the step
6rocesses. 'here are still a *ew common scenarios whose results
sometimes catch users o** guar#. 9ere are a *ew o* the most *re.uent
QgotchasQ2
1- /3 &aria)les has #i**erent lengths
It is possi)le to per*orm a "E1-E when the lengths o* the /3 &aria)les
are #i**erent5
/ut i* the #ata set with the shorter &ersion is liste# *irst on the "E1-E
statement5 the
$horter length will )e use# *or the length o* the /3 &aria)le #uring the
merge. !ue to this shorter length5 truncation occurs an# uninten#e#
com)inations coul# result.
In ,ersion 85 a warning is issue# to point out this #ata integrit( risk. 'he
warning will )e issue# regar#less o* which #ata set is liste# *irst2
741NIN-2 "ultiple lengths were speci*ie# *or the /3 &aria)le name )(
input #ata sets.
'his ma( cause une<pecte# results. 'runcation can )e a&oi#e# )( naming
the #ata set with the longest length *or the /3 &aria)le *irst on the "E1-E
statement5 )ut the warning message is still issue#. 'o pre&ent the
warning5 ensure the /3 &aria)les ha&e the same length prior to com)ining
them in the "E1-E step with 610+ +0N'EN'$. 3ou can change the
&aria)le length with either a LEN-'9 statement in the merge !4'4 step
prior to the "E1-E statement5 or )( recreating the #ata sets to ha&e
i#entical lengths *or the /3 &aria)les.
Note2 7hen #oing "E1-E we shoul# not ha&e "E1-E an# IF-'9EN
statement in one #ata step i* the IF-'9EN statement in&ol&es two
&aria)les that come *rom two #i**erent merging #ata sets. I* it is not
completel( clear when "E1-E an# IF-'9EN can )e use# in one #ata step
an# when it shoul# not )e5 then it is )est to simpl( alwa(s separate them
in #i**erent #ata step. /( *ollowing the a)o&e recommen#ation5 it will
ensure an error-*ree merge result.
Which data set is the controllin& data set in the H-6=-
statement!
!ataset ha&ing the less num)er o* o)ser&ations control the #ata set in
the merge statement.
"ow do the %)> #aria$les imro#e the caa$ility of a H-6=-!
'he IN=&aria)les
7hat i* (ou want to keep in the output #ata set o* a merge onl( the
matches :onl( those o)ser&ations to which )oth input #ata sets
contri)ute;H $4$ will set up *or (ou special temporar( &aria)les5 calle#
the ZIN=Z &aria)les5 so that (ou can #o this an# more. 9ereQs what (ou
ha&e to #o2 signal to $4$ on the "E1-E statement that (ou nee# the IN=
&aria)les *or the input #ata set:s; use the IN= &aria)les in the #ata step
appropriatel(5 $o to keep onl( the matches in the match-merge a)o&e5
ask *or the IN= &aria)les an# use them2
#ata three>
merge one:in=<; two:in=(;> /S < V ( are (our choices o* names S/
)( i#> /S *or the IN= &aria)les *or #ata S/
i* <=1 an# (=1> /S sets one an# two respecti&el( S/
run>
What techni1ues andAor 567/s do you use for ta$les!
6roc Fre.5 6roc uni&ariate5 6roc 'a)ulate V 6roc 1eport.
Do you refer 567/ 6-576T or 567/ TAB,.AT-! Why!
I pre*er to use 6roc report until I ha&e to create cross ta)ulation ta)les5
)ecause5 It gi&es me so man( options to mo#i*( the look up o* m( ta)le5
:e<2 7i#th option5 )( this we can change the wi#th o* each column in the
ta)le; 7here as 6roc ta)ulate una)le to pro#uce some o* the things in m(
ta)le. E<2 ta)ulate #oesn%t pro#uce n :[; in the #esira)le *ormat.
"ow exerienced are you with customi;ed reortin& and use of
DATA <),..< features!
I ha&e &er( goo# e<perience in creating customiMe# reports as well as
with !ata KNULLK step. It%s a !ata step that generates a report without
creating the #ataset there )( #e&elopment time can )e sa&e#. 'he other
a#&antages o* !ata NULL is when we su)mit5 i* there is an( compilation
error is there in the statement which can )e #etecte# an# written to the
log there )( error can )e #etecte# )( checking the log a*ter su)mitting it.
It is also use# to create the macro &aria)les in the #ata set.
What is the difference $etween nodu and nodu0ey otions!
N0!U6 compares all the &aria)les in our #ataset while N0!U6LE3
compares Yust the /3 &aria)les.
What is the difference $etween comiler and interreter! =i#e
any one examle 9software roduct: that act as an interreter!
/oth are similar as the( achie&e similar purposes5 )ut inherentl( #i**erent
as to how the( achie&e that purpose. 'he interpreter translates
instructions one at a time5 an# then e<ecutes those instructions
imme#iatel(. +ompile# co#e takes programs :source; written in $4$
programming language5 an# then ultimatel( translates it into o)Yect co#e
or machine language. +ompile# co#e #oes the work much more
e**icientl(5 )ecause it pro#uces a complete machine language program5
which can then )e e<ecute#.
/ode the ta$les statement for a sin&le le#el fre1uency!
6roc *re. #ata=li).#ataset>
ta)le &ar> Shere (ou can mention single &aria)le o* multiple &aria)les
seperate# )( space to get single *re.uenc(>
run>
What is the main difference $etween rename and la$el!
1. La)el is glo)al an# rename is local i.e.5 la)el statement can )e use#
either in proc or #ata step where as rename shoul# )e use# onl( in #ata
step. 2.I* we rename a &aria)le5 ol# name will )e lost )ut i* we la)el a
&aria)le its short name :ol# name; e<ists along with its #escripti&e name.
What is -nterrise =uide! What is the use of it!
It is an approach to import te<t *iles with $4$ :It comes *ree with /ase
$4$ &ersion B.F;
What other SAS features do you use for error train& and data
#alidation! What are the #alidation tools in SAS!
For #ataset2 !ata set name/#e)ug
!ata set2 name/stmtchk
For macros2 0ptions2mprint mlogic s(m)olgen.
"ow can you ut a @trace@ in your ro&ram!
0!$ 'race 0N5 0!$ 'race 0FF the trace recor#s.
"ow would you code a mer&e that will 0ee only the o$ser#ations
that ha#e matches from $oth data sets!
Using ZINZ &aria)le option. Look at the *ollowing e<ample.
#ata three>
merge one:in=<; two:in=(;>
)( i#>
i* <=1 an# (=1>
run>
or
#ata three>
merge one:in=<; two:in=(;>
)( i#>
i* < an# (>
run>
What are inut dataset and outut dataset otions!
Input #ata set options are o)s5 *irsto)s5 where5 in output #ata set options
compress5 reuse./oth input an# output #ataset options inclu#e keep5
#rop5 rename5 o)s5 *irst o)s.
"ow can u create ;ero o$ser#ation dataset!
+reating a #ata set )( using the like clause.
e<2 proc s.l>
create ta)le latha.emp like oracle.emp>
.uit>
In this the like clause triggers the e<isting ta)le structure to )e copie# to
the new ta)le. using this metho# result in the creation o* an empt( ta)le.
"a#e you e#er8lin0ed SAS code' %f so' descri$e the lin0 and any
re1uired statements used to either rocess the code or the ste
itself!
In the e#itor win#ow we write
[inclu#e Qpath o* the sas *ileQ>
run>
i* it is with non-win#owing en&ironment no nee# to gi&e run statement.
"ow can u imort */SV file in to SAS! tell Syntax!
'o create +$, *ile5 we ha&e to open notepa#5 then5 #eclare the &aria)les.
proc import #ata*ile=QE2\age.cs&Qout=sarath
#)ms=cs&
replace>
getnames=(es>
proc print #ata=sarath>
run>
What is the use of 5roc SQl!
610+ $RL is a power*ul tool in $4$5 which com)ines the *unctionalit( o*
#ata an# proc steps. 610+ $RL can sort5 summariMe5 su)set5 Yoin
:merge;5 an# concatenate #atasets5 create new &aria)les5 an# print the
results or create a new #ataset all in one step] 610+ $RL uses *ewer
resources when compar# to that o* #ata an# proc steps. 'o Yoin *iles in
610+ $RL it #oes not re.uire to sort the #ata prior to merging5 which is
must5 is #ata merge.
What is SAS =6A5"!
$4$/-1469 so*tware creates an# #eli&ers accurate5 high-impact &isuals
that ena)le #ecision makers to gain a .uick un#erstan#ing o* critical
)usiness issues.
Why is a ST75 statement needed for the oint>otion on a S-T
statement!
7hen (ou use the 60IN'= option5 (ou must inclu#e a $'06 statement to
stop !4'4 step processing5 programming logic that checks *or an in&ali#
&alue o* the 60IN'= &aria)le5 or /oth. /ecause 60IN'= rea#s onl( those
o)ser&ations that are speci*ie# in the !0 statement5 $4$cannot rea# an
en#-o*-*ile in#icator as it woul# i* the *ile were )eing rea# se.uentiall(.
/ecause rea#ing an en#-o*-*ile in#icator en#s a !4'4 step automaticall(5
*ailure to su)stitute another means o* en#ing the !4'4 step when (ou
use 60IN'= can cause the !4'4 step to go into a continuous loop.
What is the difference $etween nodu and nodu0ey otions!
'he N0!U6 option checks *or an# eliminates #uplicate o)ser&ations. 'he
N0!U6LE3 option checks *or an# eliminates #uplicate o)ser&ations )(
&aria)le &alues.
SAS inter#iew 1uestions:Hacros
2* "a#e you used macros! For what urose you ha#e used!
3es I ha&e5 I use# macros in creating anal(sis #atasets an# ta)les where
it is necessar( to make a small change through out the program an#
where it is necessar( to use the co#e again an# again.
N* "ow would you in#o0e a macro!
4*ter I ha&e #e*ine# a macro I can in&oke it )( a##ing the percent sign
pre*i< to its name like this2 [ macro name a semicolon is not re.uire#
when in&oking a macro5 though a##ing one generall( #oes no harm.
C* "ow we can call macros with in data ste!
7e can call the macro with +4LL$3"6U'
?* "ow do u identify a macro #aria$le!
4mpersan# :V;
3* "ow do you define the end of a macro!
'he en# o* the macro is #e*ine# )( ["en# $tatement
I* For what uroses ha#e you used SAS macros!
I* we want use a program step *or e<ecuting to e<ecute the same 6roc
step on multiple #ata sets. 7e can accomplish repetiti&e tasks .uickl( an#
e**icientl(. 4 macro program can )e reuse# man( times. 6arameters
passe# to the macro program customiMe the results without ha&ing to
change the co#e within the macro program. "acros in $4$ make a small
change in the program an# ha&e $4$ echo that change thought that
program.
B* What is the difference $etween O.7/A. and O=.7BA.!
[ Local is a macro &aria)le #e*ine# insi#e a macro.[-lo)al is a macro
&aria)le #e*ine# in open co#e :outsi#e the macro or can use an(where;.
J* "ow lon& can a macro #aria$le $e! A to0en!
4 component o* $4$ known as the wor# scanner )reaks the program te<t
into *un#amental units calle# tokens.G 'okens are passe# on #eman# to
the compiler.G 'he compiler then re.uests token until it recei&es a
semicolon.G 'hen the compiler per*orms the s(nta< check on the
statement.
G* %f you use a SDH5,T in a DATA ste' when and where can you
use the macro #aria$le!
"acro &aria)le is use# insi#e the +all $(mput statement an# is enclose#
in .uotes.
24* What do you code to create a macro! -nd one!
["4+10 an# ["EN!
22* What is the difference $etween O5,T and SDHB7.=-)!
[6U' is use# to #ispla( user #e*ine# messages on log win#ow a*ter
e<ecution o* a program where as [ $3"/0L-EN is use# to print the
&alue o* a macro &aria)le resol&e#5 on log win#ow.
2N* "ow do you add a num$er to a macro #aria$le!
Using [e&al *unction
2C* /an you execute a macro within a macro! Descri$e*
3es5 $uch macros are calle# neste# macros. 'he( can )e o)taine# )(
using s(mget an# call s(mput macros.
2?* %f you need the #alue of a #aria$le rather than the #aria$le
itself what would you use to load the #alue to a macro #aria$le!
I* we nee# a &alue o* a macro &aria)le then we must #e*ine it in such
terms so that we can call them e&er(where in the program. !e*ine it as
-lo)al. 'here are #i**erent wa(s o* assigning a glo)al &aria)le. $implest
metho# is [LE'.
E<245 is macro &aria)le. Use *ollowing statement to assign the &alue o* a
rather than the &aria)le itsel*e.g.[Let 4=<(M<=ZV4Z>'his will assign
Z<(MZ to <5 not the &aria)le <(M to <.
23* /an you execute macro within another macro! %f so' how
would SAS 0now where the current macro ended and the new one
$e&an!
3es5 I can e<ecute macro within a macro5 what we call it as nesting o*
macros5 which is allowe#. E&er( macroQs )eginning is i#enti*ie# the
ke(wor# [macro an# en# with [men#.
2I* "ow are arameters assed to a macro!
4 macro &aria)le #e*ine# in parentheses in a ["4+10 statement is a
macro parameter. "acro parameters allow (ou to pass in*ormation into a
macro. 9ere is a simple e<ample2 [macro plot:(&ar= 5<&ar= ;> proc plot>
plot V(&arSV<&ar> run>[men# plot>
2B* "ow would you code a macro statement to roduce
information on the SAS lo&!
'his statement can )e co#e# an(whereH06'I0N$5 "61IN' "L0-I+
"E1101 $3"/0L-EN>
2J* "ow we can call macros with in data ste!
7e can call the macro with +4LL$3"6U'5 6roc $RL an# [LE' statement.
2G* Tell me a$out call symut!
+4LL $3"6U' takes a &alue *rom a #ata step an# assigns it to a macro
&aria)le. I can then use this macro &aria)le in later steps. 'o assign a
&alue to a single macro &aria)le5 I use +4LL $3"6U' with this general
*orm2
+4LL $3"6U' :Imacro-&aria)le-nameJ5 &alue;>
7here macro-&aria)le-name5 enclose# in .uotation marks5 is the name o*
a macro &aria)le5 either new or ol#5 an# &alue is the &alue I want to
assign to that macro &aria)le. ,alue can )e the name o* a &aria)le whose
&alue $4$ will use5 or it can )e a constant &alue enclose# .uotation
marks.
+4LL $3"6U' is o*ten use# in i*-then statements such as this2
I* ageO=18 then call s(mput :IstatusJ5Ja#ultJ;>
Else call s(mput :IstatusJ5JminorJ;>
'hese statements create a macro &aria)le name# Vstatus an# assign to it
a &alue o* either a#ult or minor #epen#ing on the &aria)le age.
+aution2 7e cannot create a macro &aria)le with +4LL $3"6U' an# use it
in the same #ata step )ecause $4$ #oes not assign a &alue to the macro
&aria)le until the #ata step e<ecutes. !ata steps e<ecutes when $4$
encounters a step )oun#ar( such as a su)se.uent #ata5 proc5 or run
statement.
N4* Tell me a$out O include and O e#al!
'he [inclu#e statement5 #espite its percent sign5 is not a macro
statement an# is alwa(s e<ecute# in $4$5 though it can )e con#itionall(
e<ecute# in a macro.
It can )e use# to setting up a macro li)rar(. /ut this is a least approach.
'he use o* [inclu#e #oes not actuall( set up a li)rar(. 'he [inclu#e
statement points to a *ile an# when it e<ecute# the in#icate# *ile :)e it a
*ull program5 macro #e*inition5 or a statement *ragment; is inserte# into
the calling program at the location o* the call. 7hen using the [inclu#e
)uil#ing a macro li)rar(5 the inclu#e# *ile will usuall( contain one or more
macro #e*initions.
[E,4L is a wi#el( use# (et *re.uentl( misun#erstoo# $4$:r; macro
language *unction #ue to its seemingl( simple *orm. 9owe&er5 when its
actual argument is a comple< macro e<pression interlace# with special
characters5 mi<e# arithmetic an# logical operators5 or macro .uotation
*unctions5 its usage an# result )ecome elusi&e an# pro)lematic. [IF
con#ition in macro is e&aluate# )( [e&al5 to re#uce it to true or *alse.
N2* Descri$e the ways in which you can create macro #aria$les!
'here are the 5 wa(s to create macro &aria)les2
[Let
[-lo)al
+all $(mput
6roc $Rl
6arameters.
NN* Tell me more a$out the arameters in macro!
6arameters are macro &aria)les whose &alue (ou set when (ou in&oke a
macro. 'o a## the parameters to a macro5 (ou simpl( name the macro
&ars names in parenthesis in the [macro statement.
$(nta<2
["4+10 macro-name :parameter-1= 5 parameter-2= 5 @@parameter-n
= ;>
macro-te<t
["EN! macro-name>
NC* What is the maximum len&th of the macro #aria$le!
C2 characters long.
N?* Automatic #aria$les for macro!
E&er( time we in&oke $4$5 the macro processor automaticall( creates
certain macro &ar. eg2 Vs(s#ate Vs(s#a(.
N3* What system otions would you use to hel de$u& a macro!
!e)ugging a "acro with $4$ $(stem 0ptions. 'he $4$ $(stem o**ers
users a num)er o* use*ul s(stem options to help #e)ug macro issues an#
pro)lems. 'he results associate# with using macro options are
automaticall( #ispla(e# on the $4$ Log. $peci*ic options relate# to macro
#e)ugging appear in alpha)etical or#er in the ta)le )elow.$4$ 0ption
!escription2
H-H65T $peci*ies that memor( usage statistics )e #ispla(e# on the $4$
Log.
H-6676: $4$ will issue warning i* we in&oke a macro that $4$ #i#n%t
*in#. 6resents 7arning "essages when there are misspellings or when an
un#e*ine# macro is calle#.
S-6676: $4$ will issue warning i* we use a macro &aria)le that $4$
can%t *in#.
H.7=%/: $4$ prints #etails a)out the e<ecution o* the macros in the log.
H56%)T: !ispla(s $4$ statements generate# )( macro e<ecution are
trace# on the $4$ Log *or #e)ugging purposes.
SDHB7.=-): $4$ prints the &alue o* macro &aria)les in log an# also
#ispla(s te<t *rom e<pan#ing macro &aria)les to the $4$ Log.
NI* %f you need the #alue of a #aria$le rather than the #aria$le
itself what would you use to load the #alue to a macro #aria$le!
I* we nee# a &alue o* a macro &aria)le then we must #e*ine it in such
terms so that we can call them e&er(where in the program. !e*ine it as
-lo)al. 'here are #i**erent wa(s o* assigning a glo)al &aria)le. $implest
metho# is [LE'.
E<245 is macro &aria)le. Use *ollowing statement to assign the &alue o* a
rather than the &aria)le itsel*e.g.[Let 4=<(M<=ZV4Z>'his will assign
Z<(MZ to <5 not the &aria)le <(M to <.
NB* /an you execute macro within another macro! %f so' how
would SAS 0now where the current macro ended and the new one
$e&an!
3es5 I can e<ecute macro within a macro5 what we call it as nesting o*
macros5 which is allowe#. E&er( macroQs )eginning is i#enti*ie# the
ke(wor# [macro an# en# with [men#.
NJ* "ow are arameters assed to a macro! 4 macro &aria)le
#e*ine# in parentheses in a ["4+10 statement is a macro parameter.
"acro parameters allow (ou to pass in*ormation into a macro. 9ere is a
simple e<ample2 [macro plot:(&ar= 5<&ar= ;> proc plot> plot
V(&arSV<&ar> run>[men# plot>
NG* "ow would you code a macro statement to roduce
information on the SAS lo&!
'his statement can )e co#e# an(whereH06'I0N$5 "61IN' "L0-I+
"E1101 $3"/0L-EN>
C4* "ow we can call macros with in data ste!
7e can call the macro with +4LL$3"6U'5 6roc $RL an# [LE' statement.
C2* What are SDH=-T and SDH5,T!
$3"6U' puts the &alue *rom a #ataset into a macro &aria)le where as
$3"-E' gets the &alue *rom the macro &aria)le to the #ataset.
CN* What are the macros you ha#e used in your ro&rams!
Use# macros *or &arious puposes5 *ew o* them are..
2: Hacros written to determine the list of #aria$les in a dataset:
[macro &arlist :#sn;>
proc contents #ata = V#sn out = cont noprit>
run>
proc s.l noprint>
select #istinct name into2
&arname1-2&arname22
*rom cont>
.uit>
[#o i =1 [to Vs.lo)s>
[put Vi VV&arnameVi>
[en#>
[men# &arlist>
[&arlist:a#&erse;
N: Distri$ution or Hissin& A )on8Hissin& Values
[macro missrep:#sn5 &ars=KnumericK;>
proc *re. #ata=V#sn.>
ta)les V&ars. / missing>
*ormat KcharacterK Wmiss*. KnumericK miss*.>
title1 A!istri)ution or "issing / Non-"issing ,alues%>
run>
[men# missrep>
[missrep:stu#(.#emog5 &ars=age gen#er )#ate;>
C: Written macros for sortin& common #aria$les in #arious
datasets
[macro sortit :#atasetname5 pi#5 in&estigator5 time&isit;610+ $01'
!4'4 = V!4'4$E'N4"E>
/3 V6I! VIN,E$'I-4'01>
[men# sortit>
?: Hacros written to slit the num$er of o$ser#ations in a dataset
[macro split :#snorig5 #snsplit15 #snsplit25 o)s1;>
#ata V#snsplit1>
set V#snorig :o)s = Vo)s1;>
run>
#ata V#snsplit2>
set V#snorig :*irsto)s = [e&al:Vo)s1 T 1;;>
run>
[men# split>
[split:sasuser.a#mit5a#mitD5a#mit552;
CC* What is auto call macro and how to create a auto call macro!
What is the use of it! "ow to use it in SAS with macros!
Ena)les the user to call macros that ha&e )een store# as $4$ programs.
'he auto call macro *acilit( allows users to access the same macro co#e
*rom multiple $4$ programs. 1ather than ha&ing the same macro co#e
*or in each program where the co#e is re.uire#5 with an autocall macro5
the co#e is in one location. 'his permits *aster up#ates an# )etter
consistenc( across all the programs.
Hacro set8u:
'he *ist step is to set-up a program that contains a macro5 #esire# to )e
use# in multiple programs. 4lthough the program ma( contain other
macros an#/or open co#e5 it is a#&ise# to inclu#e onl( one macro.
Set HA,T7S7,6S- and SASA,T7S:
/e*ore one can use the autocall macro within a $4$ program5 'he
"4U'0$0U1$E option must )e set open an# the $4$4U'0$ option
shoul# )e assigne#. 'he "4U'0$0U1$E option in#icates to $4$ that the
autocall *acilit( is to )e acti&ate#. 'he $4$4U'0$ option tells $4$ where
to look *or the macros.
For e<2 sasauto=%g2\)usmeas\internal\macro\%>
C?* What Out do!
It #ispla(s the macro &aria)le &alue when we speci*(
[put :m( *irst macro &aria)le@ is V@@..;
[ 6ut KautomaticK option #ispla(s all the $4$ s(stem macro &aria)les
inclu#in# V$3$!4'E 4N! V$3$'I"E.
SAS inter#iew Q P A: 567/ SQl and SAS =6A5"
and 7DS
567/ SQ.:
2* What are the three tyes of Qoin!
4. 'he three t(pes o* Yoin are inner Yoin5 le*t Yoin an# right Yoin.
'he inner Yoin option takes the matching &alues *rom )oth the ta)les )(
the 0N option. 'he le*t Yoin selects all the &aria)les *rom the *irst ta)le
an# Yoins secon# ta)le to it. 'he right Yoin selects all the &aria)les o* ta)le
) *irst an# Yoin the ta)le a to it.
N* "a#e you e#er used 567/ SQ. for data summari;ation!
4. 3es I ha&e use# it *or summariMation at times@
For e.g i* I ha&e to calculate the ma< &alue o* /6 *or patients 1F1 1F2 an#
1FC then I use the ma< :)p#; *unction to get the ma<imum &alue an# use
group )( statement to group the patients accor#ingl(.
C* Tell me a$out your SQ. exerience!
4. I ha&e use# the $4$/4++E$$ $RL pass thru *acilit( *or connection with
e<ternal #ata)ases an# importing ta)les *rom them an# also "icroso*t
access an# e<cel *iles.
/esi#es this5 lot o* times I ha&e use# 610+ $RL *or Yoining ta)les.
?* 7nce you ha#e had the data read into SAS datasets are you
more of a data ste ro&rammer or a 567/ SQ. ro&rammer!
4. It #epen#s on what t(pes o* anal(sis #atasets are re.uire# *or creating
ta)les )ut I am more o* a #ata step programmer as it gi&es me more
*le<i)ilit(.
For e.g creating a change *rom )aseline #ata set *or )loo# pressure
sometimes I ha&e to retain certain &alues @use arra(s @.or use the *irst.
-an# last. &aria)les.
3* What tyes of ro&rammin& tas0s do you use 567/ SQ. for
#ersus the data ste!
4. 6roc $RL is &er( con&enient *or per*orming ta)le Yoins compare# to a
#ata step merge as it #oes not re.uire the ke( columns to )e sorte# prior
to Yoin. 4 #ata step is more suita)le *or se.uential o)ser&ation-)(-
o)ser&ation processing.
610+ $RL can sa&e a great #eal o* time i* u want to *ilter the &aria)les
while selecting or u can mo#i*( them @appl( *ormat@.creating new
&aria)les 5 macro&aria)les@as well as su)setting the #ata.
610+ $RL o**ers great *le<i)ilit( *or Yoining ta)les.
I* "a#e u e#er used 567/ SQ. to read in a raw data file!
4. No. I #on%t think it can )e use#.
B* "ow do you mer&e data in 5roc SQ.!
'he three t(pes o* Yoin are inner Yoin5 le*t Yoin an# right Yoin. 'he inner
Yoin option takes the matching &alues *rom )oth the ta)les )( the 0N
option. 'he le*t Yoin selects all the &aria)les *rom the *irst ta)le an# Yoins
secon# ta)le to it. 'he right Yoin selects all the &aria)les o* ta)le ) *irst
an# Yoin the ta)le a to it.
610+ $RL>
+1E4'E '4/LE /0'9 4$
$ELE+' 4.64'IEN'5
4.!4'E F01"4'=!4'E. 4$ !4'E5 4.6UL$E5
/."E!5 /.!0$E$5 /.4"' F01"4'=D.1
F10" ,I'4L$ 4 INNE1 X0IN !0$IN- /
0N :4.64'IEN' = /.64'IEN'; 4N!
:4.!4'E = /.!4'E;
01!E1 /3 64'IEN'5 !4'E>
RUI'>
J* What are the statements in 5roc SQl!
$elect5 From5 7here5 -roup /(5 9a&ing5 0r#er.
610+ $RL>
+1E4'E '4/LE 9I-9/662 4$
$ELE+' 64'IEN'5 +0UN' :64'IEN'; 4$ N5
!4'E F01"4'=!4'E.5 "4E:/6!; 4$ /6!9I-9
F10" ,I'4L$
79E1E 64'IEN' IN :1F1 1F2 1FC;
-10U6 /3 64'IEN'
94,IN- /6! = +4L+UL4'E! /6!9I-9
01!E1 /3 +4L+UL4'E! /6!9I-9>
Ruit>
G* Why and when do you use 5roc SQl!
6roc $RL is &er( con&enient *or per*orming ta)le Yoins compare# to a #ata
step merge as it #oes not re.uire the ke( columns to )e sorte# prior to
Yoin. 4 #ata step is more suita)le *or se.uential o)ser&ation-)(-
o)ser&ation processing.
610+ $RL can sa&e a great #eal o* time i* u want to *ilter the &aria)les
while selecting or we can mo#i*( them5 appl( *ormat an# creating new
&aria)les5 macro&aria)les@as well as su)setting the #ata. 610+ $RL
o**ers great *le<i)ilit( *or Yoining ta)les.
SAS =6A5":
2* What tye of &rahs ha#e you ha#e &enerated usin& SAS!
4. I ha&e use# 6roc -6L0' where I ha&e create# change *rom )aseline
scatter plots. I ha&e also use# 6roc LIFE'E$' to create Laplan-"eier
sur&i&al estimates plots *or sur&i&al anal(sis to #etermine which
treatment #ispla(s )etter time-to-e&ent #istri)ution.
N* "a#e you e#er used =6-5.AD!
4. 3E$5 I ha&e use# the 610+ -1E6L43 point an# click inter*ace to
integrate D graphs in one page. 7hich were pro#uce# )( the reg
proce#ure.
C* What is the sym$ol statement used for!
4. $(m)ol statement is use# *or placing s(m)ols in the graphics output.
4ssociate# &aria)les can speci*( the color5 *ont an# heights o* the s(m)ols
#ispla(e#.
?* "a#e you e#er used the annotate facility! What is a situation
when you ha#e had to use the A))7TAT- facility in the ast!
4. 3es5 I ha&e use# the annotate *acilit( *or graphs. I ha&e use# the
annotate *acilit( to position la)els in the Laplan-"eier sur&i&al estimates5
where I ha# to speci*( the *unction as Ala)el% an# gi&e the < an# ( co-
or#inates an# the position where this la)el is to )e place#.
7DS 97,T5,T D-.%V-6D SDST-H::
2* What are all the 7DS rocedure ha#e u encountered!
'racing an# selecting the proce#ure 0utput>
0!$ 'race on>
6roc steps@>
1un>
0!$ 'race o**>
0!$ $elect statement5
6roc steps@> 0!$ $elect output-o)Yect-list> 1un>
0!$ 0utput statement5
0!$ output output-o)Yect= new $4$ #ataset>
0!$ html )o#( = Ipath\marine)o#(.htmlJ
+ontents = Ipath\marine'0+.htmlJ
6age = I path\marinepage.htmlJ
Frame= Ipath\marine*rame.htmlJ>
@..
0!$ html close> 0!$ rt* *ile = I*ilename.rt*J options>
0ptions like columns=n5 )o#(title5 $4$#ate an# st(le.
0!$ rt* close>
$imilarl(
0!$ 6#* *ile = I*ilename.p#*J options> @@.. 0!$ p#* close>
N* What is your exerience with 7DS!
4. I ha&e use# 0!$ *or creating *iles output *ormats 1'F 9'"L an# 6!F
as per the re.uirement o* m( manager. 9'"L *iles coul# )e poste# on the
we) site *or &iewing or can also )e importe# into wor# processors.
0!$ 9'"L )o#( = Apath%
+ontents= Apath%
Frame = Apath%
0!$ 9'"L close>
0!$ 1'F FILE = Apath%
0!$ 1'F close>
7hen we create 1'F output we can cop( it into wor# #ocument an# e#it
an# resiMe it like wor# ta)les.
C* What does the trace otion do!
4. 0!$ 'race is use# to *in# the names o* the particular output o)Yects
when se&eral o* them are create# )( some proce#ure.
0!$ '14+E 0N>
0!$ '14+E 0FF>
SAS ,)%K:
567/ SQ.:
2* What are the three tyes of Qoin!
4. 'he three t(pes o* Yoin are inner Yoin5 le*t Yoin an# right Yoin.
'he inner Yoin option takes the matching &alues *rom )oth the ta)les )(
the 0N option. 'he le*t Yoin selects all the &aria)les *rom the *irst ta)le
an# Yoins secon# ta)le to it. 'he right Yoin selects all the &aria)les o* ta)le
) *irst an# Yoin the ta)le a to it.
N* "a#e you e#er used 567/ SQ. for data summari;ation!
4. 3es I ha&e use# it *or summariMation at times@
For e.g i* I ha&e to calculate the ma< &alue o* /6 *or patients 1F1 1F2 an#
1FC then I use the ma< :)p#; *unction to get the ma<imum &alue an# use
group )( statement to group the patients accor#ingl(.
C* Tell me a$out your SQ. exerience!
4. I ha&e use# the $4$/4++E$$ $RL pass thru *acilit( *or connection with
e<ternal #ata)ases an# importing ta)les *rom them an# also "icroso*t
access an# e<cel *iles.
/esi#es this5 lot o* times I ha&e use# 610+ $RL *or Yoining ta)les.
?* 7nce you ha#e had the data read into SAS datasets are you
more of a data ste ro&rammer or a 567/ SQ. ro&rammer!
4. It #epen#s on what t(pes o* anal(sis #atasets are re.uire# *or creating
ta)les )ut I am more o* a #ata step programmer as it gi&es me more
*le<i)ilit(.
For e.g creating a change *rom )aseline #ata set *or )loo# pressure
sometimes I ha&e to retain certain &alues @use arra(s @.or use the *irst.
-an# last. &aria)les.
3* What tyes of ro&rammin& tas0s do you use 567/ SQ. for
#ersus the data ste!
4. 6roc $RL is &er( con&enient *or per*orming ta)le Yoins compare# to a
#ata step merge as it #oes not re.uire the ke( columns to )e sorte# prior
to Yoin. 4 #ata step is more suita)le *or se.uential o)ser&ation-)(-
o)ser&ation processing.
610+ $RL can sa&e a great #eal o* time i* u want to *ilter the &aria)les
while selecting or u can mo#i*( them @appl( *ormat@.creating new
&aria)les 5 macro&aria)les@as well as su)setting the #ata.
610+ $RL o**ers great *le<i)ilit( *or Yoining ta)les.
I* "a#e u e#er used 567/ SQ. to read in a raw data file!
4. No. I #on%t think it can )e use#.
B* "ow do you mer&e data in 5roc SQ.!
'he three t(pes o* Yoin are inner Yoin5 le*t Yoin an# right Yoin. 'he inner
Yoin option takes the matching &alues *rom )oth the ta)les )( the 0N
option. 'he le*t Yoin selects all the &aria)les *rom the *irst ta)le an# Yoins
secon# ta)le to it. 'he right Yoin selects all the &aria)les o* ta)le ) *irst
an# Yoin the ta)le a to it.
610+ $RL>
+1E4'E '4/LE /0'9 4$
$ELE+' 4.64'IEN'5
4.!4'E F01"4'=!4'E. 4$ !4'E5 4.6UL$E5
/."E!5 /.!0$E$5 /.4"' F01"4'=D.1
F10" ,I'4L$ 4 INNE1 X0IN !0$IN- /
0N :4.64'IEN' = /.64'IEN'; 4N!
:4.!4'E = /.!4'E;
01!E1 /3 64'IEN'5 !4'E>
RUI'>
J* What are the statements in 5roc SQl!
$elect5 From5 7here5 -roup /(5 9a&ing5 0r#er.
610+ $RL>
+1E4'E '4/LE 9I-9/662 4$
$ELE+' 64'IEN'5 +0UN' :64'IEN'; 4$ N5
!4'E F01"4'=!4'E.5 "4E:/6!; 4$ /6!9I-9
F10" ,I'4L$
79E1E 64'IEN' IN :1F1 1F2 1FC;
-10U6 /3 64'IEN'
94,IN- /6! = +4L+UL4'E! /6!9I-9
01!E1 /3 +4L+UL4'E! /6!9I-9>
Ruit>
G* Why and when do you use 5roc SQl!
6roc $RL is &er( con&enient *or per*orming ta)le Yoins compare# to a #ata
step merge as it #oes not re.uire the ke( columns to )e sorte# prior to
Yoin. 4 #ata step is more suita)le *or se.uential o)ser&ation-)(-
o)ser&ation processing.
610+ $RL can sa&e a great #eal o* time i* u want to *ilter the &aria)les
while selecting or we can mo#i*( them5 appl( *ormat an# creating new
&aria)les5 macro&aria)les@as well as su)setting the #ata. 610+ $RL
o**ers great *le<i)ilit( *or Yoining ta)les.
SAS =6A5":
2* What tye of &rahs ha#e you ha#e &enerated usin& SAS!
4. I ha&e use# 6roc -6L0' where I ha&e create# change *rom )aseline
scatter plots. I ha&e also use# 6roc LIFE'E$' to create Laplan-"eier
sur&i&al estimates plots *or sur&i&al anal(sis to #etermine which
treatment #ispla(s )etter time-to-e&ent #istri)ution.
N* "a#e you e#er used =6-5.AD!
4. 3E$5 I ha&e use# the 610+ -1E6L43 point an# click inter*ace to
integrate D graphs in one page. 7hich were pro#uce# )( the reg
proce#ure.
C* What is the sym$ol statement used for!
4. $(m)ol statement is use# *or placing s(m)ols in the graphics output.
4ssociate# &aria)les can speci*( the color5 *ont an# heights o* the s(m)ols
#ispla(e#.
?* "a#e you e#er used the annotate facility! What is a situation
when you ha#e had to use the A))7TAT- facility in the ast!
4. 3es5 I ha&e use# the annotate *acilit( *or graphs. I ha&e use# the
annotate *acilit( to position la)els in the Laplan-"eier sur&i&al estimates5
where I ha# to speci*( the *unction as Ala)el% an# gi&e the < an# ( co-
or#inates an# the position where this la)el is to )e place#.
0!$ :0U'6U' !ELI,E13 $3$'E";2
2* What are all the 7DS rocedure ha#e u encountered!
'racing an# selecting the proce#ure 0utput>
0!$ 'race on>
6roc steps@>
1un>
0!$ 'race o**>
0!$ $elect statement5
6roc steps@> 0!$ $elect output-o)Yect-list> 1un>
0!$ 0utput statement5
0!$ output output-o)Yect= new $4$ #ataset>
0!$ html )o#( = Ipath\marine)o#(.htmlJ
+ontents = Ipath\marine'0+.htmlJ
6age = I path\marinepage.htmlJ
Frame= Ipath\marine*rame.htmlJ>
@..
0!$ html close> 0!$ rt* *ile = I*ilename.rt*J options>
0ptions like columns=n5 )o#(title5 $4$#ate an# st(le.
0!$ rt* close>
$imilarl(
0!$ 6#* *ile = I*ilename.p#*J options> @@.. 0!$ p#* close>
N* What is your exerience with 7DS!
4. I ha&e use# 0!$ *or creating *iles output *ormats 1'F 9'"L an# 6!F
as per the re.uirement o* m( manager. 9'"L *iles coul# )e poste# on the
we) site *or &iewing or can also )e importe# into wor# processors.
0!$ 9'"L )o#( = Apath%
+ontents= Apath%
Frame = Apath%
0!$ 9'"L close>
0!$ 1'F FILE = Apath%
0!$ 1'F close>
7hen we create 1'F output we can cop( it into wor# #ocument an# e#it
an# resiMe it like wor# ta)les.
C* What does the trace otion do!
4. 0!$ 'race is use# to *in# the names o* the particular output o)Yects
when se&eral o* them are create# )( some proce#ure.
0!$ '14+E 0N>
0!$ '14+E 0FF>
SAS ,)%K:
2* ,nix en#ironment!
$4$ can e**ecti&el( )e use# with Uni< operating s(stem. 7e ha&e some
options that woul# let the programmer to e<tract *iles *rom the terminal
as well as sa&e the 0utput to the terminal.
N* When would you use ,)%K instead of 5/ SAS!
7hen we nee# to su)mit the program in a )atch/ non-interacti&e mo#e.
7hen we are concerne# with securit( issues.
C* What oeratin& systems can you sit down at today and $e
roducti#e!
I can )e pro#ucti&e on Uni< an# 7in#ows s(stem.
?* Are you comforta$le at the command line!
4. 3es5 I am com*orta)le at the comman# line mo#e.
I can write comman#s like *or listing all *iles :-a;5 Listing #irector( itsel* :-
#; an# ls5 ls-l pri&ileges.
3* Settin& ermissions!
4. r 1ea# permission
w 7rite permission
< E<ecute permission
- no permission
+hange permissions on *ile
+hmo# ^options_ *ile
+hmo# u T w *ile ^gi&es the user :owner; write permission_
+hmo# g T r *ile ^gi&es the group rea# permission_
+hmo# o N < *ile ^remo&es e<ecute permission *or others_
I* /an you write shell scrits!
4. 3es5 I can write shell scripts. I ha&e use# the ,I e#itor :multiple
comman#s; :n e#itor5 single line; to write shell scripts :which is a group
o* comman#s to )e e<ecute# at once;.
+omman# ,I opens the e#itor.
:Escape..colon w.; *or sa&ing an( *ile an# will .uit the e#itor.
For e<ecuting the shell scripts we write the *ilename.sh
I ha&e written a shell script to match a user i# to a person%s name.
B* Do you 0now how to use the V% editor!
4. It uses stan#ar# alpha)etic ke(s *or comman#. 7e can create a new*ile
)( this comman#. ,I A*ilename%.In comman# mo#e5 the letters o* the
ke()oar# per*orm e#iting *unctions :like mo&ing the cursor5 #eleting te<t5
etc.;. 'o enter comman# mo#e5 press the escape ke( $4$ can e**ecti&el(
)e use# with Uni< operating s(stem. 7e ha&e some options that woul# let
the programmer to e<tract *iles *rom the terminal as well as sa&e the
0utput to the terminal.
SAS %nter#iew QPA:/linical trials
2*Descri$e the hases of clinical trials!
4ns2- 'hese are the *ollowing *our phases o* the clinical trials2
5hase 2: 'est a new #rug or treatment to a small group o* people :2F-
8F; to e&aluate its sa*et(.
5hase N: 'he e<perimental #rug or treatment is gi&en to a large group o*
people :1FF-CFF; to see that the #rug is e**ecti&e or not *or that
treatment.
5hase C: 'he e<perimental #rug or treatment is gi&en to a large group o*
people :1FFF-CFFF; to see its e**ecti&eness5 monitor si#e e**ects an#
compare it to commonl( use# treatments.
5hase ?: 'he D phase stu#( inclu#es the post marketing stu#ies
inclu#ing the #rugQs risk5 )ene*its etc.
N* Descri$e the #alidation rocedure! "ow would you erform the
#alidation for T.= as well as analysis data set!
4ns2- ,ali#ation proce#ure is use# to check the output o* the $4$
program5 generate# )( the source programmer. In this process &ali#ator
write the program an# generate the output. I* this output is same as the
output generate# )( the $4$ programmerQs output then the program is
consi#ere# to )e &ali#. 7e can per*orm this &ali#ation *or 'L- )( checking
the output manuall( an# *or anal(sis #ata set it can )e #one using 610+
+0"641E.
C* "ow would you erform the #alidation for the listin&' which has
?44 a&es!
4ns2- It is not possi)le to per*orm the &ali#ation *or the listing ha&ing DFF
pages manuall(. 'o #o this5 we con&ert the listing in #ata sets )( using
610+ 1'F an# then a*ter that we can compare it )( using 610+
+0"641E.
?* /an you use 567/ /7H5A6- to #alidate listin&s! Why!
4ns2- 3es5 we can use 610+ +0"641E to &ali#ate the listing )ecause i*
there are man( entries :pages; in the listings then it is not possi)le to
check them manuall(. $o in this con#ition we use 610+ +0"641E to
&ali#ate the listings.
3* "ow would you &enerate ta$les' listin&s and &rahs!
4ns2- 7e can generate the listings )( using the 610+ 1E601'. $imilarl(
we can create the ta)les )( using 610+ F1ER5 610+ "E4N$5 an# 610+
'14N$60$E an# 610+ 1E601'. 7e woul# generate graph5 using proc
-plot etc.
I* "ow many ta$les can you create in a day!
4ns2- 4ctuall( it #epen#s on the comple<it( o* the ta)les i* there are
same t(pe o* ta)les then5 we can create D-5 ta)les in a #a(.
B* What are all the 567/S ha#e you used in your exerience!
4ns2- I ha&e use# man( proce#ures like proc report5 proc sort5 proc
*ormat etc. I ha&e use# proc report to generate the list report5 in this
proce#ure I ha&e use# su)Yi# as or#er &aria)le an# trtKgrp5 s)#5 #)# as
#ispla( &aria)les.
J* Descri$e the data sets you ha#e come across in your life!
4ns2- I ha&e worke# with #emographic5 a#&erse e&ent 5 la)orator(5
anal(sis an# other #ata sets.
G* "ow would you su$mit the docs to FDA! Who will su$mit the
docs!
4ns2- 7e can su)mit the #ocs to F!4 )( e-su)mission. !ocs can )e
su)mitte# to F!4 using
21 +1F part 11 *orms. In this #oc we ha&e the #ocumentation a)out
macros an# program an# E-recor#s also. $tatistician or proYect manager
will su)mit this #oc to F!4.
24* What are the docs do you su$mit to FDA!
4ns2- 7e su)mit I$$ an# I$E #ocuments to F!4.
22* /an u share your /D%S/ exerience! What #ersion of /D%S/
ha#e you used!
4ns2 I #i#nQt get an( chance to work in +!I$+ e<tensi&el(. /ut I ha&e
helpe# m( proYect manager an# statistician in +!I$+. I ha&e use# &ersion
C o* the +!I$+.
2N* Tell me the imortance of the SA5!
4ns2- 'his #ocument contains #etaile# in*ormation regar#ing stu#(
o)Yecti&es an# statistical metho#s to ai# in the pro#uction o* the +linical
$tu#( 1eport :+$1; inclu#ing summar( ta)les5 *igures5 an# su)Yect #ata
listings *or 6rotocol. 'his #ocument also contains #ocumentation o* the
program &aria)les an# algorithms that will )e use# to generate summar(
statistics an# statistical anal(sis.
2C* Tell me a$out your roQect &rou! To whom you would
reortAcontact!
"( proYect group consisting o* si< mem)ers5 a proYect manager5 two
statisticians5 lea# programmer an# two programmers.
I woul# report to the lea# programmer. I* I ha&e an( pro)lem regar#ing
the programming I woul# contact the lea# programmer. I* I ha&e an(
#ou)t in &alues o* &aria)les in raw #ataset I woul# contact the
statistician. For e<ample the #ataset relate# to the menopause s(mptoms
in women5 i* the &aria)le se< ha&ing the &alues like F5 ". I woul# consi#er
it as wrong> in that t(pe o* situations I woul# contact the statistician.
2?* -xlain SAS documentation*
$4$ #ocumentation inclu#es programmer hea#er5 comments5 titles5
*ootnotes etc. 7hate&er we t(pe in the program *or making the program
easil( rea#a)le5 easil( un#erstan#a)le are in calle# as $4$
#ocumentation.
23* "ow would you 0now whether the ro&ram has $een modified
or not!
I woul# know the program has )een mo#i*ie# or not )( seeing the
mo#i*ication histor( in the program hea#er.
2I* 5roQect status meetin&!
It is a planetar( meeting o* all the proYect managers to #iscuss a)out the
present $tatus o* the proYect in han# an# #iscuss new i#eas an# options
in impro&ing the 7a( it is presentl( )eing per*orme#.
2B* Descri$e clin8trial data $ase and oracle clinical
+lintrial5 the marketQs lea#ing +linical !ata "anagement $(stem :+!"$;.
0racle +linical or 0+ is a #ata)ase management s(stem #esigne# )(
0racle to pro&i#e #ata management5 #ata entr( an# #ata &ali#ation
*unctionalities to +linical 'rials process.
2J* Tell me a$out H-D6A and what #ersion of H-D6A did you use
in your roQect!
"e#ical #ictionar( o* regulator( acti&ities. ,ersion 1F
2G* Descri$e SDTH!
+!I$+%s $tu#( !ata 'a)ulation "o#el :$!'"; has )een #e&elope# to
stan#ar#iMe what is su)mitte# to the F!4.
N4* What is /6T!
+ase 1eport 'a)ulation
N2* What is annotated /6F!
+ase report *orm5 it%s a collection o* the *orms o* all the patients in the
trial.
NN* What do you 0now a$out N2/6F 5A6T 22!
'itle 21 +F1 6art 11 o* the +o#e o* Fe#eral 1egulations #eals with the F!4
gui#elines on electronic recor#s an# electronic signatures in the Unite#
$tates. 6art 115 as it is commonl( calle#5 #e*ines the criteria un#er which
electronic recor#s an# electronic signatures are consi#ere# to )e
trustworth(5 relia)le an# e.ui&alent to paper recor#s.
NC* "a#e you did #alidation in your roQects!
I #i# &ali#ation o* the *ellow programmers work to ensure that the logic
an# intent o* the program is correct an# that #ata errors are #etecte#.
e*&,eri*( error an# warning messages are generate# when the macro is
calle# more than 1F times which means to a## more than 1F titles. ,eri*(
the error message when 'I'LENU" parameter is in&ali#.
,eri*( a warning message is generate# i* the total length o* te<ts speci*ie#
in the input parameters LEF'5 +EN'E15 an# 1I-9' is greater than 1C2
characters. 4lso &eri*( prece#ence is gi&en to string in input parameter
LEF' i* the total string length is more than 1C2 characters.
,eri*( there is no error/warning message generate# i* the macro is use#
within a #ata step an# all input parameters are &ali#.
N?* What are the contents of A- dataset! What is its urose!
What are the #aria$les in ad#erse e#ent datasets!
'he a#&erse e&ent #ata set contains the $U/XI!5 )o#( s(stem o* the
e&ent5 the pre*erre# term *or the e&ent5 e&ent se&erit(. 'he purpose o*
the 4E #ataset is to gi&e a summar( o* the a#&erse e&ent *or all the
patients in the treatment arms to ai# in the in*erential sa*et( anal(sis o*
the #rug.
N3* What are the contents of la$ data! What is the urose of
data set!
'he la) #ata set contains the $U/XI!5 week num)er5 an# categor( o* la)
test5 stan#ar# units5 low normal an# high range o* the &alues. 'he
purpose o* the la) #ata set is to o)tain the #i**erence in the &alues o* ke(
&aria)les a*ter the a#ministration o* #rug.
9ow #i# (ou #o #ata cleaningH 9ow #o (ou change the &alues in the #ata
on (our ownH
I use# proc *re. an# proc uni&ariate to *in# the #iscrepancies in the #ata5
which I reporte# to m( manager.
NI*Tell me a$out this comany in %ndia! "ow $i& it is! Why are
they usin& SAS!
+EN'14L !1U-$ $'4N!41! +0N'10L 01-4NIU4'I0N
9uman/+linical pharmacolog( trials :phase I;
E<plorator( trials :6hase II;
+on*irmator( trials :6hase III;
4)out 4+' N turno&er o* aroun# WCF million #ollars. 9ea#.uarters in
In#ia.
NB*"a#e you created /6Ts' if you ha#e' tell me what ha#e you
done in that!
3es I ha&e create# patient pro*ile ta)ulations as the re.uest o* m(
manager an# an# the statistician. I ha&e use# 610+ 1E601' an# 6roc
$Rl to create simple patient listing which ha# all in*ormation o* a
particular patient inclu#ing age5 se<5 race etc.
NJ* "a#e you created transort files!
3es5 I ha&e create# $4$ Eport transport *iles using 6roc +op( an# #ata
step *or the F!4 su)missions. 'hese are &ersion 5 *iles. we use the
li)name engine an# the 6roc +op( proce#ure5 0ne #ataset in each <port
transport *ormat *ile. For &ersion 52 la)els no longer than DF )(tes5
&aria)le names 8 )(tes5 character &aria)les wi#th to 2FF )(tes. I* we
&iolate these constraints (our cop( proce#ure ma( terminate with
constraints5 )ecause $4$ <port *ormat is in compliance with $4$ 5
#atasets.
Li)name s#tm Ic2\s#tmK#ataJ>
Li)name #m <port Ic2\#m.<ptJ>
6roc cop(>
In = s#tm>
0ut = #m>
$elect #m>
1un>
NG* "ow did you do data cleanin&! "ow do you chan&e the #alues
in the data on your own!
I use# proc *re. an# proc uni&ariate to *in# the #iscrepancies in the #ata5
which I reporte# to m( manager.
C4* Definitions!
/D%S/8 +linical #ata interchange stan#ar#s consortium.
'he( ha&e #i**erent #ata mo#els5 which #e*ine clinical #ata stan#ar#s *or
pharmaceutical in#ustr(.
SDTH R It #e*ines the #ata ta)ulation #atasets that are to )e sent to the
F!4 *or regulator( su)missions. :+1'%s;
ADaH R 9Analysis data Hodel:!e*ines #ata set #e*inition gui#ance *or
creating anal(sis #ata sets.
7DH R KH. R )ase# #ata mo#el *or allows trans*er o* E"L )ase# #ata .
Define*xml R *or #ata #e*inition *ile :#e*ine.p#*; which is machine
rea#a)le.
%/" -C: -ui#eline5 $tructure an# +ontent o* +linical $tu#( 1eports
%/" -I: -ui#eline5 -oo# +linical 6ractice
%/" -G: -ui#eline5 $tatistical 6rinciples *or +linical 'rials
Title N2 5art C2N*CN: In&estigational New !rug 4pplication
C2* ha#e you e#er done any -dit chec0 ro&rams in your roQect' if
you ha#e' tell me what do you 0now a$out edit chec0 ro&rams!
3es I ha&e #one e#it check programs .
E#it check programs N !ata &ali#ation.
2*Data Validation R roc means' roc uni#ariate' roc fre1*
!ata +leaning N *in#ing errors.
N*/hec0in& for in#alid character #alues*
6roc *re. #ata = patients>
'a)les gen#er #< ae / nocum nopercent>
1un>
7hich gi&es *re.uenc( counts o* uni.ue character &alues.
C* 5roc rint with where statement to list in#alid data #alues*
^s(stolic )loo# pressure - 8F to 1FF_
^#iastolic )loo# pressure N ?F to 12F_
?* 5roc means' uni#ariate and ta$ulate to loo0 for outliers*
6roc means N min5 ma<5 n an# mean.
6roc uni&ariate N *i&e highest an# lowest &alues
^ stem lea* plots an# )o< plots_
3* 567/ F76HAT R ran&e chec0in&
I* Data Analysis R set' mer&e' udate' 0ee' dro in data ste*
B* /reate datasets R 567/ %H576T and data ste from flat files*
J* -xtract data R .%B)AH-*
G* SASASTAT R 567/ A)7VA' 567/ 6-=*
24* Dulicate Data R 567/ S76T )odu0ey or )odulicate
No#upke( N onl( checks *or #uplicates in /3
No#uplicate N checks entire o)ser&ation :matches all &aria)les;
For getting #uplicate o)ser&ations *irst sort /3 no#upke( an# merge it
)ack to the original #ataset an# keep onl( recor#s in original an# sorte#.
22*For creatin& analysis datasets from the raw data sets % used
the 567/ F76HAT' and rename an# length statements to make
changes an# *inall( make a anal(sis #ata set.
CN* What is Verification!
'he purpose o* the &eri*ication is to ensure the accurac( o* the *inal ta)les
an# the .ualit( o* $4$ programs that generate# the *inal ta)les.
4ccor#ing to the instructions $06 an# the $46 I selecte# the su)set o* the
*inal summar( ta)les *or &eri*ication. E.g 4#&erse e&ent ta)le5 )aseline
an# #emographic characteristics ta)le.
'he &eri*ication results were &eri*ie# against with the original *inal ta)les
an# all #iscrepancies i* e<iste# were #ocumente#.
CC* What is A))7TAT-D /6F!
4n annotate# +1F is a +1F in which the &aria)le names are written ne<t
to the spaces pro&i#e# *or the in&estigator. It ser&es as a link )etween the
#ata)ase/#ata sets an# the .uestions on the +1F.
C?* What is 5ro&ram Validation!
Its same as macro &ali#ation e<cept here we ha&e to &ali#ate the
programs i.e accor#ing to the $06 I ha# to *irst #etermine what the
program is suppose# to #o5 see i* the( work as the( are suppose# to work
an# create a &ali#ation #ocument mentioning i* the program works
properl( an# set the status as pass or *ail.6ass the input parameters to
the program an# check the log *or errors.
C3* What do you l0now a$out %SS and %S-' ha#e you e#er
roduced these reorts!
%SS 9%nte&rated summary of safety::
Integrates sa*et( in*ormation *rom all sources :animal5 clinical
pharmacolog(5 controlle# an# uncontrolle# stu#ies5 epi#emiologic #ata;.
ZI$$ is5 in part5 simpl( a summation o* #ata *rom in#i&i#ual stu#ies an#5
in part5 a new anal(sis that goes )e(on# what can )e #one with in#i&i#ual
stu#ies.Z
%S- 9%nte&rated Summary of efficacy:
%SS P %S- are critical components o* the sa*et( an# e**ecti&eness
su)mission an# e<pecte# to )e su)mitte# in the application in accor#ance
with regulation. F!4%s gui#ance Format an# +ontent o* +linical an#
$tatistical $ections o* 4pplication gi&es a#&ice on how to construct these
summaries. Note that5 #espite the name5 these are integrate# anal(ses o*
all rele&ant #ata5 not summaries.
CI* -xlain the rocess and how to do Data Validation!
I ha&e #one #ata &ali#ation an# #ata cleaning to check i* the #ata &alues
are correct or i* the( con*orm to the stan#ar# set o* rules.
4 &er( simple approach to i#enti*(ing in&ali# character &alues in this *ile is
to use 610+ F1ER to list all the uni.ue &alues o* these &aria)les. 'his
gi&es us the total num)er o* in&ali# o)ser&ations. 4*ter i#enti*(ing the
in&ali# #ata @we ha&e to locate the o)ser&ation so that we can report to
the manager the particular patient num)er.
In&ali# #ata can )e locate# using the #ata KnullK programming. Following
is e.g
!4'4 KNULLK>
INFILE Z+264'IEN'$5'E'Z 64!>
FILE 61IN'> SSS$EN! 0U'6U' '0 '9E
0U'6U' 7IN!07>
'I'LE ZLI$'IN- 0F IN,4LI! !4'4Z>
SSSN0'E2 7E 7ILL 0NL3 IN6U' '90$E
,41I4/LE$ 0F IN'E1E$'>
IN6U' @1 64'N0 WC.
@D -EN!E1 W1.
@2D !E WC.
@2 4E W1.>
SSS+9E+L -EN!E1>
IF -EN!E1 N0' IN :QFQ5Q"Q5Q Q; '9EN
6U' 64'N0= -EN!E1=>
SSS+9E+L !E>
IF ,E1IF3:!E5Q F12CD5?8BQ; NE F
'9EN 6U' 64'N0= !E=>
SSS+9E+L 4E>
IF 4E N0' IN :QFQ5Q1Q5Q Q; '9EN 6U'
64'N0= 4E=>
1UN>
For #ata &ali#ation o* numeric &alues like out o* range or missing &alues I
use# proc print with a where statement.
610+ 61IN' !4'4=+LE4N.64'IEN'$>
79E1E 91 N0' /E'7EEN DF 4N! 1FF 4N!
91 I$ N0' "I$$IN- 01
$/6 N0' /E'7EEN 8F 4N! 2FF 4N!
$/6 I$ N0' "I$$IN- 01
!/6 N0' /E'7EEN ?F 4N! 12F 4N!
!/6 I$ N0' "I$$IN->
'I'LE Z0U'-0F-14N-E ,4LUE$ F01 NU"E1I+
,41I4/LE$Z>
I! 64'N0>
,4191 $/6 !/6>
1UN>
I* we ha&e a range o* numeric &alues AFF1% N ABBB% then we can *irst use
user #e*ine# *ormat an# then use proc *re. to #etermine the in&ali#
&alues.
610+ F01"4'>
,4LUE W-EN!E1 QFQ5Q"Q = Q,4LI!Q
Q Q = Q"I$$IN-Q
0'9E1 = Q"I$+0!E!Q>
,4LUE W!E QFF1Q - QBBBQ= Q,4LI!Q
Q Q = Q"I$$IN-Q
0'9E1 = Q"I$+0!E!Q>
,4LUE W4E QFQ5Q1Q = Q,4LI!Q
Q Q = Q"I$$IN-Q
0'9E1 = Q"I$+0!E!Q>
1UN>
0ne o* the simplest wa(s to check *or in&ali# numeric &alues is to run
either 610+ "E4N$ or 610+ UNI,41I4'E.
7e can use the N an# N"I$$ options in the 6roc "eans to check *or
missing an# in&ali# #ata. !e*ault :n nmiss mean min ma< st##e&;.
'he main a#&antage o* using 610+ UNI,41I4'E :#e*ault n mean st#
skewness kurtosis; is that we get the e<treme &alues i.e lowest an#
highest 5 &alues which we can see *or #ata errors. I* u want to see the
pati# *or these particular o)ser&ations @..state an# I! patno statement in
the uni&ariate proce#ure.
CB* 6oles and resonsi$ilities!
5ro&rammer: !e&elop programming *or report *ormats :I$$ V I$E shell;
re.uire# )( the regulator( authorities.
Up#ate I$$/I$E shell5 when re.uire#.
/linical Study Team:
6ro&i#e in*ormation on sa*et( an# e**icac( *in#ings5 when re.uire#.
6ro&i#e up#ates on sa*et( an# e**icac( *in#ings *or perio#ic reporting.
Study Statistician
!ra*t I$$ an# I$E shell.
Up#ate shell5 when appropriate.
4nal(Me an# report #ata in appro&e# *ormat5 to meet perio#ic reporting
re.uirements.
CJ* -xlain Tyes of /linical trials study you come across!
Sin&le Blind Study
7hen the patients are not aware o* which treatment the( recei&e
Dou$le Blind Study
7hen the patients an# the in&estigator are unaware o* the treatment
group assigne#
Trile Blind Study
'riple )lin# stu#( is when patients5 in&estigator5 an# the proYect team are
unaware o* the treatments a#ministere#.
CG* What are the domainsAdatasets you ha#e used in your
studies!
!emog
4#&erse E&ents
,itals
E+-
La)s
"e#ical 9istor(
6h(sicalE<am
?4* /an you list the #aria$les in all the domains!
Demo&: 6atient I#5 4ge5 $e<5 1ace5 $creening 7eight5 $creening 9eight5
/"I
Ad#erse -#ents: 6rotocol no5 In&estigator no5 6atient I#5 6re*erre#
'erm5 In&estigator 'erm5 :4)#ominal #is5 Fre. urination5 hea#ache5
#iMMiness5 han#-*oo# s(n#rome5 rash5 Leukopenia5 Neutropenia; $e&erit(5
$eriousness :(/n;5 $eriousness '(pe :#eath5 li*e threatening5 permanentl(
#isa)ling;5 ,isit num)er5 $tart time5 $top time5 1elate# to stu#( #rugH
Vitals: $u)Yect num)er5 $tu#( #ate5 6roce#ure time5 $itting )loo#
pressure5 $itting +ar#iac 1ate5 ,isit num)er5 +hange *rom )aseline5 !ose
o* treatment at time o* &ital sign5 4)normal :(es/no;5 /"I5 $(stolic )loo#
pressure5 !iastolic )loo# pressure.
-/=: $u)Yect no5 $tu#( !ate5 $tu#( 'ime5 ,isit no5 61 inter&al :msec;5
R1$ #uration :msec;5 R' inter&al :msec;5 R'c inter&al :msec;5 ,entricular
1ate :)pm;5 +hange *rom )aseline5 4)normal.
.a$s: $u)Yect no5 $tu#( #a(5 La) parameter :Lparm;5 la) units5 ULN
:upper limit o* normal;5 LLN :lower limit o* normal;5 &isit num)er5 change
*rom )aseline5 -reater than ULN :(es/no;5 la) relate# serious a#&erse
e&ent :(es/no;.
Hedical "istory: "e#ical +on#ition5 !ate o* !iagnosis :(es/no;5 3ears o*
onset or occurrence5 6ast con#ition :(es/no;5 +urrent con#ition :(es/no;.
5hysical-xam: $u)Yect no5 E<am #ate5 E<am time5 ,isit num)er5 1eason
*or e<am5 /o#( s(stem5 4)normal :(es/no;5 Fin#ings5 +hange *rom
)aseline :impro&ement5 worsening5 no change;5 +omments
?2* =i#e me the examle of edit c0ec0s you made in your
ro&rams!
E<amples o* E#it +hecks
Demo&:
7eight is outsi#e e<pecte# range
/o#( mass in#e< is )elow e<pecte# : check weight an# height;
4ge is not within e<pecte# range
!0/ is greater than the ,isit #ate
In&ali# -en#er &alue
Ad#erse
$top is )e*ore the start or &isit
$tart is )e*ore )irth#ate
$tu#( me#icine #iscontinue# #ue to a#&erse e&ent )ut completion
in#icate# :+0"6LE'E =1;
.a$s
1esult is within the normal range )ut a)normal is not )lank or AN%
1esult is outsi#e the normal range )ut a)normal is )lank
Vitals
!iastolic /6 O $(stolic /6
Hedical "istory
,isit #ate prior to $creen #ate
5hysical
6h(sical e<am is normal )ut comment inclu#e#
?N* What are the ad#anta&es of usin& SAS in clinical data
mana&ement! Why should not we use other software roducts in
mana&in& clinical data! 4!,4N'4-E$ 0F U$IN- 4 $4$`-/4$E!
$3$'E"
.ess hardware is re1uired* 4 '(pical $4$`-)ase# s(stem can utiliMe a
stan#ar# *ile ser&er to store its #ata)ases an# #oes not re.uire one or
more #e#icate# ser&ers to han#le the application loa#. 6+ $4$` can
easil( )e use# to han#le processing5 while #ata access is le*t to the *ile
ser&er. 4##itionall(5 as presente# later in this paper5 it is possi)le to use
the $4$` pro#uct $4$`/$hare to pro&i#e a #e#icate# ser&er to han#le
#ata transactions.
Fewer ersonnel are re1uired* $(stems that use complicate# #ata)ase
so*tware o*ten re.uire the hiring o* one ore more !/4%s :!ata)ase
4#ministrators; who make sure the #ata)ase so*tware is running5 make
changes to the structure o* the #ata)ase5 etc. 'hese in#i&i#uals o*ten
re.uire special training or )ackgroun# e<perience in the particular
#ata)ase application )eing use#5 t(picall( 0racle. 4##itionall(5 consultants
are o*ten re.uire# to set up the s(stem an#/or stu#ies since #e#icate#
ser&ers an# speci*ic e<pertise re.uirements o*ten complicate the process.
,sers with e#en casual SASS exerience can set u studies*
No&ice programmers can )uil# the structure o* the #ata)ase an# #esign
screens. 0rganiMations that are in&ol&e# in #ata management almost
alwa(s ha&e at least one $4$` programmer alrea#( on sta**. $4$`
programmers will ha&e an un#erstan#ing o* how the s(stem actuall(
works which woul# allow them to e<ten# the *unctionalit( o* the s(stem
)( #irectl( accessing $4$` #ata *rom outsi#e o* the s(stem.
Seed of setu is dramatically reduced* /( keeping stu#ies on a local
*ile ser&er an# making the #ata)ase an# screen #esign processes
e<tremel( simple an# intuiti&e5 setup time is re#uce# *rom weeks to #a(s.
All hases of the data mana&ement rocess $ecome
homo&eneous* From entr( to anal(sis5 #ata resi#e in $4$` #ata sets5
o*ten the en# goal o* e&er( #ata management group. 4##itionall(5 $4$`
users are in&ol&e# in each step5 instea# o* ha&ing specialists *rom
#i**erent areas han# o** pieces o* stu#ies #uring the proYect li*e c(cle.
)o data con#ersion is re1uired* $ince the #ata resi#e in $4$` #ata
sets nati&el(5 no con&ersion programs nee# to )e written.
Data re#iew can haen durin& the data entry rocess' on the
master data$ase* 4s long as recor#s are marke# as )eing #ou)le-
ke(e#5 #ata re&iew personnel can run e#it check programs an# )uil#
.ueries on some patients while others are still )eing entere#.
Ta$les and listin&s can $e &enerated on li#e data* 'his helps spee#
up the #e&elopment o* ta)le an# listing programs an# allows
programmers to a&oi# ha&ing to make continual copies or e<tracts o* the
#ata #uring testing.
?C* "a#e you e#er had to follow S75s or ro&rammin& &uidelines!
$06 #escri)es the process to assure that stan#ar# co#ing acti&ities5 which
pro#uce ta)les5 listings an# graphs5 *unctions an#/or e#it checks5 are
con#ucte# in accor#ance with in#ustr( stan#ar#s are appropriatel(
#ocumente#.
It is normall( use# whene&er new programs are re.uire# or e<isting
programs re.uire# some mo#i*ication #uring the set-up5 con#uct5 an#/or
reporting clinical trial #ata.
??* Descri$e the tyes of SAS ro&rammin& tas0s that you
erformed: Ta$les! .istin&s! =rahics! Ad hoc reorts! 7ther!
6repare# programs re.uire# *or the I$$ an# I$E anal(sis reports.
!e&elope# an# &ali#ate# programs *or preparing a#-hoc statistical reports
*or the preparation o* clinical stu#( report. 7rote anal(sis programs in
line with the speci*ications #e*ine# )( the stu#( statistician. /ase $4$
:"E4N$5 F1ER5 $U""4135 '4/UL4'E5 1E601' etc; an# $4$/$'4'
proce#ures :1E-5 -L"5 4N0,45 an# UNI,41I4'E etc.; were use# *or
summariMation5 +ross-'a)ulations an# statistical anal(sis purposes.
+reate# $tatistical reports using 6roc 1eport5 !ata KnullK an# $4$ "acro.
+reate#5 #eri&e# an# merge# an# poole# #atasets5listings an# summar(
ta)les *or 6hase-I an# 6hase-II o* clinical trials.
?3* "a#e you $een in#ol#ed in editin& the data or writin& data
1ueries!
I* (our inter&iewer asks this .uestion5 the u shoul# ask him what he
means )( e#iting the #ata@ an# #ata .ueries@
?I* Are you in#ol#ed in writin& the inferential analysis lan!
Ta$les secifications!
?B* What do you feel a$out hardcodin&!
6rogrammers sometime har#co#e when the( nee# to pro#uce report in
urgent. /ut it is alwa(s )etter to a&oi# har#co#ing5 as it o&erri#es the
#ata)ase controls in clinical #ata management. !ata o*ten change in a
trial o&er time5 an# the har#co#e that is written to#a( ma( not )e &ali# in
the *uture.Un*ortunatel(5 a har#co#e ma( )e *orgotten an# le*t in the $4$
program5 an# that can lea# to an incorrect #ata)ase change.
?J* "ow do you write a test lan!
/e*ore writing Z'est planZ (ou ha&e to look into on ZFunctional
speci*icationsZ. Functional speci*ications itsel* #epen#s on
Z1e.uirementsZ5 so one shoul# ha&e clear un#erstan#ing o* re.uirements
an# *unctional speci*ications to write a test plan.
?G* What is the difference $etween #erification and #alidation!
4lthough the &eri*ication an# &ali#ation are close in meaning5
Z&eri*icationZ has more o* a sense o* testing the truth or accurac( o* a
statement )( e<amining e&i#ence or con#ucting e<periments5 while
Z&ali#ateZ has more o* a sense o* #eclaring a statement to )e true an#
marking it with an in#ication o* o**icial sanction.
34*What other SAS features do you use for error train& and
data #alidation!+on#itional statements5 i* then else.
6ut statement
!e)ug option.
32* What is 567/ /D%S/!
It is new $4$ proce#ure that is a&aila)le as a hot*i< *or $4$ 8.2 &ersion
an# comes as a part with
$4$ B.1.C &ersion. 610+ +!I$+ is a proce#ure that allows us to import
:an# e<port E"L *iles that are compliant with the +!I$+ 0!" &ersion 1.2
schema. For more #etails re*er $4$ programming in the 6harmaceutical
In#ustr( te<t )ook.
BG: What is .7/F!
6harmaceutical companies con#uct longitu#inalstu#ies on human su)Yects
that o*ten span se&eral months. It is unrealistic to e<pect patients to keep
e&er( sche#ule# &isit o&er such a long perio# o* time.!espite e&er( e**ort5
patient #ata are not collecte# *or some time points. E&entuall(5 these
)ecome missing &alues in a $4$ #ata set later. For reporting purposes5
the most recent pre&iousl( a&aila)le &alue is su)stitute# *or each missing
&isit. 'his is calle# the Last 0)ser&ation +arrie# Forwar# :L0+F;.
L0+F #oesnQt mean last $4$ #ataset o)ser&ation carrie# *orwar#. It
means last non-missing &alue carrie# *orwar#. It is the &alues o*
in#i&i#ual measures that are the Zo)ser&ationsZ in this case. 4n# i* (ou
ha&e multiple &aria)les containing these &alues then the( will )e carrie#
*orwar# in#epen#entl(.
Basic SAS interview questions
General interview questions
1. What is the effect of the OPTIONS statement ERRORS=1
!. What"s the #ifference $etween VAR A1 - A4 an# VAR A1 A4
%. What #o the S&S lo' messa'es "numeric values have been converted to character"
mean What are the im(lications
). Wh* is a STOP statement nee#e# for the POINT= o(tion on a SET statement
+. ,ow #o *ou control the num$er of o$servations an#-or varia$les rea# or written
.. &((ro/imatel* what #ate is re(resente# $* the S&S #ate value of 0%1
0. ,ow woul# *ou remove a format that has $een (ermanentl* associate# with a
varia$le
2. What #oes the R3N statement #o
4. Wh* is S&S consi#ere# self5#ocumentin'
11. What areas of S&S are *ou most intereste# in
11. 6riefl* #escri$e + wa*s to #o a 7ta$le loo8u(7 in S&S.
1!. What versions of S&S have *ou use# 9on which (latforms:
1%. What are some 'oo# S&S (ro'rammin' (ractices for (rocessin' ver* lar'e #ata sets
1). What are some (ro$lems *ou mi'ht encounter in (rocessin' missin' values In ;ata
ste(s &rithmetic <om(arisons =unctions <lassif*in' #ata
1+. ,ow woul# *ou create a #ata set with 1 o$servation an# %1 varia$les from a #ata set
with %1 o$servations an# 1 varia$le
1.. What is the #ifferent $etween functions an# PRO<s that calculate the same sim(le
#escri(tive statistics
10. If *ou were tol# to create man* recor#s from one recor#> show how *ou woul# #o this
usin' arra*s an# with PRO< TR&NSPOSE
12. What are ?numeric? an# ?character? an# what #o the* #o
14. ,ow woul# *ou create multi(le o$servations from a sin'le o$servation
!1. =or what (ur(ose woul# *ou use the RET&IN statement
!1. What is a metho# for assi'nin' first.@&R an# last.@&R to the 6A 'rou( varia$le on
unsorte# #ata
!!. What is the or#er of a((lication for out(ut #ata set o(tions> in(ut #ata set o(tions an#
S&S statements
!%. What is the or#er of evaluation of the com(arison o(eratorsB C 5 D - DD 9 :
!). ,ow coul# *ou 'enerate test #ata with no in(ut #ata
!+. ,ow #o *ou #e$u' an# test *our S&S (ro'rams
!.. What can *ou learn from the S&S lo' when #e$u''in'
!0. What is the (ur(ose of ?error?
!2. ,ow can *ou (ut a 7trace7 in *our (ro'ram
!4. &re *ou sensitive to co#e wal85throu'hs> (eer review> or E< review
%1. ,ave *ou ever use# the S&S ;e$u''er
%1. What other S&S features #o *ou use for error tra((in' an# #ata vali#ation
%!. ,ow #oes S&S han#le missin' values inB assi'nment statements> functions> a mer'e>
an u(#ate> sort or#er> formats> PRO<s
%%. ,ow man* missin' values are availa$le When mi'ht *ou use them
%). ,ow #o *ou test for missin' values
%+. ,ow are numeric an# character missin' values re(resente# internall*
9 Comments so far
1E. What is the effect of the OPTIONS statement ERRORS=1
&ns. If ERRORS=1 then onl* 1 #ata error statement is (rintes on Fo'
!E. What #oes the R3N statement #o
&ns. it will e/cutes the (ro'ramme.
%E. ,ow woul# *ou remove a format that has $een (ermanentl* associate# with a
varia$le
&ns. 55555555
)E. What #o the S&S lo' messa'es Gnumeric values have $een converte# to
characterH mean What are the im(lications
&ns. These S&S lo' messa'es shows that the all of the numeric values have $een
converte# to character values.
When usin' the (ut function in *our (ro'ram> the numeric values are converte# into
character values.
+E. ,ow are numeric an# character missin' values re(resente# internall*
&nsB $asicall* charactor values are re(rasente# $* $lan8
s(ace numaric values are re(rasente# $* #ot in sas #ata set.
.E. ,ow woul# *ou create a #ata set with 1 o$servation an# %1 varia$les from a #ata
set with %1 o$servations an# 1 varia$le
&nsB 6A 3SING PRO< TR&NSPOSE.
Does SAS have a function for calculatin factorials !
"# Ans$ Do not %now&
Su Ans$ 'o( )ut the *amma +unction ,oes -.-1/0
1hat is the smallest lenth for a numeric an, character varia)le
res2ectivel# !
Ans$ 3 )#tes an, 1 )#te&
A,,en,um )# 4ohn 1il,enthal - the smallest leal lenth for a numeric is
5S ,e2en,ent& 1in,ows an, 6ni. have a minimum lenth of 7( not 3&
1hat is the larest 2ossi)le lenth of a macro varia)le !
Ans$ Do not %now
A,,en,um )# 4ohn 1il,enthal - 88RC( the ma.mium lenth is
a22ro.imatel# the value of "S9":AB"A; less the lenth of the name&
<ist ,ifferences )etween SAS =R5Cs an, the SAS DA:A S:>=&
Ans$ =rocs are su)-routines with a s2ecific 2ur2ose in min, an, the ,ata
ste2 is ,esine, to rea, in an, mani2ulate ,ata&
Does SAS ,o 2ower calculations via a =R5C!
Ans$ 'o( )ut there are macros out there written )# other users&
?ow can #ou write a SAS ,ata set to a comma ,elimite, file !
Ans$ =6: -formatte,/ statement in ,ata ste2&
1& ?ave #ou ever )een to an# user conferences! 8f so( which ones! Do #ou
remem)er an# 2a2er@2resentation which stoo, out! 8f so( wh#!
Answers$ 8 use this to aue e.2erience an, level of e.2ertise& 13A #ears
of SAS e.2erience on the resume( )ut no user activit# raises re, flas& 8
can un,erstan, no S6*8 or RS6* for financial reasons( )ut itBs har, to
Custif# no local meetins&
3& 1hat e,itor ,o #ou use!
Answers$ >macs - hire, on the s2ot& De,it( 6ltar>,it( ;e,it( vi( 8S=+ are
also acce2ta)le answers& 1hat 8Bm loo%in for is a sense that the
can,i,ate can interact with the 5S )e#on, SAS& 5f course( Roer
DeAnelis -.lrE3sasFaol&com/ is a D" )iot( )ut he has oo, reasons for
,oin so& 1ith that e.ce2tion( 8 feel Cust usin D" ,is2la#s a lac% of
intellectual curiosit# a)out the rest of the 5S which( to me( results in low
scores&
7& 1hat was #our favorite course in hih school!
*oo, Answers$ "usic( eometr#( ale)ra - in 2articular wor, 2ro)lems(
calculus&
1hat is the ,ifference )etween a +6'C:85' an, a =R5C!
>.am2le$ ">A' function an, =R5C ">A'S
Answer$ 5ne will ive an averae across an o)servation -a row/ an, the
other will ive an averae across man# o)servations -a column/
1hat are some of the ,ifferences )etween a 1?>R> an, an 8+ statement!
Answer$ "aCor ,ifferences inclu,e$
o 8+ can onl# )e use, in a DA:A ste2
o "an# 8+ statements can )e use, in one DA:A ste2
o "ust rea, the recor, into the 2roram ,ata vector to
2erform selection with 8+
o 1?>R> can )e use, in a DA:A ste2 as well as a =R5C&
o A secon, 1?>R> will re2lace the first unless the o2tion
A<S5 is use,
o Data su)set 2rior to rea,in recor, into =DV with 1?>R>
'ame some of the wa#s to create a macro varia)le
Answer$
o Glet
o CA<< S9"=6:-&&&&/
o when creatin a macro e.am2le$
o Gmacro m#macro-aH()H/I
o in SJ< usin 8':5
K@D8RKL
Juestions su)mitte, )# Charles =atri,e
1& Juestion$ Descri)e 1 wa# to avoi, usin a series of M8+M statements such
as
if )ranch H 1 then 2remium H amountI else
if )ranch H 3 then 2remium H amountI else
if&&&&& I else
if )ranch H 3N then 2remium H amountI
Answer$ 6se a +ormat an, the =6: function&
5r( use an SJ< 458' with a ta)le of Branch co,es&
5r( use a "ere statement with a ta)le of Branch co,es&
3& Juestion$ 1hen rea,in a '5' SAS e.ternal file what is the )est wa# of
rea,in the file!
Answer$ 6se the 8'=6: statement with 2ointer control - e.$ 8'=6: F1
,atee.tr mm,,##E& etc&
7& Juestion$ ?ow can #ou avoi, usin a series of MG8'C<6D>M
statements!
Answer$ 6se the "acro Autocall <i)rar#&
4& Juestion$ 8f #ou have 3 sets of +ormat <i)raries( can a SAS 2roram
have access to )oth ,urin 1 session!
Answer$ 9es& 6se the +":S>ARC? o2tion&
O& Juestion$ 'ame some of the SAS +unctions #ou have use,&
Answer$ <oo%in to see which ones an, how man# a 2otential can,i,ate
has use, in the 2ast&
P& Juestion$ 'ame some of the SAS =R5Cs #ou have use,&
Answer$ <oo%in to see which ones an, how man# a 2otential can,i,ate
has use, in the 2ast( as well as what SAS 2ro,ucts he@she has )een
e.2ose, to&
Q& Juestion$ ?ave #ou ever 2resente, a 2a2er to a SAS user rou2 -<ocal(
Reional or 'ational/!
Answer$ Chec%in to see if can,i,ate is willin to share i,eas( 2rou, of
his@her wor%( not afrai, to stan, u2 in front of an au,ience( can
write@s2ea% in a reasona)le clear an, un,erstan,a)le manner( an,
finall#( has mentorin a)ilities&
Juestion$ ?ow woul, #ou chec% the uniqueness of a ,ata set! i&e& that the
,ata set was unique on its 2rimar# %e# -8D/& su22ose there were two
8,entifier varia)les$ 8D1( 8D3
answer$
1& 2roc +R>J or,er H +R>JI
ta)les 8DI
shows multi2les at to2 of listin
3& 5r( com2are num)er of o)s of oriinal ,ata set an, ,ata
after
2roc S5R: no,u2s
or is that
2roc S5R: no,u2%e#
%. use first&8D in ,ata ste2 to write non-unique to se2arate
,ata set if first&8D an, last&8D then out2ut 6'8J6>I else
out2ut D6=SI
Ver# Basic
1hat SAS statements woul, #ou co,e to rea, an e.ternal raw ,ata file to a
DA:A ste2!
?ow ,o #ou rea, in the varia)les that #ou nee,!
Are #ou familiar with s2ecial in2ut ,elimiters! ?ow are the# use,!
8f rea,in a varia)le lenth file with fi.e, in2ut( how woul, #ou 2revent SAS
from rea,in the ne.t recor, if the last varia)le ,i,nBt have a value!
1hat is the ,ifference )etween an informat an, a format! 'ame three
informats or formats&
'ame an, ,escri)e three SAS functions that #ou have use,( if an#!
?ow woul, #ou co,e the criteria to restrict the out2ut to )e 2ro,uce,!
1hat is the 2ur2ose of the trailin F! :he FF! ?ow woul, #ou use them!
6n,er what circumstances woul, #ou co,e a S><>C: construct instea, of
8+ statements!
1hat statement ,o #ou co,e to tell SAS that it is to write to an e.ternal file!
1hat statement ,o #ou co,e to write the recor, to the file!
8f rea,in an e.ternal file to 2ro,uce an e.ternal file( what is the shortcut to
write that recor, without co,in ever# sinle varia)le on the recor,!
8f #ouBre not wantin an# SAS out2ut from a ,ata ste2( how woul, #ou co,e
the ,ata statement to 2revent SAS from 2ro,ucin a set!
1hat is the one statement to set the criteria of ,ata that can )e co,e, in an#
ste2!
?ave #ou ever lin%e, SAS co,e! 8f so( ,escri)e the lin% an, an# require,
statements use, to either 2rocess the co,e or the ste2 itself&
?ow woul, #ou inclu,e common or reuse co,e to )e 2rocesse, alon with
#our statements!
1hen loo%in for ,ata containe, in a character strin of 1ON )#tes( which
function is the )est to locate that ,ata$ scan( in,e.( or in,e.c!
8f #ou have a ,ata set that contains 1NN varia)les( )ut #ou nee, onl# five of
those( what is the co,e to force SAS to use onl# those varia)le!
Co,e a =R5C S5R: on a ,ata set containin State( District an, Count# as
the 2rimar# varia)les( alon with several numeric varia)les&
?ow woul, #ou ,elete ,u2licate o)servations!
?ow woul, #ou ,elete o)servations with ,u2licate %e#s!
?ow woul, #ou co,e a mere that will %ee2 onl# the o)servations that have
matches from )oth sets&
?ow woul, #ou co,e a mere that will write the matches of )oth to one ,ata
set( the non-matches from the left-most ,ata set to a secon, ,ata set( an, the
non-matches of the riht-most ,ata set to a thir, ,ata set&
8nternals
1hat is the =roram Data Vector -=DV/! 1hat are its functions!
Does SAS B:ranslateB -com2ile/ or ,oes it B8nter2retB! >.2lain&
At com2ile time when a SAS ,ata set is rea,( what items are create,!
'ame statements that are reconiRe, at com2ile time onl#!
8,entif# statements whose 2lacement in the DA:A ste2 is critical&
'ame statements that function at )oth com2ile an, e.ecution time&
'ame statements that are e.ecution onl#&
8n the flow of DA:A ste2 2rocessin( what is the first action in a t#2ical
DA:A Ste2!
1hat is SnS!
Base SAS
1hat is the effect of the 5=:85'S statement >RR5RSH1!
1hatBs the ,ifference )etween VAR A1 - A4 an, VAR A1 -- A4!
1hat ,o the SAS lo messaes Mnumeric values have )een converte, to
characterM mean! 1hat are the im2lications!
1h# is a S:5= statement nee,e, for the =58':H o2tion on a S>:
statement!
?ow ,o #ou control the num)er of o)servations an,@or varia)les rea, or
written!
A22ro.imatel# what ,ate is re2resente, )# the SAS ,ate value of Q7N!
?ow woul, #ou remove a format that has )een 2ermanentl# associate, with
a varia)le!!
1hat ,oes the R6' statement ,o!
1h# is SAS consi,ere, self-,ocumentin!
1hat areas of SAS are #ou most intereste, in!
Briefl# ,escri)e O wa#s to ,o a Mta)le loo%u2M in SAS&
1hat versions of SAS have #ou use, -on which 2latforms/!
1hat are some oo, SAS 2rorammin 2ractices for 2rocessin ver# lare
,ata sets!
1hat are some 2ro)lems #ou miht encounter in 2rocessin missin values!
T8n Data ste2s! Arithmetic! Com2arisons! +unctions! Classif#in ,ata!
?ow woul, #ou create a ,ata set with 1 o)servation an, 7N varia)les from a
,ata set with 7N o)servations an, 1 varia)le!
1hat is the ,ifferent )etween functions an, =R5Cs that calculate the same
sim2le ,escri2tive statistics!
8f #ou were tol, to create man# recor,s from one recor,( show how #ou
woul, ,o this usin arra#s an, with =R5C :RA'S=5S>!
1hat are SnumericS an, ScharacterS an, what ,o the# ,o!
?ow woul, #ou create multi2le o)servations from a sinle o)servation!
+or what 2ur2ose woul, #ou use the R>:A8' statement!
1hat is a metho, for assinin first&VAR an, last&VAR to the B9 rou2
varia)le on unsorte, ,ata!
1hat is the or,er of a22lication for out2ut ,ata set o2tions( in2ut ,ata set
o2tions an, SAS statements!
1hat is the or,er of evaluation of the com2arison o2erators$ A - T @ TT - / !
:estin( ,e)uin
?ow coul, #ou enerate test ,ata with no in2ut ,ata!
?ow ,o #ou ,e)u an, test #our SAS 2rorams!
1hat can #ou learn from the SAS lo when ,e)uin!
1hat is the 2ur2ose of SerrorS!
?ow can #ou 2ut a MtraceM in #our 2roram!
Are #ou sensitive to co,e wal%-throuhs( 2eer review( or JC review!
?ave #ou ever use, the SAS De)uer!
1hat other SAS features ,o #ou use for error tra22in an, ,ata vali,ation!
"issin values
?ow ,oes SAS han,le missin values in$ assinment statements( functions( a
mere( an u2,ate( sort or,er( formats( =R5Cs!
?ow man# missin values are availa)le! 1hen miht #ou use them!
?ow ,o #ou test for missin values!
?ow are numeric an, character missin values re2resente, internall#!
*eneral
1hat has )een #our most common 2rorammin mista%e!
1hat is #our favorite 2rorammin lanuae an, wh#!
1hat is #our favorite o2eratin s#stem! 1h#!
Do #ou o)serve an# co,in stan,ar,s! 1hat is #our o2inion of them!
1hat 2ercent of #our 2roram co,e is usuall# oriinal an, what 2ercent
co2ie, an, mo,ifie,!
?ave #ou ever ha, to follow S5=s or 2rorammin ui,elines!
1hich is worse$ not testin #our 2rorams or not commentin #our
2rorams!
'ame several wa#s to achieve efficienc# in #our 2roram& >.2lain tra,e-offs&
1hat other SAS 2ro,ucts have #ou use, an, consi,er #ourself 2roficient in
usin!
+unctions
?ow ,o #ou ma%e use of functions!
1hen loo%in for containe, in a character strin of 1ON )#tes( which function
is the )est to locate that ,ata$ scan( in,e.( or in,e.c!
1hat is the sinificance of the B5+B in ;HS6"-5+ a1-a4( aP( a9/I!
1hat ,o the =6: an, 8'=6: functions ,o!
1hich ,ate function a,vances a ,ate( time or ,ate@time value )# a iven
interval!
1hat ,o the "5D an, 8': function ,o!
?ow miht #ou use "5D an, 8': on numerics to mimic S6BS:R on
character strins!
8n ARRA9 2rocessin( what ,oes the D8" function ,o!
?ow woul, #ou ,etermine the num)er of missin or nonmissin values in
com2utations!
1hat is the ,ifference )etween$ .HaA)AcA,I an, .HS6"-a()(c(,/I!
:here is a fiel, containin a ,ate& 8t nee,s to )e ,is2la#e, in the format
M,,mon##M if itBs )efore 19QO( M,, mon cc##M if itBs after 19EO( an, as BDisco
9earsB if itBs )etween 19QO an, 19EO& ?ow woul, #ou accom2lish this in ,ata ste2
co,e! 6sin onl# =R5C +5R"A:&
8n the followin DA:A ste2( what is nee,e, for BfractionB to 2rint to the lo!
,ata SnullSI .H1@7I if .H&7777 then 2ut BfractionBI runI
1hat is the ,ifference )etween calculatin the BmeanB usin the mean
function an, =R5C ">A'S!
=R5Cs
?ave #ou ever use, M=roc "ereM! -)e 2re2are, for sur2risin answers&&/
8f #ou were iven several SAS ,ata sets #ou were unfamiliar with( how woul,
#ou fin, out the varia)le names an, formats of each ,ataset!
1hat SAS =R5Cs have #ou use, an, consi,er #ourself 2roficient in usin!
?ow woul, #ou %ee2 SAS from overla#in the a SAS set with its sorte,
version!
8n =R5C =R8':( can #ou 2rint onl# varia)les that )ein with the letter
MAM!
1hat are some ,ifferences )etween =R5C S6""AR9 an, =R5C ">A'S!
=R5C +R>J$
TCo,e the ta)les statement for a sinle-level -most common/ frequenc#&
TCo,e the ta)les statement to 2ro,uce a multi-level frequenc#&
T'ame the o2tion to 2ro,uce a frequenc# line items rather that a ta)le&
T=ro,uce out2ut from a frequenc#& Restrict the 2rintin of the ta)le&
=R5C ">A'S$
TCo,e a =R5C ">A'S that shows )oth summe, an, averae, out2ut of the
,ata&
TCo,e the o2tion that will allow ">A'S to inclu,e missin numeric ,ata to )e
inclu,e, in the re2ort&
TCo,e the ">A'S to 2ro,uce out2ut to )e use, later&
Do #ou use =R5C R>=5R: or =R5C :AB6<A:>! 1hich ,o #ou 2refer!
>.2lain&
"erin@62,atin
1hat ha22ens in a one-on-one mere! 1hen woul, #ou use one!
?ow woul, #ou com)ine 7 or more ta)les with ,ifferent structures!
1hat is a 2ro)lem with merin two ,ata sets that have varia)les with the
same name )ut ,ifferent ,ata!
1hen woul, #ou choose to ">R*> two ,ata sets toether an, when woul,
#ou S>: two ,ata sets!
1hich ,ata set is the controllin ,ata set in the ">R*> statement!
?ow ,o the 8'H varia)les im2rove the ca2a)ilit# of a ">R*>!
>.2lain the messae B">R*> ?AS 5'> 5R "5R> DA:AS>:S 18:?
R>=>A:S 5+ B9 VAR8AB<>SM&
Sim2le statistics
?ow woul, #ou enerate 1NNN o)servations from a normal ,istri)ution with
a mean of ON an, stan,ar, ,eviation of 3N& ?ow woul, #ou use =R5C C?AR:
to loo% at the ,istri)ution! Descri)e the sha2e of the ,istri)ution&
?ow ,o #ou enerate ran,om sam2les!
CustomiRe, Re2ort 1ritin
1hat is the 2ur2ose of the statement DA:A S'6<<S I!
1hat is the 2oun, sin use, for in the DA:A S'6<<S!
1hat woul, #ou use the trailin F sin for!
+or what 2ur2ose-s/ woul, #ou use the R>:6R' statement!
?ow woul, #ou ,etermine how far ,own on a 2ae #ou have 2rinte, in or,er
to 2rint out footnotes!
1hat is the 2ur2ose of usin the 'H=S o2tion!
"acro
1hat s#stem o2tions woul, #ou use to hel2 ,e)u a macro!
Descri)e how #ou woul, create a macro varia)le&
?ow ,o #ou i,entif# a macro varia)le!
?ow ,o #ou ,efine the en, of a macro!
?ow ,o #ou assin a macro varia)le to a SAS varia)le!
+or what 2ur2oses have #ou use, SAS macros!
1hat is the ,ifference )etween G<5CA< an, G*<5BA<!
?ow lon can a macro varia)le )e! A to%en!
8f #ou use a S9"=6: in a DA:A ste2( when an, where can #ou use the
macro varia)le!
1hat ,o #ou co,e to create a macro! >n, one!
Descri)e how #ou woul, 2ass ,ata to a macro&
9ou have five ,ata sets that nee, to )e 2rocesse, i,enticall#I how woul, #ou
sim2lif# that 2rocessin with a macro!
?ow woul, #ou co,e a macro statement to 2ro,uce information on the SAS
lo! :his statement can )e co,e, an#where&
?ow ,o #ou a,, a num)er to a macro varia)le!
8f #ou nee, the value of a varia)le rather than the varia)le itself( what woul,
#ou use to loa, the value to a macro varia)le!
Can #ou e.ecute a macro within a macro! Descri)e&
Can #ou a macro within another macro! 8f so( how woul, SAS %now where
the current macro en,e, an, the new one )ean!
?ow are 2arameters 2asse, to a macro!
=harmaceutical 8n,ustr#
Descri)e the t#2es of SAS 2rorammin tas%s that #ou 2erforme,$ :a)les!
<istins! *ra2hics! A, hoc re2orts! 5ther!
?ave #ou )een involve, in e,itin the ,ata or writin ,ata queries!
1hat techniques an,@or =R5Cs ,o #ou use for ta)les!
Do #ou 2refer =R5C R>=5R: or =R5C :AB6<A:>! 1h#!
Are #ou involve, in writin the inferential anal#sis 2lan! :a)les
s2ecifications!
1hat ,o #ou feel a)out har,co,in!
?ow e.2erience, are #ou with customiRe, re2ortin an, use of DA:A
S'6<<S features!
?ow ,o #ou write a test 2lan!
1hat is the ,ifference )etween verification an, vali,ation!
8ntani)les
1hat was the last com2uter )oo% #ou 2urchase,! 1h#!
1hat is #our favorite all time com2uter )oo%! 1h#!
+or contractors$
T1ill it )other #ou if the u# at the ne.t ,es% times the frequenc# an, ,uration
of #our )athroom@coffee )rea%s on the roun,s that B#ou are ettin 2ai, twice
as much as he isB!
T?ow will #ou react when( while consultin a SAS ,ocumentation manual to et
an answer to a 2ro)lem( someone sa#s$ Bhe#( 8 thouht #ou were su22ose, to
%now all that stuff alrea,#( an, not have to loo% it u2 in a )oo%0B
TCan #ou continue to write co,e while the rest of the 2eo2le on the floor where
#ou wor% have a nois# 2art# to which #ou were not invite,!
'on-:echnical
Can #ou start on "on,a#!
Do #ou thin% 2rofessionall#!
T?ow ,o #ou 2ut a iraffe into the refrierator! Correct answer$ 52en the
refrierator ,oor( 2ut the iraffe in( an, close the ,oor& :his question tests
whether or not the can,i,ate is ,oin sim2le thins in a com2licate, wa#&
T?ow ,o #ou 2ut an ele2hant in the refrierator! 8ncorrect answer$ 52en the
refrierator ,oor( 2ut in the ele2hant( an, close the ,oor& Correct answer$ 52en
the refrierator ,oor( ta%e out the iraffe( 2ut in the ele2hant( an, close the ,oor&
:his question tests #our foresiht&
T:he <ion Din is hostin an animal conference& All the animals in the worl,
atten, e.ce2t one& 1hich animal ,oes not atten,! Correct answer$ :he ele2hant&
:he ele2hant is in the refrierator( remem)er! :his tests if #ou are ca2a)le of
com2rehensive thin%in&
T:here is a river notoriousl# %nown for itBs lare croco,ile 2o2ulation& 1ith
ease( how ,o #ou safel# cross it! Correct answer$ Sim2l# swim across& All of the
croco,iles are atten,in the <ion DinBs animal conference& :his questions #our
reasonin a)ilit#&
52en-en,e, questions
Descri)e a time when #ou were reall# stuc% on a 2ro)lem an, how #ou solve,
it&
Descri)e the function an, utilit# of the most ,ifficult SAS macro that #ou
have written&
*ive me an e.am2le of &&
:ell me how #ou ,ealt with &&&
?ow ,o han,le wor%in un,er 2ressure!
5f all #our wor%( where have #ou )een the most successful!
1hat are the )est@worst as2ects of #our current Co)!
8f #ou coul, ,esin #our i,eal Co)( what woul, it loo% li%e!
?ow necessar# is it to )e creative in #our wor%!
8f mone# were no o)Cect( what woul, #ou li%e to ,o!
1hat woul, #ou chane a)out #our Co)!
SAS :echnical Juestions $
Com2ulsor# Juestions$
1. ,ow #o *ou #elete #u(licate o$servations
a. By using proc sort using noduprecs option along with the procedure in order to delete duplicate records.
!. ,ow woul# *ou co#e a mer'e that will 8ee( onl* the o$servations that have matches from $oth #ata sets
a. By using the in= option as
merge P(in=a) Q(in=b);
by <variable;
i! a and b;
run;
%. &((ro/imatel* what #ate is re(resente# $* the S&S #ate value of 5%.+
a."# $an #%&%
). What (ur(ose woul# *ou use the RET&IN statements
a.'n order to carry !orward the value o! a (ariable !rom one iteration to the other iteration o! the datastep.
+. What is the #ifference $etween IFO<&F an# IGFO6&F
a.)*+,-* is used to declare variables which are local to that macro and will be used only within the macro
these variables will not have their values outside the macro.
).*+B-* is used to create the global macro variables/ which can be used through the sas session.
..What are some #ifferences $etween PRO< S3JJ&RA an# PRO< JE&NS
a.By de!ault proc summary will not produce any printed output/it will create a dataset o! the generated output.
0here as P1+, 23-45 will produce a printed output.
0. @alue of F&ST.varia$le for Fast O$servation of #ataset
a. 6he value=#.
2. What is the #ataset *ou use# to ;EFETE #ataset
a.P1+, 7-6-5365.
4. What are run'rou( (rocs
a.P1+, 7-6-5365/ P1+, 5Q*.
11. What #o the GP3TH an# GINP3TH functions #o
a.P86 !unction is used to change the variable !rom character to numeric and '4P86 !unction is used to change
variable !rom numeric to character.
11.Whats is the use of PRO< =ORJ&TS
a.P1+, 9+12-65 is used to create user de!ined !ormats.
1!. ,ow *ou can invo8e OS level comman#s from S&S co#e
a. 8sing : statement.
1%. What is Store# com(lie# Jacro
a. - macro which is stored a!ter it is complied these macros are used in production level $obs/ they will
overcome the compilation overhead o! autocall macros.
1).What are some of the #ifferences $etween a W,ERE an# an I= statement
o '9 can only be used in a 7-6- step
o 2any '9 statements can be used in one 7-6- step
o 2ust read the record into the program data vector to per!orm selection with
'9
o 0;313 can be used in a 7-6- step as well as a P1+,.
o - second 0;313 will replace the !irst unless the option -*5+ is used
o 7ata subset prior to reading record into P7( with 0;313
1+.Name some of the wa*s to create a macro varia$le
o )let
o ,-** 5<2P86(....)
o when creating a macro e=ample>
o )macro mymacro(a=/b=);
o in 5Q* using '46+
52tional Juestions$
1& 1hat is a sas ,ata set an, how it is oraniRe,!
a. - sas data set is a table in oracle.
3& 1hat are the ,ifferent t#2es of in2ut st#les an, what is the ,ifference )etween sim2le list in2ut
an, a,vance, list in2ut st#le!
a. 6he di!!erent input styles are
i)*ist input style/ ii),olumn input style iii)-dvanced list input syle
iv)9ormatted input style v)4amed input style.
5imple list input style is used to read the standard data with delimiters where as -dvanced list input style is
used to read the non?standard data with delimiters.

7& 1hat is the ,iff )etween ,ataste2 an, 2roc ste2
a. 7atastep is used to create datasets where as proc step is used to process the datasets.
4& 1hich information is store, in ,escri2tive 2ortion of a ,ataset!
a. ;ost engine details/ all the variables along with their data to which they belong that is either
they are character/ numeric/@ when it was created and when it was last modi!ied @any
in!ormats.
O& 1hat is the sinificance of retain statement in sas ,ata ste2 2roram!
a. 1etain statement is used to carry !orward the value !rom one iteration to the other iteration o! the data
step.
P& ?ow can #ou a22en,@concatenate 3 or more sas ,atasets!
a.By using set statement /proc append procedure or else using merge statement.
Q& 1hat is the sinificance of inH ,ataset o2tion!
a. 0e can Anow whether the observation is participating in the P7( or not.
E& 1hat is the use of la)elH
a. label= is used give a label to the variables.
9& ?ow can #ou com2ress sas ,atasets!
a. 8sing ,+2P1355= option
1N& ?ow can #ou rea, sas o)servation from 1NN to 3NN!
a. using !irstobs=#"" obs=B""
11& 1hich sas function returns the wor,s in a strin
a& Using scan function
13& ?ow can #ou fin, the e.istence of a su)str in a iven strin
a. 8sing inde= !unction
17&?ow can #ou re2lace a su)strin in a iven strin
a. 5ubstr with right hand side

14&?ow can #ou fin, no& 5f ,a#s( no&of #ear( months )etween an# two ,ates!
a. 8sing the intcA !unction
1O&1hat is the sinificance of #earcutoffH o2tion
a. 0e can change the base year !rom #%B" to our own choice depending on the reCuirement.
1P&?ow to control 2ae num)ers on sas re2ort
a. Using the no number option.
A,vance, questions$
1& 1hat is the a,vantae of sum statement over retain statement!
a. 'n sum statement we need not initialiDe the variable/ as it is reCuired in retain statement.
3& 1hat is the ,iff& Between if-then-else an, su)strin if
a. 'n subsetting i!/ i! the condition is true then only the control goes to the ne=t statement a!ter the
subsetting i! or else it goes to the starting o! the step..where as this is not true in the i!?then?else.
.
7&Diff )etween ,o until an, ,o while
a.'n do until all the statements in the loop will be e=ecuted at least once as the test condition is checAed
a!ter e=ecuting the statements / where as in do while the test condition is checAed be!ore it start e=ecuting
the statements so i! the test condition is true then only it will go into the loop@.

4&1hat is sas arra#
a.sas array is the collection o! the variables which belong to same datatype they are stored in contiguous
memory location. 6hese will be having values only !or the duration o! the sas session.
O&?ow ta)le loo%u2 2ossi)le in sas
a. using !ormats and arrays
6'8; Juestions$
1. ,ow #o *ou list the hi##en files in current #irector*
8sing command Els Fla E
!. ,ow #o *ou search for sam(le strin' in (articular files
8sing grep/egrep command
%. ,ow #o *ou #is(la* #is8 usa'e
8sing Edu FsAG
). ,ow #o *ou #is(la* the to( most (rocesses utiliKin' most <P3
8sing EtopG or EprstatG
+. What are the 3NIL Mflavors" *ou have wor8e# on
5oalris/ ;P?8:/ -':
.. What is the use of PS comman#
*ists the live Process
0. E/(lain a$out use of chown> ch'r( N chmo# comman#s
,hown F change the owner !or a !ileHdirectory
,hgrp F change the group !or a !ileHdirectory
,hmod F change the permission !or a !ile
2. What is the #ifference $etween cat> hea# an# tail comman#s
,at will display whole !ile in one shot
E;ead ?B" !ilenameG command will display top B" lines o! the !ile
E6ail ?B" !ilesnameG command will display bottom B" lines o! the !ile
4. ,ow can *ou archive an# com(ress files in 3ni/
-rchiving can be done using EtarG command and compress can be done using EDipG or EcompressG
commands
11. ,ow can *ou su$mit S&S co#e in 6atch mo#e in 3ni/ 9<RONT&6 SANT&L:
I" "J K K K Ash He=portHhomeH==H===.sh will run everyday J>I" -2
11. ,ow can *ou sen# mail from 3ni/
8sing Email=G command
3=ample;
mail= ?s "mail !orm uni= server > Ldat " =====Mus.hsbc.com <HdevHnull
1!. Write a comman# to fin# all of the files> which have $een accesse# within the last %1 #a*s.
!ind H ?type ! ?atime ?I" 7ecember.!iles
1%. ,ow to create null file
8sing cat command or using N!ilenameO command
Shell scri2tin questions$
1). What is use of 7cut7 comman# Give me some e/am(les
iscluser=Pid ?a Lowner Q cut ?!B ?d R R Q cut ?c##?#JP
1+. What is this line in the shell scri(t #o GOP-$in-8shH
6o invoAe the shell indirectly this line is added as the !irst line in the !ile. 6his particular line invoAes
Aorn shell
1.. What is the #ifference $etween a Qthrea#Q an# a Q(rocessQ
Process is a program in e=ecution whereas thread is a separate path o! e=ecution in a program.
10. What #oes RO stan# for
LS will return the number o! parameters that are passed as the command?line arguments.
12. ,ow woul# *ou (rint Sust the !+th line in a file
sed ?n RB&pR !ilename.t=t
14. ,ow woul# *ou re(lace the n character in a file with some /*K
sed RsHnH=yDHgR !ilename newT!ilename
J& what is the ,ifference )etween =roc Anova An, =roc "eans!
&ns. &NO@& vs JE&NS
PRO< JE&NS
Jeans> stan#ar# #eviations> an# a host of other univariate statistics
for a set of varia$les.
PRO< JE&NS ;&T&=S&S#ataset o(tionsT
o(tionsBN JE&N ST; JIN J&L S3J @&R <SS 3SS
@&R varia$le9s:T
6A varia$le9s:T
O3TP3T O3T=S&S#ataset 8e*wor#=varia$lename ... T
Statistical o(tions on the PRO< JE&NS statement #etermine which statistics are (rinte#.
The 9o(tional: O3TP3T statement is use# to create a S&S #ataset containin' the values of
these statistics.
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
PRO< &NO@&
&nal*sis of variance 9$alance# #esi'ns:
PRO< &NO@& ;&T&=S&S#ataset o(tionsT
<F&SS varia$le9s:T
JO;EF #e(en#ent9s:= effect9s:T
J&1hat D8" function ,o in Arra#s ! 1hat is meant )# >ncr#2t!
&ns.;IJ9arra*?name:
;IJ9arra*?name: returns the num$er of elements in the arra* name#
7arra*?name7.
6e s(ecific on the question on encr*(t PPPPPP
If it is the #ataset o(tion *ou were as8in' a$out> then thru
encr*(t o(tion we can set a (asswor# for rea#-write o(tions for
the newl* create# #ataset. It can later $e rea#-e#ite# onl* after
s(ecif*in' the (asswor#.
J&2roc re2ort U2roc ta)ulate
what is ,ifference )etween 2roc re2ort an, 2roc ta)ulate& which one efficent! wh#!
&ns.Jainl* we will use these accor#in' to the client requirement
The main #ifference is Ta$ulate 'enerates out (ut in the form of ta$le an# is 'enerate# in sas
out(ut win#ow itself $ut Proc Re(ort 'enerate# in the form list 9not in the ta$le form:
out (ut is in se(arate Re(ort win#ow.
The other a#vanta'e is> with Re(ort we #o have o(tion to chan'e> rename> etc to #o with the
#ata sets at that time also.
1J& hi all(
if we ,onBt want an# ,u2licate %e#s we can use no,u2%e# )ut
i want onl# ,u2licates values& 8 ,onBt %now how to fin, can an# one
hel2 for this question&
&ns.,i>
If u r usin' S&S 4. then
3 can use #u(out o(tion in Proc sort.Then the out(ut #ataset
contains onl* #u(licate# values.
or if u r usin' S&S 2.1 or 2.! then use this
(roc sort #ata=sam(leT
$* varT
runT
#ata sam(leT
set sam(leT
$* varT
if not first.varT
runT
3J& what is 2,v how one can store the ,ata( where we will use in sas!
in sql or macros!
&ns.P;@ Stan#s for Pro'ram ;ata @ector.. Its a internal construct of
S&S when (rocessin' an* #ata. 3n#erstan#in' the conce(t of P;@
can hel( a (ro'rammer write more efficient S&S Pro'rams.
There is a (a(er $* the title 7Secret life of the ;ataste(7 which
was (resente# in one of the S&S 3ser Grou( International sessions
a$out 11 *ears a'o which e/(lains this conce(t $eautifull*.
Q: ,ow #o I convert a S&S #ata set that contains all numeric #ata in character varia$les to
a S&S #ata set that has numeric varia$les containin' the numeric #ata with the same varia$le
names
A: This macro chan'es all the character varia$les within a S&S #ata set to numeric.
This macro can also $e easil* mo#ifie# to #o the o((osite of the a$ove. To have all numeric
varia$les chan'e# to character Sust ma8e the chan'es #escri$e# within the ! comments in the
co#e $elow.
/** Sample dataset **/
data one;
input @1 a @3 b $10. @14 c $5. @20 d;
cards;
1 2654321234 33456 4
;
%macro ars!dsn";
%let list#;
%let t$pe#;
%let dsid#%s$s%unc!open!&dsn"";
%let cnt#%s$s%unc!attrn!&dsid'nars"";
%do i # 1 %to &cnt;
%let list#&list %s$s%unc!arname!&dsid'&i"";
%let t$pe#&t$pe %s$s%unc!art$pe!&dsid'&i"";
%end;
%let rc#%s$s%unc!close!&dsid"";
data t(o!drop#
%do i # 1 %to &cnt;
%let temp#%scan!&list'&i";
)&temp
%end;";
set &dsn!rename#!
%do i # 1 %to &cnt;
%let temp#%scan!&list'&i";
&temp#)&temp
%end;"";
%do * # 1 %to &cnt;
%let temp#%scan!&list'&*";
/** +,an-e + to . %or numeric to c,aracter conersion **/
%i% %scan!&t$pe'&*" # + %t,en %do;
/** /lso c,an-e 0.123 to 123 %or numeric to c,aracter **/
&temp#input!)&temp'4.";
%end;
%else %do;
&temp#)&temp;
%end;
%end;
run;
%mend ars;
%ars!one"
/** 5eri%$ conersion ,as been made **/
proc contents data#t(o;
runT
Q: <an I su((ress warnin's in the S&S lo'
A: Aes> o(tions such as ERRORS=> NONOTES> an# NOSO3R<E ena$le *ou to su((ress
information that is written to the S&S lo'. ,owever> there is not an o(tion that turns off
warnin's.
If it is im(ortant that the Fo' win#ow not show an* information> use PRO< PRINTTO or
5&FTFOG to re#irect the .lo' information to an e/ternal file.
Q: ,ow can I create multi(le o$servations from a sin'le o$servation
A: =or more information a$out how to create multi(le o$servations from a sin'le
o$servation> see $elowU..
/*****************************************************************/
/* 3itle6 +reate multiple obserations %rom a sin-le obseration */
/* usin- multi7dimensional arra$s */
/* */
/* 8oal6 0llustrate ,o( to cate-ori9e ariables based on t,eir */
/* position in a multi7dimensional arra$. */
/* */
/* .ote6 0n eac, obseration o% t,e data set :;/<=' <=.1 and */
/* >?<=.1 belon- to t,e same re-ion. 3,e %ollo(in- @/3/ */
/* step breaAs t,ese obserations into multiple */
/* obserations' preserin- t,e in%ormation o% S=B and */
/* ;=80?.. */
/* */
/*****************************************************************/
data %rame;
input men1 men2 men3 men4 men5 (oman1 (oman2 (oman3 (oman4 (oman5;
datalines;
1 2 3 4 5 6 C 4 D 10
2 3 4 5 6 C 4 D 10 11
3 4 5 6 C 4 D 10 11 12
;
run;
data restructured !drop#men177*";
set %rame;
arra$ SeE;e-ion F2'5G men177(oman5;
do i#1 to 2;
do *#1 to 5;
i% i#1 t,en seE#H<H;
else seE#H:H;
re-ion#*;
si9e#SeE;e-ionFi'*G;
output;
end;
end;
proc print;
run;
/* 1/;30/I ;=S2I3S */
?bs seE re-ion si9e
1 < 1 1
2 < 2 2
3 < 3 3
4 < 4 4
5 < 5 5
6 : 1 6
C : 2 C
4 : 3 4
D : 4 D
10 : 5 10
11 < 1 2
12 < 2 3
13 < 3 4
14 < 4 5
15 < 5 6
16 : 1 C
1C : 2 4
14 : 3 D
1D : 4 10
20 : 5 11
/*******************************************************************/
/* 3itle6 =Epand sin-le obserations into multiple obserations */
/* */
/* 8oal 6 =Epand sin-le obserations (it, multiple ariables */
/* into multiple obserations (it, a sin-le ariable. */
/* */
/*******************************************************************/
/* 0n t,e %ollo(in- eEample eac, obseration contains 1 (eeAHs (ort,
o% ,ours spent on a pro*ect. 3,e$ are turned into one obseration
%or eac, da$ (it, t,e ,ours %or t,at da$' as (ell as t,e date t,e
,ours (ere (orAed.
*/
/* sample data set 30<=S */
@/3= @/J)1 @/J)2 @/J)3 @/J)4 @/J)5 @/J)6 @/J)C
03/1;2000 4.00 D.C5 D.25 4.00 D.C5 5.C5 0
10/1;2000 4.C5 C.C5 0.00 0.50 2.25 D.C5 0
1C/1;2000 4.25 6.50 4.25 0.00 4.00 2.00 0
24/1;2000 3.25 6.50 4.00 4.C5 4.00 D.50 0
data ne( ;
set times;
/* 8roup t,e da$s into an arra$ */
arra$ da$)!*" da$)17da$)C;
/* <oe t,e in%ormation into a sin-le ariable' (rite t,e obseration
to t,e output data set and increment t,e @/3= ariable.
*/
do i # 1 to dim!da$)";
,ours#da$)!i";
output;
dateK1;
end;
/* +,oose t,e ariables to Aeep in t,e output data set. */
Aeep date ,ours ;
run;
proc print;
run;
/* ;=S2I3S */
?LS @/3= M?2;S
1 03/1;2000 4.00
2 04/1;2000 D.C5
3 05/1;2000 D.25
4 06/1;2000 4.00
5 0C/1;2000 D.C5
6 04/1;2000 5.C5
C 0D/1;2000 0.00
4 10/1;2000 4.C5
D 11/1;2000 C.C5
10 12/1;2000 0.00
11 13/1;2000 0.50
12 14/1;2000 2.25
13 15/1;2000 D.C5
14 16/1;2000 0.00
15 1C/1;2000 4.25
16 14/1;2000 6.50
1C 1D/1;2000 4.25
14 20/1;2000 0.00
1D 21/1;2000 4.00
20 22/1;2000 2.00
21 23/1;2000 0.00
22 24/1;2000 3.25
23 25/1;2000 6.50
24 26/1;2000 4.00
25 2C/1;2000 4.C5
26 24/1;2000 4.00
2C 2D/1;2000 D.50
24 30/1;2000 0.00
Q: ,ow can I 'et ri# of #u(licates in m* S&S #ata set
A: Aou can use PRO< SORT with the NO;3P or NO;3PVEA o(tion s(ecifie#. The
NO;3P o(tion causes PRO< SORT to com(are all varia$le values for each o$servation to
the (revious one written to the out(ut #ata set. The NO;3PVEA o(tion causes PRO< SORT
to com(are all 6A values for each o$servation to those for the (revious o$servation written
to the out(ut #ata set. If an e/act match is foun#> the o$servation is not written to the out(ut
#ata set. Refer to (a'e +1+ in the 5-5 Procedures .uide/ (ersion U/ 6hird 3dition/ for further
e/(lanation an# s*nta/. &##itionall*> *ou can use a ;&T& ste( to accom(lish the same thin'>
$ut the ;&T& ste( will allow *ou to out(ut the #u(licates to another file if *ou #i# not want
to #elete them. In the e/am(le (ro'ram $elow> we out(ut the first occurrence of a 6A5value
to the NO;3PS #ata set> an# an* #u(licate values will $e out(ut to a ;3PS #ata set. The
#ata set OF; must $e sorte# $* @&R1 first.
data dups nodups;
set old;
b$ ar1;
i% %irst.ar1 t,en
output nodups;
else output dups;
run;
SAS-INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
1. >,at S/S statements (ould $ou code to read an eEternal
ra( data %ile to a @/3/ stepN
Ans6 0n%ile and 0nput statements are used to read
eEternal ra( data %ile to a @ata Step.
2. Mo( do $ou read in t,e ariable t,at $ou needN
Ans6 0% (e (ant to read a particular ariable in a
set o% S/S data set' (e can mention t,e ariable
(e (ant in t,e 0.123 statement.
3. /re $ou %amiliar (it, special input delimitersN Mo( are
t,e$ usedN
Ans6 Jes' (e ,ae special delimiters liAe @I< and @S@
in S/S. Lot, t,ese delimiters can be used in
t,e in%ile statement
3,e @I< can read t,e commas and spaces
as data delimiters. Jou ma$ c,oose an$ delimiters
$ou (is, (it, t,is option. Jou can c,oose
multiple c,aracter suc, as @I<#OBBO %or $our
delimiter.
3,e @S@ option allo(s $ou to treat t(o
consecutie delimiters as containin- a missin-
alue.
4. 0% readin- a ariable len-t, %ile (it, %iEed input' ,o(
(ould $ou preent S/S %rom readin- t,e neEt record i% t,e
last ariable didnPt ,ae a alueN
Ans6 >e can use <0SS ?5=; option in t,e 0.:0I= statement
5. >,at is t,e di%%erence bet(een an in%ormat and a %ormatN
.ame t,ree in%ormat or %ormatN
Ans6 /n informat is an instruction t,at S/S uses to read
data alues into a ariable
/ format is an instruction t,at S/S uses to (rite
data alues
3,e t,ree in%ormat are6 7
/" @ate in%ormat
L" +,aracter in%ormat
c" .umeric in%ormat

3,e t,ree :ormats are67
/" @ate %ormat
L" +,aracter :ormat
+" .umeric :ormat
6. .ame and describe t,ree S/S %unction t,at u ,ae used' i%
an$N
Ans6
/" SUM Function6 0t adds t,e ariable to-et,er b$
i-norin- t,e missin- alues i% an$
=.86 5ar#S2< !ar1' ar2Qarn";
5ar1# S2< !1'.' 3" # 4
L" Mean Function6 3,is %unction returns t,e arit,metic
mean !aera-e" and i-nores t,e missin- alue.
=.86 5ar#<=/. !ar1' ar2' ar3Qarn";
<: S6BS:R +unction$ 3,e S2LS3; %unction eEtracts a
portion o% t,e c,aracter data alues based on ,o(
man$ c,aracters are desi-nated %or retrieal.
=.86 5ar#S2LS3; !ar' startR' number o% c,aracters";
5ar1#S2LS3; !/SM?S' 1' 3"
0n t,e aboe eEample t,e S2LS3; %unction taAes
Strin- /SM?S cuts %rom start7point !1" till number
o% +,aracters !3" and stores /SM in 5ar1

C. Mo( (ould $ou code t,e criteria to restrict t,e output
to be producedN
Ans6 ods output close;
4. >,at is t,e purpose o% trailin-@N 3,e @@N Mo( (ould $ou
use t,emN
Ans6 3,e trailin- @ is also Ano(n as column pointer
L$ usin- t,e trailin-@' in t,e 0.123 statement
-ies $ou abilit$ to read a part o% $our ra( data
line' test it' and t,en decide ,o( to read
additional data %rom t,e same record.
3,e sin-le trailin- @ tells t,e S/S s$stem to T,old
t,e lineO.

3,e double 3railin- @@ tells t,e S/S s$stem to
TMold t,e line more stron-l$O.
NOTE : /n 0.123 statement endin- (it, @@ instructs t,e pro-ram
to release t,e current ra( data line onl$ (,en t,ere are no
data alues le%t to be read %rom t,at line. 3,e @@' t,ere%ore'
,old t,e input record een across multiple iteration o% t,e
data step.
D. 2nder (,at circumstances (ould $ou code a S=I=+3
construct instead o% 0: statementN
Ans6 =speciall$ i% $ou are recodin- a ariable into a
lar-e number o% cate-ories.
10. >,at statement do $ou code to tell S/S t,at it is to
(rite to an eEternal %ileN
Ans6 :ilename %ilere% Upat,P;
:ile %ilere%;
1ut )all_ /* (ill (rite all t,e ariables. */
?r put t,e ariables (,ic, $ou reVuire.
11. 0% readin- an eEternal %ile to produce an eEternal
%ile' (,at s,ortcut to (rite record (it,out codin-
eer$ sin-le ariable on t,e recordN
Ans6 1ut )all )
12. 0% $ou do not (ant an$ S/S output %rom a data step' ,o(
(ould $ou code t,e data statement to preent S/S %rom
producin- a setN
Ans6 L$ usin- @/3/ ).2II) t,e desired output is a %ile
and not a S/S dataset.

13. >,at is t,e one statement to set t,e criteria o% a data
t,at can be coded in an$ stepN

Ans6 ?ptions statement
14. Mae $ou eer7linAed S/S codeN 0% so' describe t,e liAe
and an$ reVuired statement used to eit,er process t,e
code or t,e step itsel%.
Ans 6 3,e linA statement tells S/S to *ump immediatel$
3o t,e statement label t,at is indicated in t,e
Fa$el statement and to continue eEecutin-
statements %rom t,at point until a ;=32;.
statement is eEecuted. 3,e ;=32;. statement
ends pro-ram control to t,e statement immediatel$
%ollo(in- t,e I0.S statement.
.ote6 3,e I0.S statement and t,e destination must
be in t,e same @/3/ step. 3,e destination
is identi%ied b$ a statement label in t,e
I0.S statement.
15. Mo( (ould $ou include common or reuse code to be
1rocessed alon- (it, $our statementN
Ans6 L$ usin- %0nclude
16. >,en looAin- %or t,e data contained in a c,aracter
strin- o% 150 b$tes' (,ic, %unction is t,e best to
locate t,at data6 scan' indeE or indeEcN
Ans6 Scan
1C. 0% $ou ,ae a data set t,at contains 100 ariables' but
$ou need onl$ %ie o% t,ose' (,at is t,e code to %orce
S/S to use onl$ t,ose ariablesN

Ans6 2se Aeep # option;
14. +ode a 1;?+ S?;3 on a data set containin- state'
district and countr$ as t,e primar$ ariable' alon-
(it, seeral numeric ariables.
Ans6
1;?+ S?;3 data7set7name;
LJ state district countr$;
;un;
1D. Mo( (ould $ou delete duplicate obserationN

Ans6 3,ere are t,ree (a$s to delete duplicate
obserations in a dataset
1" 1roc sort data#S/S7data7set nodups
b$ ar;
run;
2" 1roc sVl;
+reate sas7data7set as select * %rom
old)sas)data)set (,ere ar#distinct!ar";
Vuit;
3" Data clean;
Set temp;
By group;
If first.group and last.group then
Run;
20. Mo( (ould $ou code a mer-e t,at (ill Aeep onl$ t,e
obseration t,at ,ae matc,es %orm bot, setsN
Ans6 L$ usin- t,e 0. internal ariable in t,e mer-e
statement.
@/3/ .=>;
<=;8= ?.=)3=<1 !0.#?.=" 3>?)3=<1 !0.#3>?";
LJ ./<=;
0: ?.=#1 /.@ 3>?#1;
;2.;
21. >,at is t,e 1ro-ram @ata 5ector !1@5"N >,at are
t,eir
%unctionsN
Ans6
1ro-ram @ata 5ector is t,e temporar$ ,oldin- area.
:or eEample 3,e >M=;= statement is ma$ be more
e%%icient t,en t,e sub settin- 0% !especiall$ i% $ou
are taAin- a er$ small sunset %rom a lar-e %ile"
because it c,ecAs on t,e alidit$ o% t,e condition to
see i% t,e obseration is to be Aept or not. 3,is
temporar$ ,oldin- area is called t,e pro-ram data
ector !1@5".
22. @oes S/S U3ranslateP !compile" or does it U0nterpretPN
=Eplain.
Ans6 >,en $ou submit a @/3/ step %or eEecution' S/S
c,ecAs t,e s$ntaE o% t,e S/S statements and
compiles
t,em' t,at is' automaticall$ translates t,e
statements into mac,ine code. 0n t,is p,ase' S/S
identi%ies t,e t$pe and len-t, o% eac, ne(
ariable'
and determines (,et,er a t$pe conersion is
necessar$ %or eac, subseVuent re%erence to a
ariable.
23. /t compile time (,en a S/S data set is read' (,at
items
are createdN
Ans6 /t compile time S/S creates t,e %ollo(in-

/" 0nput Lu%%er
L" 1ro-ram @ata 5ector!pd"
+" @escriptor in%ormation
24. .ame statements t,at are reco-ni9ed at compile time
?nl$N
Ans6 @rop Seep e.t.c
25. 0denti%$ statement (,ose placement in t,e @/3/ step is
critical
Ans6 0nput Statement.
26. .ame statements t,at %unction at bot, compile and
eEecution time.
2C. .ame statements t,at are eEecution onl$.
24. 0n t,e %lo( o% t,e @/3/ step processin-' (,at is t,e
%irst action in a t$pical @/3/ stepN

Ans6 S/S %irst per%orms S$ntaE c,ecA.
2D. >,at is )n)N

Ans6 3,is is not,in- but a implicit ariable created b$
S/S durin- data processin-. 0t -ies t,e total
number
?% records S/S ,as iterated in a dataset. 0t is
/ailable onl$ %or data step and not %or procs.
=.86 0% (e (ant to %ind eer$ t,ird record in a
@ataset t,en (e can use t,e )n) as %ollo(s
@ata ne(7sas7data7set;
Set old;
0% mod !)n)' 3" #1 t,en;
;un;
.ote6 0% (e use a (,ere clause to subset t,e )n)
>ill not $ield t,e reVuired result.
!ASE SAS:
30. >,at is t,e e%%ect o% t,e ?130?. statement =;;?;#1N
Ans6 0% t,e particular data step ,as one or more errors
t,en end t,e processin-
31. >,atPs t,e di%%erence bet(een 5/; /1 W /4 and 5/; /177
/4N
32. >,at do t,e S/S lo- messa-es Tnumeric alues ,ae been
conerted to c,aracterO meanN
Ans6 0% (e tr$ some c,aracter %unction on t,e numeric
alues t,e S/S (ill automaticall$ conert t,e
numeric ariable into c,aracter ariable.
33. >,$ is a S3?1 statement needed %or a 1?0.3#option on a
S=3
statementN
Ans6 Lecause 1?0.3# reads onl$ t,e speci%ied
obserations'
S/S cannot detect an end7o%7%ile condition as it
(ould i% t,e %ile (ere bein- read seVuentiall$.
Lecause detectin- an end7o%7%ile condition
terminates
a @/3/ step automaticall$' %ailure to substitute
anot,er means o% terminatin- t,e @/3/ step (,en $ou
use 1?0.3# can cause t,e @/3/ step to -o into a
continuous loop.
.?3=6
Jou cannot use t,e 1?0.3# option (it, an$ o% t,e
%ollo(in-6
LJ statement
>M=;= statement
>M=;=# data set option
transport %ormat data sets
seVuential data sets !on tape or disA"
a table %rom anot,er endorHs relational database
mana-ement s$stem.
34. Mo( do $ou control t,e number o% obseration and /or
ariable read or (riteN
Ans6 L$ speci%$in- obs option
35. /pproEimatel$ (,at date is represented b$ t,e S/S date
alue o% C30N
Ans6 1 Xanuar$ 1D62.
36. Mo( (ould remoe a %ormat t,at ,as been permanentl$
associated (it, a ariable.
/ns6 L$ 2sin- proc datasets librar$# somelibrar$;
<odi%$ sasdataset;
;un;
3C. >,at does t,e ;2. statement doN
Ans6 3,e run statement eEecutes t,e statement.
34. >,$ S/S considered sel%7documentin-N

Ans6 (,en a sas7data7set is created S/S creates t,e
@escriptor portion and t,e data portion o% t,e
@ata set. 3,e descriptor portion contains t,e
@etails liAe (,en t,e dataset (as created' no. o%
?bserations' no. o% ariables e.t.c. Mence S/S is
+onsidered sel% documentin-.
3D. Lrie%l$ describe 5 (a$s to do a Ttable looAupO in S/S.
Ans6
1" Simple table looAup !mer-in- !mer-e !includin-
0.#?130?." and sub settin- 0: statement"
2" Simple table looAup !%ormats !1;?+ :?;</3 /.@ 123
%unction".
3" IooAin- up (it, t(o ariable !mer-in- !mer-e
!includin- 0.#?130?." and sub settin- 0:
statement"
4" IooAin- up (it, t(o ariable !!%ormats !1;?+
:?;</3' 123 /.@ 0.123 :unction"
5" / t(o7(a$ IooAin- table !mer-e statement usin-
t(o
ariables".
40. >,at are some -ood S/S pro-rammin- practices %or
processin- ar$ lar-e data setN

Ans6 :or ar$ lar-e data set (it, man$ ariables (e can
maAe use o% arra$s in t,e S/S s$sterm.
41. Mo( (ould $ou create a data set (it, 1 obseration and
30
ariables %rom a data set (it, 30 obserations and 1
5ariableN
Ans6 2sin- 1roc 3ranspose and also do (it, t,e sas
arra$s.
44. >,at are )numeric) and )c,aracter) and (,at do t,e$ doN
/ns6 0% (e (ant to do a particular tasA %or all t,e
numeric ariable (e can use t,e )numeric) and same
as
i% (e (ant to do a particular tasA %or all t,e
c,aracter ariable (e can use t,e )c,aracter)

46. >,at is t,e order o% application %or output data set
option' input data set option and S/S statementN
Ans6 0.123 data set option' S/S statement option and
t,en
?23123 option.
4C. >,at is t,e order o% ealuation o% t,e comparison
operators6 K 7 * /** !"N
Missin" Va#ue:
56. Mo( man$ missin- alues are aailableN >,en mi-,t $ou
use
t,emN
Ans6 3(o missin- alues are aailable in S/S' t,e$ are
numeric and c,aracter.
5C. Mo( do $ou test %or missin- aluesN
Ans6 >e can test t,e missin- alues b$ usin- .<0SS
option in t,e input statement
54. Mo( are numeric and c,aracter missin- alues represented
internall$N
Ans6 3,e numeric missin- alues represented as dots!."
and
t,e c,aracter missin- alues represented as blanA
FUN$TIONS:
5D. >,at is t,e si-ni%icance o% t,e U?:P in B#S2< !?: a17a4'
a6' aD";N
60. >,at do t,e 123 and 0.123 %unction doN
Ans6 3,e 123 %unction is used to identi%$ t,e lo-ic
1roblem >,ic, piece o% code is eEecuted and not
eEecuted (,at t,e current alue o% t,e particular
ariable and (,at t,e current alue o% t,e all
ariable.
0.123 %unction6
3,e traditional use is t,e reread a c,aracter ariable (it,
a numeric %ormat' eEecute a c,aracter7to7numeric conersion.
T%e c%aracter to numeric con&ersion function
0.123 !ariable' in%ormat7name"
3,e 0.123 %unction conerts t,e c,aracter ariable to
numeric
Salar$#input !=<1)S/I/;J' dollarC.";
+,aracter alue .umeric alue
=<1)S/I/;J S/I/;J
$45'000 45000
;ename t,e assi-nin- &aria'#e (e cannot %a&e t,e same name.
IiAe6 =<1)S/I/;J#input !=<1)S/I/;J' dollarC.";
T%e numeric to c%aracter con&ersion function
123 !ariable' in%ormat7name";
ne(p,one#put !p,one' C";
numeric alue c,aracter alue
1M?.= 1M?.=
6CC4000 6CC4000
61. >,ic, date adances a date' time or date/time alue b$ a
-ien interalN
62. >,at do t,e <?@ and 0.3 %unction doN
Ans6 <?@ %unction is er$ use%ul i% suppose $ou (ant to
select eer$ t,ird obseration %rom S/S data set.
=Eample# data t,ird;
Set old;
0% mod!).)'3"#1;
;un;
3,e 0.3 %unction retunes t,e inte-er portion o% an
ar-ument. 3o truncate a number !drop o%% t,e
%ractional part"' $ou use t,e 0.3 %unction.
63. 0n /;;/J processin-' (,at does t,e @0< %unction doN

Ans6 @0< is t,e dimension %unction. 3,is returns t,e
len-t, o% t,e arra$ !i.e. t,e number o% ariable in
t,e list".
64. Mo( (ould $ou determine t,e number o% missin- or non7
missin- alue in computationN
Ans6 >e can use t,e . option %or t,e number o% .?.7
<0SS0.8 alues and .<0SS option %or t,e number o%
<0SS0.8 alues.
65. >,at is t,e di%%erence bet(een6 B#aKbKcKd; and B#S2< !a'
b' c' d";N
Ans6 0% (e use S2< !a' b' c' d" it (ill i-nore t,e
missin-
5alues i% an$ and compute t,e sum.
:or =.8 S2<!1'.'2'3"#6
B#1K.K2K3 # <0SS0.8.
66. 3,ere is a %ield containin- a date. 0t needs to be
displa$ed in t,e %ormat Tddmon$$O i% itPs be%ore
1DC5'Odd
mon cc$$O i% itPs a%ter 1D45' and as Udisco $earsP i%
its
bet(een 1DC5 and 1D45. Mo( (ould $ou accomplis, t,is in
data step codeN 2sin- onl$ 1;?+ :?;</3.
6C. 0n t,e %ollo(in- @/3/ step' (,at is needed %or
U%ractionPto print to t,e lo-
Ans6
data )null); B#1/3;
i% B#.333 t,en ;
put U%ractionP;
run;
64. >,at is t,e di%%erence bet(een calculatin- t,e UmeanP
usin- t,e mean %unction and 1;?+ <=ANSN
Ans6 3,e mean %unction returns t,e mean o% t,e non7
missin-
alues in t,e ariable list. /ctuall$' $ou ma$ not
,ae %i-ured out t,e importance o% t,e (a$ t,e <=/.
%unction deals (it, t,e missin- alues' and t,is is
Vuit important .i% $ou calculate S+?;= b$ simpl$
addin- up all t,e item and diidin- b$ 50 as
%ollo(s
S+?;=#!item1 Kitem2Kitem3K..Kitem50"/50;
Jou (ould be in bi- trouble i% an$ o% t,e items ,ad
missin- alues. >,en S/S statement tries to do
arit,metic operation on missin- alues' t,e result
is
al(a$s missin-.

)RO$s:
6D. 0% $ou (ere -ien seeral S/S data sets $ou (ere
un%amiliar (it,' ,o( (ould $ou %ind out t,e ariable
names
and %ormats o% eac, datasetN
Ans6 0 can use t,e contents 1rocedure o% all in t,e
libname and see all t,e ariable name and %ormats
o%
eac, data set
=86
1;?+ +?.3=.3S @/3/#I0L;=:.)/II);
;2.;
C0. Mo( (ould $ou Aeep S/S %rom oerla$in- t,e S/S set (it,
its sorted ersionN
Ans6 L$ creatin- a ne( dataset a%ter sortin- b$
speci%$in-
?ut # ne( sas dataset
C1. 0n 1;?+ 1;0.3' can $ou print onl$ ariable t,at be-in
(it,
t,e letter T/O
Ans6 Jes (e can print ariable (,ic, be-in (it, t,e
letter
T/O b$ usin- t,e >M=;= statement in t,e 1;?+ 1;0.3
statement
>M=;= !5/;0/LI= ./<=" I0S= U/%P;
?r
>M=;= !5/;0/LI= ./<= #6 U/P;
C2. >,at are some di%%erences bet(een 1;?+ S2<</;J and 1;?+
<=ANSN

Ans6
1" 1;?+ <=ANS produces sub-roup statistics onl$ (,en
a
LJ statement is used and t,e input data ,as been
preiousl$ sorted !use 1;?+ S?;3" b$ t,e LJ
ariables.1;?+ S2<</;J automaticall$ produces
statistics %or all sub-roups' -iin- $ou all t,e
in%ormation in one run t,at $ou (ould -et b$
repeatedl$ sortin- a data set b$ t,e ariables
t,at
de%ine eac, sub-roup and runnin- 1;?+ <=ANS/.
2" 1;?+ S2<</;J does not produce an$ in%ormation in
$our output so $ou (ill al(a$s need to use t,e
?23123 statement to create a ne( data set and use
1;?+ 1;0.3 to see t,e computed statistics.

)RO$ FREQ:
C3. +ode t,e table statement %or a sin-le7leel !most
common"
%reVuenc$.
Ans
3,e statement %or sin-le7leel.
*ATA </;.:;=Y3=S3;
S=3 L/S./<1=;S;
)RO$ FREQ @/3/ #</;.:;=Y3=S3;
3/LI= /8=;
RUN;
C4. +ode t,e table statement to produce a multi7leel
%reVuenc$.
Ans6
3,e statement %or multileel.
*ATA </;.:;=Y3=S3;
S=3 L/S./<1=;S;
)RO$ FREQ @/3/ #</;.:;=Y3=S3;
3/LI= /8= * -ender;
RUN;
C5. .ame t,e option to produce a %reVuenc$ line items rat,er
t,at a table.
C6. 1roduce output %rom a %reVuenc$. ;estrict t,e printin-
o%
t,e table.
)RO$ ME ANS :
CC. +ode a 1;?+ <=ANS t,at s,o(s bot, summed and aera-ed
output o% t,e data.
C4. +ode t,e option t,at (ill allo( <=ANS to include missin-
numeric data to be included in t,e report.
CD. +ode t,e <=ANS to produce output to be used later.
40. @o $ou use 1;?+ ;=1?;3 or 1;?+ 3/L2I/3=N >,ic, do $ou
pre%erN =Eplain.
MER+IN+,U)*ATIN+ :
41. >,at ,appens in a one7on7one mer-eN >,en (ould $ou use
oneN
Ans60% $ou (ant to mer-e t(o data set t,at ,ae
di%%erent
ariable and onl$ one ariable as a common ariable
(it, t,at uniVue ariable (e can mer-e t,e data set
(it, one7on7one mer-e.
42. Mo( (ould $ou combine 3 or more tables (it, di%%erent
structuresN
43. >,at is t,e problem (it, mer-in- t(o data set t,at ,ae
ariable (it, t,e same name but di%%erent dataN

Ans63,e second data set alue (ill oer(rite t,e alue
o% t,e %irst data set.
44. >,en (ould $ou c,oose to <=;8= t(o data sets to-et,er
and
(,en (ould $ou S=3 t(o data setsN
Ans6 0% (e (ant to create a dataset as an eEact cop$ o%
3,e old dataset (it,out an$ bot,erin- about (,ic,
@ataset is -oin- to contribute to t,e ne( dataset
3,en (e (ill use set statement.
0% (e (ant to control t,e contribution o% t,e old
@atasets to t,e ne( dataset t,en (e (ill use t,e
<er-e statement
45. >,ic, data set is t,e controllin- data set in t,e <=;8=
statementN

Ans6 3,e second %inal dataset a%ter t,e mer-e
statement.
46. Mo( do t,e 0.# ariable improe t,e capabilit$ o% a
<=;8=N

Ans6 0. is a implicit ariable in S/S (,ic, ,elps in
controllin- (,ic, dataset needs to contribute to
t,e ne( dataset
4C. =Eplain t,e messa-e U<=;8= M/S ?.= ?; <?;= @/3/S=3S
>03M
;=1=/3S ?: LJ 5/;0/LI=P.
$OSTOMI-E* RE)ORT WRITIN+:
44. >,at is t,e purpose o% t,e statement @/3/).2II)N
Ans6
2se t,e Ae$(ord ).2II)' (,ic, allo(s t,e po(er o%
t,e
@/3/ step (it,out creatin- a data set.
4D. >,at is t,e pound si-n used %or t,e @/3/ ).2II)N
Ans6
D0. >,at is t,e purpose o% usin- t,e .#1S optionN
/ns6 Speci%$in- .#1S in t,e :0I= statement allo(s
t,e output pointer to (rite on an$ line o% t,e
current output
MA$RO:
D1. >,at s$stem option (ould $ou use to ,elp debu- a macroN
Ans6 S$mbol-en <lo-ic <print
D2. @escribe ,o( $ou (ould create a macro ariableN
Ans6 %let ar#alue;
D3. Mo( do $ou identi%$ a macro ariableN
D4. Mo( do $ou de%ine t,e end o% a macroN

Ans6 %mend
D5. Mo( do $ou assi-n a macro ariable to a S/S ariableN

Ans6 2sin- +allS$mput
D6. (,at is t,e di%%erence bet(een %I?+/I and %8I?L/IN
Ans6 3,e %I?+/I t,at ariable (ill be used onl$ at t,e
particular blocA onl$ but in case o% t,e %8I?L/I
t,at
ariable (ill be used till t,e end o% t,e S/S
session
DC. Mo( lon- can a macro ariable beN / toAenN
/ns6 3ill it passes to t,e (ord scanner.
D4. 0% $ou use a SJ<123 in a @/3/ step' (,en and (,ere can
$ou
use t,e macro ariableN
/ns6 0t can be used outside t,e scope o% dataset and
(ill
Le -loball$ aailable.
100. Mo( (ould $ou code a macro statement to produce
in%ormation on t,e S/S lo-N
Ans6 %put UStatementP
,R E3ESTIONS
1:Tell me a$out *ourself
=ocus
Fist five stren'ths *ou have that are (ertinent to this So$ 9e/(eriences> traits> s8ills> etc.:.
What #o *ou want the interviewer to 8now a$out *ou when *ou leave
9Pra$ha8ar has stron' Pro'rammin' s8ills. ,e has a (roven success in (ro'rammin'
s8ills. ,is real stren'th is his follow5throu'h. ,e (ri#es himself on his re(utation for
meetin' #ea#lines:
I have Stron' (ro'rammin' s8ills. I have a (roven success in (ro'rammin' s8ills. J*
real strenth is m* follow5thru'h. I (ri#e m*self on m* re(utaion for meetin' #ea#lins.
Scri(tin'
Pre(are a scri(t that inclu#es the information *ou want to conve*. 6e'in $* tal8in' a$out
(ast e/(eriences an# (roven successB
7I have $een in the Pro'rammin' si#e for the (ast three an# half *ears. J* most recent
e/(erience has $een #evelo(in' s-w (ro#ucts in the I T in#ustr*. One reason I (articularl*
enSo* this So$ >an# the challen'es that 'o alon' with it> is the o((ortunit* to (rovi#e
reusa$le com(onents to the (eo(le. In m* (resent So$> I (re(are# some reusa$le
com(onents which are ver* useful for (ro#ucts #evelo(in' in m* com(an* resultin' in a
%1 (ercent #ecrease of re(licate# co#e.
Ne/t> mention *our stren'ths an# a$ilitiesB
7J* real stren'th is m* #e#ication towar#s wor8 an# Euc8 learnin'. I (ri#e m*self on
m* re(utation for followin' throu'h an# meetin' #ea#lines. When I commit to #oin'
somethin'> I ma8e sure it 'ets #one> an# on time.7
<onclu#e with a statement a$out *our current situationB
7What I am loo8in' for now is a com(an* that encoura'es (ro'rammer s8ills > where I
can Soin a stron' team an# have a (ositive im(act on customer retention an# sales.7
Technical Interview
==============
1:Wh* #i# *ou leave *our last (osition
IQve set some 'oals for m*self an# m* career> an# unfortunatel*> IQm at a stan#still in m*
current situation. I have $e'un to e/(lore o(tions availa$le $efore I s(en# too much time
in a So$ where I cannot a#vance. J* 'oal is to continue to im(rove m*self so that I can
eventuall* $e a (roSect mana'er.
!:;o *ou have an* questions 93suall* as8e# $* the interviewer at the en# of the
interview.:
Aes> I #o. Than8 *ou for as8in'. What woul# *ou sa* woul# $e m* $i''est challen'es
What woul# a t*(ical wee8 loo8 li8e for a (erson in m* (osition


%: ,ow woul# *our $oss #escri$e *ou an# *our wor8 st*le
,eQ# sa* I have a lot of initiative. I see the $i' (icture an# #o what has to $e #one. &n#
that I alwa*s meet #ea#lines> an# if I sa* IQm 'oin' to #o somethin'> I #o. &n#> lastl*> I
have the a$ilit* to focus on what IQm wor8in' on 5 I am not easil* #istracte#.
):What e/(erience have *ou ha# that qualifies *ou for this (osition
=or the (ast three *ears> I have $een wor8in' in the e5commerce in#ustr*. I am (roficient
wor8in' with Wava an# (ossess a stron' wor8in' 8nowle#'e of ,TJF. I have 'reat
communication an# teamwor8 s8ills have re(eate#l* #emonstrate# an a$ilit* to 'et
results
+:What are *our stren'ths an# wea8nesses
J* stren'ths are in m* a$ilit* to learn quic8l*. IQve seen a lot of chan'es in the technical
in#ustr*. IQve ha# to a#Sust an# learn new (ro'rams several times. &s far as wea8nesses> I
reall* enSo* m* wor8> an# sometimes I (ut in too much time. 6ut $* $ein' aware of m*
ten#enc* to overwor8> I have learne# to (ace m*self more an# wor8 smarter.
.:When have *ou $een most motivate#
;urin' m* first So$ at a start5u( com(an* I ha# to un#er'o some ri'orous trainin' to
un#erstan# the (ro#uct an# customer. &t the same time> we were actuall* wor8in' with
the customer. It require# a lot of self5#irection an# motivation. I thrive# on the whole
e/(erience 5 the #isci(line> the (lannin' an# the #ea#lines. It was a (ressure coo8er> $ut I
'ot throu'h it.
0:What are *our salar* e/(ectations
J* e/(ectations are that I receive a salar* commensurate with m* e/(erience ta8in' into
account current mar8et rates. Given m* $ac8'roun# an# 8nowin' that I can #eliver what
*ou"re loo8in' for I woul# $e loo8in' at 'ettin' (ai# in the u((er quartile of what the
mar8et is (a*in' for (eo(le li8e me.

Genereal EuestionsB
===============
1:Tell me a$out *ourself an# *our (ast e/(erience.
I have four *ears e/(erience wor8in' in the hi'h tech in#ustr*. =or the (ast two *ears> I
have $een wor8in' as a We$ #evelo(er. I have e/(erience with most of the software
(ro'rams on the server si#eB Wavascri(t> &SP> @6> ,TJF an# SEF Server. I am ver*
or'anise# an# a$le to #o multi(le (roSects at once. I want to wor8 in a cuttin'5e#'e
com(an* where I can a## m* e/(erience to the mi/ an# $e a (art of a 'rowin' team.
!:Tell me a$out a time when *ou ha# to learn a new (ro'ram or s*stem.
I was stu#*in' J6& while in m* (revious So$. The com(an* I was wor8in' for chan'e#
from < to <CC> an# I #i#nQt have time to atten# the trainin' (ro'ram. I learne# it on m*
own throu'h an online (ro'ram> wor8in' a lot of late hours. 6* sta*in' focuse#> I was
a$le to 'et throu'h it an# continue m* e#ucation 'oal


%: Give me an e/am(le of a (roSect *ou han#le# from start to finish.
&s a customer research anal*st> I #evelo(e# a #ata$ase for the collection of customer
#ata. &fter collectin' the #ata> I #i# an anal*sis usin' E/cel an# wrote a summar* an#
evaluation. I wor8e# with the customerQs mar8etin' #e(artment so the information coul#
$e use# to monitor an# focus on customer $ehaviour for future (lannin'. The results of
m* wor8 were that we ha# now ha# a user5frien#l* tool that accuratel* trac8e# customer
$ehaviour.
):What is *our 'reatest wea8ness
D: IQm a (erfectionist. IQm never satisfie# with an*thin' until I 8now itQs the ver* $est I
can #o> an# I reco'nise that sometimes this ten#enc* can slow thin's #own.
DD: I use# to $e ver* #isor'anise#. Aou 8now> the 8in# of (erson with ever* (a(er he
owns s(rea# on to( of his #es8. Eventuall* this 'ot me into trou$leT I misse# a meetin'
$ecause the sli( of (a(er I wrote the #etails on 'ot lost in the mess. I 8new I ha# to ma8e
some chan'es> so I as8e# a ver* meticulous co5wor8er if she woul# hel( me or'anise m*
wor8s(ace. In Sust an hour we wor8e# out a s*stem that I still use to#a*. I fin# now that
not onl* am I more on to( of thin's> $ut I wor8 more efficientl*> too.


+:What is *our 'reatest stren'th
IQm efficient an# I 8now how to 'et thin's #one. =or e/am(le> in m* (revious So$ I
re(eate#l* met m* tar'ets within time an# $u#'et an# within our qualit* stan#ar#s. I was
a$le to #o this $* (lannin' ahea#> (rioritisin' an# ensurin' I was u( to #ate with an* of
the technical chan'es.

.:;o *ou have an* questions
,ow much 'rowth (otential is there in this So$
0:Wh* #o *ou thin8 *ou woul# enSo* this 8in# of wor8
D: I 8now this So$ woul# $e a real challen'e an# woul# allow me to 'row (rofessionall*.
&lso> mar8etin' has alwa*s $een m* main area of (rofessional interest> so IQm e/cite#
a$out the o((ortunit* to wor8 in that fiel#.
DD: 6ran# mana'ement a((eals to me $ecause it requires a com$ination of creativit*>
strate'ic an# anal*tic a$ilit*5all qualities that I feel I (ossess. &lso> after wor8in' at
Sellstuff &#vertisin' &'enc*> I have a (rett* 'oo# i#ea of what itQs li8e to wor8 towar#
the same 'oal $ut from another an'le> an# I 8now I enSo* the wor8.
2:Tell me a$out a time when *ou receive# criticism for *our wor8 or an i#ea.
D:Fast *ear I was #oin' atten#in' a trainin' course as well as m* usual teachin'. One
semester I 'ot #ela*e# in sen#in' the correcte# answer (a(ers to stu#ent. There were
a$out 1+1 stu#ents in the class an# correctin' the answer (a(ers in si/ #a*s wasnQt alwa*s
eas*5es(eciall* since I ha# classes of m* own to worr* a$out. Still> I mana'e# to 8ee( u(
until the en# of the semester. I ha# a hu'e (a(er to write an# I Sust coul#nQt finish the
correction wor8 that semester. J* $oss was s*m(athetic> $ut he was also u(set. I
a(olo'ise# for the #ela* an# ma#e sure to finish on time the ne/t semester.
DD: In m* last So$ I was the E/ecutive &ssistant for the (resi#ent of a footwear
manufacturin' com(an*. &mon' other thin's> I t*(e# all his corres(on#ence. ,e woul#
'ive me the letters han#written an# I woul# t*(e them u(. I notice# there were a lot of
'rammatical mista8es in his letters> so I correcte# them. 6ut when he saw the t*(e#
letters with m* corrections he ma#e me chan'e them $ac8 to his version> an# he tol# me
never to ma8e chan'es to his letters a'ain. Aou have to un#erstan#> these were not minor
mista8es. & t*(ical letter rea#> 7;ear Jr. So5an#5So> It was real nice meetin' to'ether
a'ain with *ou *ester#a* at m* office.7 I reco'nise# a futile situationT he was not 'oin'
to chan'e his min#. &n# $esi#es> if the (resi#ent of the com(an* wants his letters to rea#
a certain wa*> thatQs his (rero'ative. So I acce(te# the criticism an# sto((e# correctin' his
letters.
DD:I wor8 as an e#itorial assistant at a $oo85(u$lishin' house> an# recentl* I came u(
with an i#ea for a new $oo8B a $oo8 a$out the histor* an# chan'in' #*namics of the
airline in#ustr*. I tol# m* $oss m* i#ea an# she thou'ht it ha# merit> so at the ne/t
e#itorial $oar# meetin' I (resente# the conce(t to the $oar#. Well> the other e#itors were
not nearl* as enthusiastic. The* sai# that the airline in#ustr* ha# alrea#* $een written
a$out a lot an# the* #i#nQt see enou'h of an au#ience for the $oo8. &fter the meetin' m*
$oss an# I #iscusse# the $oar#Qs reaction an# m* (resentation s8ills an# how the* coul#
$e im(rove#. Even thou'h m* i#ea was not well receive#> (resentin' it to the $oar# an#
#iscussin' it with m* $oss were valua$le learnin' e/(eriences. &s a result of this
e/(erience the ne/t time I ha# to 'ive a (resentation m* (ro(osal was acce(te# an# I
receive# 'reat fee#$ac

4: ,ow #o *ou feel a$out wor8in' in 'rou(s ;o *ou ten# to (la* a (articular role
I enSo* wor8in' in 'rou(s. &lthou'h some (roSects ma* ta8e a little lon'er when several
(eo(le have to reach a consensus> I $elieve the result is alwa*s $etter when *ou can
$enefit from several (eo(lesQ i#eas. IQve foun# that when I wor8 in 'rou(s IQm usuall* the
(erson who ma8es sure the wor8 'ets finishe#5the #etail (erson> the (erson who ties u(
all the loose en#s an# who sees the thin' throu'h.
11:,ow #o *ou wor8 un#er (ressure
I wor8 well un#er (ressure> althou'h I usuall* tr* to avoi# 'ettin' into eleventh hour
situations.
11:If *ou are hire#> how lon' will *ou sta* with this com(an*
&s lon' as the wor8 is challen'in' an# I have the o((ortunit* to learn an# a#vance> I see
no reason to consi#er leavin'. ,ow lon' #o *ou $elieve that will $e

1!:What has $een *our most #ifficult wor8 e/(erience
Fast *ear when I was wor8in' in the recruitment #e(artment for a lar'e financial
institution I was havin' a #ifficult time $ecause all the wor8 I was 'iven was the same 5
that is> rea#in' throu'h hun#re#s of resumes. Not onl* was the wor8 the same> $ut it was
also te#ious. &fter several wee8s of this> when I thou'ht I woul# 'o ma#> I a((roache# $*
$oss an# tol# her how I felt. I as8e# if I coul# ta8e (art in some interviews an# I also
ma#e su''estions on how I thou'ht I coul# contri$ute more to the ,R #e(artment. J*
$oss reacte# ver* (ositivel*. She tol# me the onl* reason I was rea#in' resumes all #a*
was $ecause she thou'ht that as a new (erson that"s what I reall* wante# to #o. She was
ver* (lease# I a((roache# her #irectl* with m* (ro$lem an# imme#iatel* assi'ne# me to
new #uties.
1%:Where #o *ou see *ourself five *ears from now 9assume *ou"re a can#i#ate who has
not ha# mana'erial e/(erience:.
To $e honest I thin8 itQs #ifficult to 8now now e/actl* where IQll $e five *ears from now.
<ertainl*> m* main 'oal is to move forwar# an# to 'et ahea#. In or#er to #o that I nee# to
continue m* learnin' in the areas that are essential to this com(an*. This is somethin' I
reall* loo8 forwar# to #oin'. Once IQve #one that I can #efine m* 'oals more narrowl*.

1):What #o *ou #o in *our s(are time
D: To tell *ou the truth> itQs rare that I have a free moment> since> as *ou 8now> I wor8
ver* lon' hours. Fuc8il*> I love m* (rofession. 6ut when I #o fin# m*self with a free
afternoon or wee8en#> I li8e to rela/ $* rea#in' an# listenin' to music.
DD:I have interest in theatre an# I li8e to wor8 with a local theatre 'rou( on wee8en#s.
The 'rou( con#ucts theatre wor8sho(s for chil#ren ever* summer an# I have $een
volunteerin' for the last two *ears


1+:,ow #i# *ou feel a$out *our last $oss
I have a lot of res(ect for the wor8 she #oes> an# I learne# 'reat #eal from her.

1.:What have *ou #one that shows initiative
When I was a Fecturer in 3niversit*> m* #e(artment was one of the smallest> an# we
often ha# trou$le 'ettin' sufficient enrolments in our classes an# classes 'ot cancelle#.
This was e/tremel* frustratin' to me so I went to see the ;ean to tal8 a$out it. ,e
e/(resse# his commitment to the #e(artment an# su''este# we form a tas8 force with the
#e(artment hea# an# a few other stu#ents to a##ress the (ro$lem. In the followin' *ear
we revam(e# the curriculum so that it was more in line with stu#ent #eman#s. &s a result>
classes were $etter atten#e#. It was a 'reat learnin' e/(erience.

10:Tell me a$out *ourself.
What woul# *ou li8e to 8now


12: Tell me a$out the (ositive an# the ne'ative as(ects of *our last So$.
I reall* enSo*e# wor8in' for &rtwor8 &#vertisin' at m* last So$. I was wor8in' on ver*
#ifferent (roSects that I foun# challen'in'> an# I was a$le to wor8 with some reall*
talente# (eo(le. I thin8 I learne# a lot from them. The #ownsi#e was that I was onl* there
for a short (erio# of time so that I was una$le to see some of m* (roSects throu'h to
com(letion.

14:,ow much mone* #o *ou want to ma8e in this So$ 9&ssume *our tar'et ran'e is Rs
!.+ la8hs X Rs % la8hs:
&s I un#erstan# it> the (osition woul# entail re(ortin' #irectl* to the e/ecutive e#itor>
overseein' all as(ect of $oo8 (ro#uction from acquisition to (u$lication> reviewin'
su$missions> an# actin' as a liaison $etween authors an# a'ents an# the com(an*. &m I
missin' an*thin' In that case> $ase# on m* trac8 recor# an# qualifications> what woul#
$e the salar* ran'e for the (osition

!1:What as(ects of *our e/(erience ma8e *ou qualifie# for this So$
I un#erstan# *ou are tr*in' to e/(an# *our reach into *outh. &s well as havin' covere#
sales of soft #rin8s an# $ran#e# a((arels in *our area 'ainin' soun# 8nowle#'e of *outh
s(en#in' ha$its. I have also increase# sales $* over 11I in the ei'hteen months I have
$een there. I have valua$le contacts in the area that I can imme#iatel* ta( into. In other
wor#s I can hit the 'roun# runnin'.
HR Questions
1. Tell me about yourself and your past experience? This is one of the most commonly
asked interview questions and it is generally used as an icebreaker. Unfortunately, people
tend too talk too long and too much. You should try to allow !" minutes for this question.
You should cover your background, what you currently do, your assets, your education!
sub#ects studied, choice of university, degree, and current relevant studies, a summary of
your career to date, and key achievements.
2. $hat are your strengths and weaknesses? %ick a weakness that could also be consider
strength. &'ometimes ()m overly concerned with doing a good #ob and my boss tells me (
drive myself too hard.& Then mention your strengths* your ability to get the #ob done
efficiently and on time+ your pride in your work. ,r also you can tell, my strength is my
flexibility. -s director of operations at a startup company, ()ve had to deal with and handle
changes and new policies constantly. -s far as weaknesses, ( really en#oy my work, and
sometimes ( put in too much time on some pro#ects. .ut by being aware of my tendency, (
have learned to work smarter.
3. $hy are you leaving your current #ob? /orget about the fact that you hate your boss and
your co!workers drive you cra0y. (nstead, say, &()m ready to take on more responsibilities
and learn more, but the opportunities at my current #ob are limited. ,r ()ve set some goals
for myself and my career, and unfortunately ()m at a standstill in my current situation. (
have begun to explore options available before ( spend too much time in a #ob where (
can)t advance. 1y goal is to continue to take on new responsibilities and be a key
contributor to the success of an online venture.&
4. $hy do you change #obs so often? &1ainly to learn and advance. ( understand there)s a
lot of room for growth here, and ( hope to stay a long time if ()m offered the #ob.&
5. 2id you get along with your previous boss? (f you didn)t, and know you can)t use her as a
reference, be candid but not bitter or complaining. &'he)s very professional and taught
me a lot, and ()m grateful for that. .ut ( would have liked more responsibilities than ( was
offered.
6. $hat did you like3dislike about your previous manager? The interviewer is trying to
establish how you interact with authority, what characteristics you admire and what you
dislike in line managers. 1anagers have a #ob to do and staff that acknowledges authority
is more likely to fit in than those who don)t. The interviewer will be able to #udge from your
response if you can carry out reasonable requests and understand the role of a line
manager. You should emphasise good traits such as the ability to give clear direction,
inspire staff, act as a mentor, always encourages staff to do their best and overcome
obstacles, and stands up for staff when right. 2islikes should be avoided and you can
actually say that you didn4t really dislike anything but you do understand that managers
do have to make unpopular decisions sometimes.
7. (f we phoned your previous employer3manager, what would they tell us about you? -
common question asked at interviews. (t puts you on the spot and first reactions are
interesting. The interviewer would like to hear that the former employer would re!employ
you and you were reliable, dependable, got on well with others, and could work
unsupervised. ,ther comments would indicate that you were flexible with hours, had a
good attitude, and picked up new things quickly. 5e doesn)t want to hear that there were
personality clashes, that you didn)t get on, was unreliable, lacked integrity, or needed
close supervision.
8. $hat do you know about our company? 6othing impresses an interviewer more than
detailed answers to this question. (t shows you have taken initiative to research the
people and company. 2iscussing details of the .oard of 2irectors, company subsidiaries,
countries in which the company operates, its products, its key people, as well as statistics
relating to turnover, number of employees, trends in the industry, and profitability will
score points with even the most stubborn recruiters. These details are on record in the
company4s portfolio or your local library. You can request any general information and
brochures from the company secretary prior to the interview. Your local library will hold
industry surveys or 78ey 6otes9 reports on the industry. You can request a company
prospectus or its last annual accounts if the company is listed on any of the stock
exchanges. 'ee if the company has a web site and visit it for more information. /ollow
any links to similar sites to view competitors or get an industry overview. (f you know
someone who has worked there, ask him about the company and its culture. (f you used
an agency to find you the position, their staff will probably have information about the
company on file or they can find out about it or its key officers for you. (f the recruitment
agency has placed candidates with the target company before, they could advise you
about the recruitment process and interview style. You may be offered the opportunity to
be shown around the company on an open day or as part of recruitment fair or a pre!
interview tour. Use this opportunity to talk to people and gather other intelligence that
may be useful in the interview.
9. (f you lack experience, what do you have to offer? :uite often a candidate may be new to
a role as in a graduate trainee or a school leaver applying for the #ob for the first time. (t)s
catch ;;! you have no experience so why should they hire you? (f you have good grades,
talk about how they are indicative of your potential to learn quickly and achieve results.
You can change the ballpark and talk about any transferable skills or characteristics you
may have from your last #ob. .e prepared to #ustify the characteristics with examples of
how you have demonstrated them in the past. You can select what)s appropriate out of
the following* passion, loyalty, dedication, good communication skills, ability to deal with a
wide range of people, initiative, independence, drive, good oral and written skills, literacy,
numeracy, presentation skills, ability to close deals, ability to make openings, ability to
learn quickly, ability to adapt, flexibility, and computer literacy ! both hardware and
software.
10. 5ow would your boss describe you and your work style? &/irst, she)d say ( have a lot of
initiative ! ( see a big picture and do what has to be done to achieve results. 'econdly,
that ( have business savvy ! ( know the business side as well as the technical side. -nd
thirdly, ( have a high work ethic ! if ( say ()m going to do something, ( do it.&
11. $hy didn)t you go further in school? &-t the time, earning a living was more important.
.ut ()m thinking of furthering my education now.&
12. $hat do you do in your spare time? 'ay you keep up with current events and have been
reading a best!selling business book <do it=. Talk about any community activities you)re
involved in, but stress that those commitments won)t interfere with work.
13. $hat interests you most about this position? 'tress the opportunity you)ll have to grow,
learn and acquire new skills.
14. $hat interests you least about this position? >ven if you hate filing, don)t say so. 'ay, &(
really don)t see any ma#or negatives. ( can use the skills ( already have and also learn
new ones.&
15. $hy should we hire you? This is a tough question and should be treated as if you were
being asked about your strengths. ?elate your strengths to the requirements of the #ob
and pull it all together. ?esponse to this should be that you think it is a #ob that you will be
good at and give examples of skills, past experience, and accomplishments that will be
useful for the position. @ive examples of your network of contacts that you can bring to
the company, talk about the heavy investment in your training and development that your
past employers have made in you and that your new employer will get this relatively for
no additional cost <emotional intelligence=. You can say that you have already made
some of your biggest mistakes and learned from them and now can bring the years of
experience to your new employers and hit the floor running. You can say that you4re a
source of 7new blood9 and can bring new ideas and alternative ways of looking at things
and tackling problems to complement the team within the hiring company. (f you are
articulate, state that you can communicate at all levels of management. -dd commitment,
tenacity, computer literacy, and flexibility, to these other factors. >g*&( love a challenge
and ()m a fast learner. ( have experience in this area, so ()ll be able to start with some idea
of what ()m doing. >verything ( know about this company makes me feel we)d be a good
match.&
16. $hat experience have you had that qualifies you for this position? &( have experience
working with e!commerce companies on the consulting side. ()ve managed teams and
have strong experience with 5T1A and -'%. 1y communication skills and business
acumen are my strengths. ( can wear many hats and believe ( can bring added value to a
team effort.&
17. $hat attracted you to this #ob? &()ve been searching for a while now to find a company
that had a business model and corporate philosophy like yours. ( am interested in
working for a company that provides products and services to the 8!; education market.
1y background is in this field, and my strength is in building relationships and solving
problems. ( am excited and interested in the idea of developing business relationships
through e!commerce.&
18. $hat are your salary expectations? &( really need more information about the #ob before
we start to discuss salary. ()d like to postpone that discussion until later. Bould you tell me
what is budgeted for the position?&
19. $hat qualities do you think are important to this position? &To have a combination of
technical and business knowledge and to be very results!oriented. 1y past record shows
that ( have those qualities and more. .ecause of my business acumen and technical
know!how, the teams ( have managed accomplished outstanding results, including
booking more than CDE million in online revenue.&
20. $hen have you been most motivated? &1y first #ob in a 'oftware >ng. ( had to undergo
some rigorous training to understand the product and customer. -t the same time, we
were actually working with the customer. (t required a lot of self!direction and motivation. (
thrived on the whole experience ! the discipline, the planning and the deadlines. (t was a
pressure cooker, but ( got through it.&
21. 5ow long do you see yourself with us? ( see myself here as long as we both think that (
am contributing to the vitality <life= of the company while still being grown through
challenges.
22. 2o you have any questions? <This is usually asked by the interviewer at the end of the
interview.=. &Yes, ( do. $ho are your financial backers? $ho are the key competitors?
2oes the company have a plan for the (%,? $hat would you say is the best thing about
your product3service?&
,ere are some other So$ interview questions *ou mi'ht want to rehearse.
9our Jualifications
What can *ou #o for us that someone else canQt #o
What qualifications #o *ou have that relate to the (osition
What new s8ills or ca(a$ilities have *ou #evelo(e# recentl*
Give me an e/am(le from a (revious So$ where *ouQve shown initiative.
What have $een *our 'reatest accom(lishments recentl*
What is im(ortant to *ou in a So$
What motivates *ou in *our wor8
What have *ou $een #oin' since *our last So$
What qualities #o *ou fin# im(ortant in a cowor8er
9our Career *oals
What woul# *ou li8e to $ein' #oin' five *ears from now
,ow will *ou Su#'e *ourself successful ,ow will *ou achieve success
What t*(e of (osition are *ou intereste# in
,ow will this So$ fit in *our career (lans
What #o *ou e/(ect from this So$
;o *ou have a location (reference
<an *ou travel
What hours can *ou wor8
When coul# *ou start
9our 1or% >.2erience
What have *ou learne# from *our (ast So$s
What were *our $i''est res(onsi$ilities
What s(ecific s8ills acquire# or use# in (revious So$s relate to this (osition
,ow #oes *our (revious e/(erience relate to this (osition
What #i# *ou li8e most-least a$out *our last So$
Whom ma* we contact for references
9our >,ucation
,ow #o *ou thin8 *our e#ucation has (re(are# *ou for this (osition
What were *our favorite classes-activities at school
Wh* #i# *ou choose *our maSor
;o *ou (lan to continue *our e#ucation
Em(lo*ers res(on#in' to the RE<R3ITING TREN;S surve* were 'racious enou'h to
share some of their $etter> favorite> an#-or most often use# interviewin' questions. & few
of the $est are liste# $elow> cate'oriKe# accor#in' to (ersonal $ac8'roun#> s8ills an#
a$ilities> aca#emic (re(aration> an# other to(ics. This list of questions woul# $e an
e/cellent resource for 'ra#uatin' stu#ents to use when (re(arin' for interviews with
(ros(ective em(lo*ers.
PERSONAL AND MO!"A!ONAL #A$ORS
Please tell me a$out *ourself. ,ow woul# *ou han#le reSection Who or what ha# the
'reatest influence on *our life ,ow woul# *ou #escri$e *ourself What are some of the
'reatest (ersonal challen'es *ou have face# #urin' *our lifetime What are some of *our
(ersonal 'oals> an# have *ou achieve# them
S%!LLS AND A&!L!!ES
What s8ills an# a$ilities #o *ou (ossess that will hel( ma8e *ou successful in to#a*Qs So$
mar8et Please #iscuss some of *our (ast lea#ershi( roles an# *our accom(lishments in
them. Please #escri$e a frustratin' e/(erience from school or wor8> an# tell me how *ou
#ealt with it. ,ow #o *ou interact with (eo(le aroun# *ou 9i.e. lea#ershi(>
communication> socialiKin'> etc.:
Wh* shoul# our or'aniKation hire *ou =or *ou> what are some of the (ros an# cons of
wor8in' on a team (roSect ,ave *ou ever su(ervise# someone in a similar (osition with
another or'aniKation ,ow woul# *ou #escri$e *our su(ervisor* st*le Who was the
most #ifficult (erson *ou have ever #ealt with> an# how #i# *ou res(on#
,ow #i# *ou or'aniKe *our time in school-wor8-(la* What are *our maSor stren'ths an#
wea8nesses What (ersonal factors #o *ou consi#er most im(ortant when evaluatin'
*ourself In what or'aniKational structure #o *ou function $est What or'aniKational
techniques #o *ou use on a #ail* $asis to accom(lish *our aca#emic> wor8> an# social
'oals
Please tell me a$out *our communication s8ills> *our (ersonal s8ills relevant to wor8
e/(eriences> an# *our (ro$lem5solvin' a$ilities. Please #escri$e *our lea#ershi( st*le.
What s8ills an#-or s(ecial qualities #o *ou (ossess for this So$ that woul# ma8e *ou stan#
out from other can#i#ates ,ow well #o *ou wor8 with others What s8ills an# a$ilities
#o *ou $rin' to this So$ Please list three (ersonal attri$utes that *ou woul# li8e to
im(rove> an# tell me an* efforts *ouQve ma#e to ma8e im(rovements in these areas.
What #o *ou see as *our 'reatest challen'e when startin' a new career ,ow woul# *our
frien#s #escri$e *ou What motivates *ou to (ut forth *our 'reatest effort In what areas
are *ou wor8in' to im(rove Who are two (eo(le *ou a#mire an# res(ect the most> an#
wh* What as(ects of *our So$ at the LAY or'aniKation were most frustratin'
If *ou coul# create the (erfect So$ for *ourself> what woul# *ou $e #oin' What is s(ecial
a$out *ou that *ou feel woul# ma8e *ou an attractive can#i#ate for our or'aniKation
,ow woul# others #escri$e *our wea8nesses ,ow #o *ou or'aniKe *our time
$AREER 'OALS AND O&(E$!"ES
What are *our lon' ran'e 'oals an# o$Sectives ,ow are *ou (re(arin' to achieve them
What are *our 'oals an# as(irations for the ne/t three *ears five *ears ten *ears What
are *our short an# lon'5term 'oals What are *our stan#ar#s of success-'oals for a So$
&re *ou 'oal oriente#
Wh* #o *ou thin8 *ou woul# $e 'oo# at this (rofession 9sales> retailin'> mar8etin'> etc.:
Please #escri$e *our i#eal So$. Wh* are *ou intereste# in this in#ustr*- (rofession-
occu(ation What are *our career interests What wor8 woul# *ou li8e to #o that reall*
interests *ou In what environment #o *ou want to wor8
What 'eo'ra(hical location interests *ou most when wor8in' Please tell me a$out *our
(lans for the future. What is *our timeta$le for achievement of *our current career 'oals
;o *ou (refer theoretical or (ractical (ro$lems Wh* #o *ou want to wor8 for LAY
com(an* In this or'aniKation> where #o *ou see *ourself in five *ears Please tell me
five thin's a$out *ourself that woul# ma8e *ou an asset to an* or'aniKation that hire#
*ou.
E)RA$*RR!$*LAR A$!"!!ES AND $OLLE'E E)PER!EN$ES
With what e/tracurricular activities have *ou $een involve# Please tell me a$out *our
accom(lishments in e/tracurricular activities. What have $een *our 'reatest challen'es
for im(rovement of a cam(us or'aniKation What #o *ou enSo* #oin' most Please
#escri$e *our most rewar#in' colle'e e/(eriences. Please cite e/am(les of the challen'es
*ou e/(erience# #urin' *our lea#ershi( (ositions with cam(us activities.
If *ou coul# relive *our colle'e e/(eriences> what woul# *ou #o #ifferentl* What
chan'es woul# *ou ma8e in *our overall cam(us life ;urin' *our cam(us activities>
what (ositions #i# *ou hol# What were *our maSor res(onsi$ilities in these
or'aniKations What #i# *ou li8e $est-least a$out these (ositions ;i# *ou have an
o((ortunit* to wor8 as a mem$er of a team If so> (lease e/(lain. What were some of the
(ro$lems *ou encountere#
H+POHE!$AL Q*ES!ONS
&re *ou creative . . . I am writin' a $oo8 entitle# 7111 Ever*#a* 3ses for the <ommon
Re# 6ric8.7 <an *ou 'ive me five uses for the common re# $ric8
Please loo8 at this (hoto'ra(h of an electronic 'a#'et> $ecause *ou woul# $e wor8in'
with others to enhance its ca(a$ilities. It o(erates a helico(ter hoverin' over an ocean
(latform. What are some concerns that *ou woul# (lace on *our chec8list to consi#er
$efore *ou starte# this (roSect
What coul# *ou see as the maSor o$Sectives of this So$ If *ou were hire# $* our
or'aniKation> how woul# *ou i#entit* the maSor roles an# res(onsi$ilities of *our new
(osition
What roles an# res(onsi$ilities have *ou acce(te# in wor8> social> an# other activities
What is *our (ur(ose in life =or what com(anies have *ou wor8e#> an# were the* 'oo#
or $a#> an# wh* What have *ou a#mire# in (eo(le who have (reviousl* su(ervise# *our
wor8 What havenQt *ou a#mire# in these in#ivi#uals 9In 'eneral> questions relate# to
wor8 ethic an# value s*stems mi'ht also $e (ose#.:
In *our o(inion> what #oes it ta8e to $e effective in sales or mar8etin' What are *our
(ersonal motivational techniques ,ow woul# *ou resolve conflict in a 'rou( situation
If *ou were 'iven this assi'nment> how woul# *ou (rocee#
A$ADEM!$ PRO'RAMS AND A$H!E"EMENS
Wh* #i# *ou choose this maSor fiel# of stu#* Wh* #i# *ou choose *our (articular
colle'e or universit* What were *our favorite colle'e courses> those *ou li8e# most
Feast Wh* Please tell me a$out accom(lishments in *our aca#emic (ro'ram that are
relevant to *our future career 'oals.
What is *our 'ra#e (oint avera'e 9GP&: ,ow #o *ou feel a$out this Shoul# 'ra#es $e
use# as an in#icator of future career (otential when an or'aniKation is consi#erin' new
colle'e 'ra#uates What were *our reactions to instructors or colle'e facult* #urin' *our
aca#emic (ro'ram ,ow woul# *ou relate *our aca#emic accom(lishments to future
career as(irations ,ow satisfie# are *ou with *our accom(lishments in this aca#emic
(ro'ram
What electives #i# *ou ta8e outsi#e of *our maSor Wh* #i# *ou choose these courses
What was the most #ifficult as(ect of o$tainin' a colle'e #e'ree What are *our
aca#emic stren'ths What courses 'ave *ou the most #ifficult* If *ou coul#> what
chan'es woul# *ou ma8e in *our schoolQs aca#emic (ro'ram
,OR% E)PER!EN$ES
What (rior wor8 e/(eriences have *ou ha# What were *our accom(lishments in these
(rior wor8 e/(eriences What were *our most si'nificant achievements What (ro$lems
#i# *ou e/(erience while on the So$ What woul# *our last two em(lo*ers sa* a$out *ou
as an em(lo*ee> either 'oo# or $a#
What (roSects were accom(lishe# #urin' *our time on the So$ ,ow were these
accom(lishe# What e/(eriences #i# *ou have when meetin' #ea#lines for (roSect
com(letion E/(lain. What can *ou tell me that *ou enSo*e# most a$out *our (revious
So$ e/(eriences Feast
<an *ou tell me a$out *our tou'hest So$ assi'nment Please tell me a$out a conflict
situation an# how *ou resolve# it.
What life e/(eriences have 'iven *ou the 'reatest rewar# What one e/(erience (rove#
to *ou that *ou woul# $e a ca(a$le mana'er Please ela$orate on one of the wor8
e/(eriences liste# on *our resume. Please tell me a$out the #uties-requirements of *our
last So$. What #i# *ou see as *our maSor stren'ths an#-or wea8nesses on this So$
A$$OMPL!SHMENS AND A$H!E"EMENS
In a##ition to *our e#ucational an# (rofessional e/(eriences> what else woul# *ou li8e us
to 8now a$out *ou in or#er to ma8e an a((ro(riate #ecision Please tell me a$out some
of the accom(lishments *ou achieve# #urin' colle'e an# which ma8e *ou the (rou#est.
,ow #i# *ou finance *our e#ucation What are *our 'reatest achievements at this (oint
in *our life Of what accom(lishments are *ou most (rou#
RELO$A!ON-RA"EL
&re *ou willin' to relocate ;o *ou min# travelin' ,ow #o *ou feel a$out relocatin'
#urin' a career with LAY com(an*
%NO,LED'E O# HE OR'AN!.A!ON
Wh* #i# *ou select LAY com(an* Wh* #o *ou want our trainin' (ro'ram over others
What are *our e/(ectations of the LAY com(an* Wh* #o *ou want to wor8 in the
(osition *ou are see8in' What attracts *ou to this in#ustr* Other in#ustries Wh* are
*ou interviewin' with LAY com(an* What #o *ou 8now a$out our com(an* Who else
are *ou interviewin' in *our So$ search Wh* #i# *ou choose to interview with our
com(an* What (ersonal qualities #o *ou $rin' to this firm
SALAR+ AND &ENE#!S
What startin' salar* #o *ou e/(ect as an em(lo*ee What com(an* $enefits are most
im(ortant to *ou ,ow #o *ou feel a$out an income ma#e u( totall* of commissions
When com(arin' one com(an* offer to another> what factors will $e im(ortant to *ou
$esi#es startin' salar* ,ow im(ortant is startin' salar* to *ou when consi#erin' our
com(an*Qs So$ offer
M:ell me a)out #ourself&M
Ja8e a short> or'aniKe# statement of *our e#ucation an# (rofessional achievements an#
(rofessional 'oals. Then> $riefl* #escri$e *our qualifications for the So$ an# the
contri$utions *ou coul# ma8e to the or'aniKation.
M1h# ,o #ou want to wor% here!M or M1hat a)out our com2an# interests #ou!M
=ew questions are more im(ortant than these> so it is im(ortant to answer them clearl*
an# with enthusiasm. Show the interviewer *our interest in the com(an*. Share what *ou
learne# a$out the So$> the com(an* an# the in#ustr* throu'h *our own research. Tal8
a$out how *our (rofessional s8ills will $enefit the com(an*. 3nless *ou wor8 in sales>
*our answer shoul# never $e sim(l*B 7mone*.7 The interviewer will won#er if *ou reall*
care a$out the So$.
M1h# ,i, #ou leave #our last Co)!M
The interviewer ma* want to 8now if *ou ha# an* (ro$lems on *our last So$. If *ou #i#
not have an* (ro$lems> sim(l* 'ive a reason> such asB relocate# awa* from So$T com(an*
went out of $usinessT lai# offT tem(orar* So$T no (ossi$ilit* of a#vancementT wante# a So$
$etter suite# to *our s8ills.
If *ou #i# have (ro$lems> $e honest. Show that *ou can acce(t res(onsi$ilit* an# learn
from *our mista8es. Aou shoul# e/(lain an* (ro$lems *ou ha# 9or still have: with an
em(lo*er> $ut #onQt #escri$e that em(lo*er in ne'ative terms. ;emonstrate that it was a
learnin' e/(erience that will not affect *our future wor8.
M1hat are #our )est s%ills!M
If *ou have sufficientl* researche# the or'aniKation> *ou shoul# $e a$le to ima'ine what
s8ills the com(an* values. Fist them> then 'ive e/am(les where *ou have #emonstrate#
these s8ills.
M1hat is #our maCor wea%ness!M
6e (ositiveT turn a wea8ness into a stren'th. =or e/am(le> *ou mi'ht sa*B 7I often worr*
too much over m* wor8. Sometimes I wor8 late to ma8e sure the So$ is #one well.7
MDo #ou 2refer to wor% )# #ourself or with others!M
The i#eal answer is one of fle/i$ilit*. ,owever> $e honest. Give e/am(les #escri$in' how
*ou have wor8e# in $oth situations.
M1hat are #our career oals!M or M1hat are #our future 2lans!M
The interviewer wants to 8now if *our (lans an# the com(an*Qs 'oals are com(ati$le. Fet
him 8now that *ou are am$itious enou'h to (lan ahea#. Tal8 a$out *our #esire to learn
more an# im(rove *our (erformance> an# $e s(ecific as (ossi$le a$out how *ou will
meet the 'oals *ou have set for *ourself.
M1hat are #our ho))ies!M an# MDo #ou 2la# an# s2orts!M
The interviewer ma* $e loo8in' for evi#ence of *our So$ s8ills outsi#e of *our
(rofessional e/(erience. =or e/am(le> ho$$ies such as chess or $ri#'e #emonstrate
anal*tical s8ills. Rea#in'> music> an# (aintin' are creative ho$$ies. In#ivi#ual s(orts
show #etermination an# stamina> while 'rou( s(ort activities ma* in#icate *ou are
comforta$le wor8in' as (art of a team.
&lso> the interviewer mi'ht sim(l* $e curious as to whether *ou have a life outsi#e of
wor8. Em(lo*ees who have creative or athletic outlets for their stress are often healthier>
ha((ier an# more (ro#uctive.
M1hat salar# are #ou e.2ectin!M
Aou (ro$a$l* #onQt want to answer this one #irectl*. Instea#> #eflect the question $ac8 to
the interviewer $* sa*in' somethin' li8eB 7I #onQt 8now. What are *ou (lannin' on
(a*in' the $est can#i#ate7 Fet the em(lo*er ma8e the first offer.
,owever> it is still im(ortant to 8now what the current salar* ran'e is for the (rofession.
=in# salar* surve*s at the li$rar* or on the Internet> an# chec8 the classifie#s to see what
com(ara$le So$s in *our area are (a*in'. This information can hel( *ou ne'otiate
com(ensation once the em(lo*er ma8es an offer.
M1hat have 8 forotten to as%!M
3se this as a chance to summariKe *our 'oo# characteristics an# attri$utes an# how the*
ma* $e use# to $enefit the or'aniKation. <onvince the interviewer that *ou un#erstan# the
So$ requirements an# that *ou can succee#.
8':>RV8>1 J6>S:85'S
1hat are #our strenths an, wea%nesses!
J* stren'ths are in m* a$ilit* to learn quic8l*. IQve seen a lot of chan'es in the technical in#ustr*. IQve ha#
to a#Sust an# learn new (ro'rams several times. &s far as wea8nesses> I reall* enSo* m* wor8> an#
sometimes I (ut in too much time. 6ut $* $ein' aware of m* ten#enc* to overwor8> I have learne# to (ace
m*self more an# wor8 smarter.
Do #ou have an# questions! -6suall# as%e, )# the interviewer at the en, of the interview&/
Aes> I #o. Than8 *ou for as8in'. What woul# *ou sa* woul# $e m* $i''est challen'es What woul# a
t*(ical wee8 loo8 li8e for a (erson in m* (osition
1hat e.2erience have #ou ha, that qualifies #ou for this 2osition!
=or the (ast four *ears> I have $een wor8in' in the e5commerce in#ustr*. I am (roficient wor8in' with Wava
an# (ossess a stron' wor8in' 8nowle#'e of ,TJF. I have 'reat communication an# teamwor8 s8ills have
re(eate#l* #emonstrate# an a$ilit* to 'et results.
?ow woul, #our )oss ,escri)e #ou an, #our wor% st#le!
SheQ# sa* I have a lot of initiative. I see the $i' (icture an# #o what has to $e #one. &n# that I alwa*s meet
#ea#lines> an# if I sa* IQm 'oin' to #o somethin'> I #o. &n#> lastl*> I have the a$ilit* to focus on what IQm
wor8in' on 5 I am not easil* #istracte#.
:ell me a)out #ourself an, #our 2ast e.2erience&
I have four *ears e/(erience wor8in' in the hi'h tech in#ustr*. =or the (ast two *ears> I have $een wor8in'
as a We$ #evelo(er. I have e/(erience with most of the software (ro'rams on the server si#eB Wavascri(t>
&SP> @6> ,TJF an# SEF Server. I am ver* or'anise# an# a$le to #o multi(le (roSects at once. I want to
wor8 in a cuttin'5e#'e com(an* where I can a## m* e/(erience to the mi/ an# $e a (art of a 'rowin' team.
*ive me an e.am2le of a 2roCect #ou han,le, from start to finish&
&s a customer research anal*st> I #evelo(e# a #ata$ase for the collection of customer #ata. &fter collectin'
the #ata> I #i# an anal*sis usin' E/cel an# wrote a summar* an# evaluation. I wor8e# with the customerQs
mar8etin' #e(artment so the information coul# $e use# to monitor an# focus on customer $ehaviour for
future (lannin'. The results of m* wor8 were that we ha# now ha# a user5frien#l* tool that accuratel*
trac8e# customer $ehaviour.
1hat are #our salar# e.2ectations!
J* e/(ectations are that I receive a salar* commensurate with m* e/(erience ta8in' into account current
mar8et rates. Given m* $ac8'roun# an# 8nowin' that I can #eliver what *ou"re loo8in' for I woul# $e
loo8in' at 'ettin' (ai# in the u((er quartile of what the mar8et is (a*in' for (eo(le li8e me.
1h# ,i, #ou leave #our last 2osition!
IQve set some 'oals for m*self an# m* career> an# unfortunatel*> IQm at a stan#still in m* current situation. I
have $e'un to e/(lore o(tions availa$le $efore I s(en# too much time in a So$ where I cannot a#vance. J*
'oal is to continue to im(rove m*self so that I can eventuall* $e a (roSect mana'er.
1hen have #ou )een most motivate,!
;urin' m* first So$ at a start5u( com(an* I ha# to un#er'o some ri'orous trainin' to un#erstan# the
(ro#uct an# customer. &t the same time> we were actuall* wor8in' with the customer. It require# a lot of
self5#irection an# motivation. I thrive# on the whole e/(erience 5 the #isci(line> the (lannin' an# the
#ea#lines. It was a (ressure coo8er> $ut I 'ot throu'h it.
:ell me a)out a time when #ou ha, to learn a new 2roram or s#stem&
I was stu#*in' J6& while in m* (revious So$. The com(an* I was wor8in' for chan'e# from < to <CC>
an# I #i#nQt have time to atten# the trainin' (ro'ram. I learne# it on m* own throu'h an online (ro'ram>
wor8in' a lot of late hours. 6* sta*in' focuse#> I was a$le to 'et throu'h it an# continue m* e#ucation
'oal.
1:Tell me a$out *ourself
=ocus
Fist five stren'ths *ou have that are (ertinent to this So$ 9e/(eriences> traits> s8ills> etc.:.
What #o *ou want the interviewer to 8now a$out *ou when *ou leave
9Pra$ha8ar has stron' Pro'rammin' s8ills. ,e has a (roven success in (ro'rammin'
s8ills. ,is real stren'th is his follow5throu'h. ,e (ri#es himself on his re(utation for
meetin' #ea#lines:
I have Stron' (ro'rammin' s8ills. I have a (roven success in (ro'rammin' s8ills. J*
real strenth is m* follow5thru'h. I (ri#e m*self on m* re(utaion for meetin' #ea#lins.
Scri(tin'
Pre(are a scri(t that inclu#es the information *ou want to conve*. 6e'in $* tal8in' a$out
(ast e/(eriences an# (roven successB
7I have $een in the Pro'rammin' si#e for the (ast three an# half *ears. J* most recent
e/(erience has $een #evelo(in' s-w (ro#ucts in the I T in#ustr*. One reason I (articularl*
enSo* this So$ >an# the challen'es that 'o alon' with it> is the o((ortunit* to (rovi#e
reusa$le com(onents to the (eo(le. In m* (resent So$> I (re(are# some reusa$le
com(onents which are ver* useful for (ro#ucts #evelo(in' in m* com(an* resultin' in a
%1 (ercent #ecrease of re(licate# co#e.
Ne/t> mention *our stren'ths an# a$ilitiesB
7J* real stren'th is m* #e#ication towar#s wor8 an# Euc8 learnin'. I (ri#e m*self on
m* re(utation for followin' throu'h an# meetin' #ea#lines. When I commit to #oin'
somethin'> I ma8e sure it 'ets #one> an# on time.7
<onclu#e with a statement a$out *our current situationB
7What I am loo8in' for now is a com(an* that encoura'es (ro'rammer s8ills > where I
can Soin a stron' team an# have a (ositive im(act on customer retention an# sales.7
Technical Interview
==============
1:Wh* #i# *ou leave *our last (osition
IQve set some 'oals for m*self an# m* career> an# unfortunatel*> IQm at a stan#still in m*
current situation. I have $e'un to e/(lore o(tions availa$le $efore I s(en# too much time
in a So$ where I cannot a#vance. J* 'oal is to continue to im(rove m*self so that I can
eventuall* $e a (roSect mana'er.
!:;o *ou have an* questions 93suall* as8e# $* the interviewer at the en# of the
interview.:
Aes> I #o. Than8 *ou for as8in'. What woul# *ou sa* woul# $e m* $i''est challen'es
What woul# a t*(ical wee8 loo8 li8e for a (erson in m* (osition


%: ,ow woul# *our $oss #escri$e *ou an# *our wor8 st*le
,eQ# sa* I have a lot of initiative. I see the $i' (icture an# #o what has to $e #one. &n#
that I alwa*s meet #ea#lines> an# if I sa* IQm 'oin' to #o somethin'> I #o. &n#> lastl*> I
have the a$ilit* to focus on what IQm wor8in' on 5 I am not easil* #istracte#.
):What e/(erience have *ou ha# that qualifies *ou for this (osition
=or the (ast three *ears> I have $een wor8in' in the e5commerce in#ustr*. I am (roficient
wor8in' with Wava an# (ossess a stron' wor8in' 8nowle#'e of ,TJF. I have 'reat
communication an# teamwor8 s8ills have re(eate#l* #emonstrate# an a$ilit* to 'et
results
+:What are *our stren'ths an# wea8nesses
J* stren'ths are in m* a$ilit* to learn quic8l*. IQve seen a lot of chan'es in the technical
in#ustr*. IQve ha# to a#Sust an# learn new (ro'rams several times. &s far as wea8nesses> I
reall* enSo* m* wor8> an# sometimes I (ut in too much time. 6ut $* $ein' aware of m*
ten#enc* to overwor8> I have learne# to (ace m*self more an# wor8 smarter.
.:When have *ou $een most motivate#
;urin' m* first So$ at a start5u( com(an* I ha# to un#er'o some ri'orous trainin' to
un#erstan# the (ro#uct an# customer. &t the same time> we were actuall* wor8in' with
the customer. It require# a lot of self5#irection an# motivation. I thrive# on the whole
e/(erience 5 the #isci(line> the (lannin' an# the #ea#lines. It was a (ressure coo8er> $ut I
'ot throu'h it.
0:What are *our salar* e/(ectations
J* e/(ectations are that I receive a salar* commensurate with m* e/(erience ta8in' into
account current mar8et rates. Given m* $ac8'roun# an# 8nowin' that I can #eliver what
*ou"re loo8in' for I woul# $e loo8in' at 'ettin' (ai# in the u((er quartile of what the
mar8et is (a*in' for (eo(le li8e me.

Genereal EuestionsB
===============
1:Tell me a$out *ourself an# *our (ast e/(erience.
I have four *ears e/(erience wor8in' in the hi'h tech in#ustr*. =or the (ast two *ears> I
have $een wor8in' as a We$ #evelo(er. I have e/(erience with most of the software
(ro'rams on the server si#eB Wavascri(t> &SP> @6> ,TJF an# SEF Server. I am ver*
or'anise# an# a$le to #o multi(le (roSects at once. I want to wor8 in a cuttin'5e#'e
com(an* where I can a## m* e/(erience to the mi/ an# $e a (art of a 'rowin' team.
!:Tell me a$out a time when *ou ha# to learn a new (ro'ram or s*stem.
I was stu#*in' J6& while in m* (revious So$. The com(an* I was wor8in' for chan'e#
from < to <CC> an# I #i#nQt have time to atten# the trainin' (ro'ram. I learne# it on m*
own throu'h an online (ro'ram> wor8in' a lot of late hours. 6* sta*in' focuse#> I was
a$le to 'et throu'h it an# continue m* e#ucation 'oal


%: Give me an e/am(le of a (roSect *ou han#le# from start to finish.
&s a customer research anal*st> I #evelo(e# a #ata$ase for the collection of customer
#ata. &fter collectin' the #ata> I #i# an anal*sis usin' E/cel an# wrote a summar* an#
evaluation. I wor8e# with the customerQs mar8etin' #e(artment so the information coul#
$e use# to monitor an# focus on customer $ehaviour for future (lannin'. The results of
m* wor8 were that we ha# now ha# a user5frien#l* tool that accuratel* trac8e# customer
$ehaviour.
):What is *our 'reatest wea8ness
D: IQm a (erfectionist. IQm never satisfie# with an*thin' until I 8now itQs the ver* $est I
can #o> an# I reco'nise that sometimes this ten#enc* can slow thin's #own.
DD: I use# to $e ver* #isor'anise#. Aou 8now> the 8in# of (erson with ever* (a(er he
owns s(rea# on to( of his #es8. Eventuall* this 'ot me into trou$leT I misse# a meetin'
$ecause the sli( of (a(er I wrote the #etails on 'ot lost in the mess. I 8new I ha# to ma8e
some chan'es> so I as8e# a ver* meticulous co5wor8er if she woul# hel( me or'anise m*
wor8s(ace. In Sust an hour we wor8e# out a s*stem that I still use to#a*. I fin# now that
not onl* am I more on to( of thin's> $ut I wor8 more efficientl*> too.


+:What is *our 'reatest stren'th
IQm efficient an# I 8now how to 'et thin's #one. =or e/am(le> in m* (revious So$ I
re(eate#l* met m* tar'ets within time an# $u#'et an# within our qualit* stan#ar#s. I was
a$le to #o this $* (lannin' ahea#> (rioritisin' an# ensurin' I was u( to #ate with an* of
the technical chan'es.

.:;o *ou have an* questions
,ow much 'rowth (otential is there in this So$
0:Wh* #o *ou thin8 *ou woul# enSo* this 8in# of wor8
D: I 8now this So$ woul# $e a real challen'e an# woul# allow me to 'row (rofessionall*.
&lso> mar8etin' has alwa*s $een m* main area of (rofessional interest> so IQm e/cite#
a$out the o((ortunit* to wor8 in that fiel#.
DD: 6ran# mana'ement a((eals to me $ecause it requires a com$ination of creativit*>
strate'ic an# anal*tic a$ilit*5all qualities that I feel I (ossess. &lso> after wor8in' at
Sellstuff &#vertisin' &'enc*> I have a (rett* 'oo# i#ea of what itQs li8e to wor8 towar#
the same 'oal $ut from another an'le> an# I 8now I enSo* the wor8.
2:Tell me a$out a time when *ou receive# criticism for *our wor8 or an i#ea.
D:Fast *ear I was #oin' atten#in' a trainin' course as well as m* usual teachin'. One
semester I 'ot #ela*e# in sen#in' the correcte# answer (a(ers to stu#ent. There were
a$out 1+1 stu#ents in the class an# correctin' the answer (a(ers in si/ #a*s wasnQt alwa*s
eas*5es(eciall* since I ha# classes of m* own to worr* a$out. Still> I mana'e# to 8ee( u(
until the en# of the semester. I ha# a hu'e (a(er to write an# I Sust coul#nQt finish the
correction wor8 that semester. J* $oss was s*m(athetic> $ut he was also u(set. I
a(olo'ise# for the #ela* an# ma#e sure to finish on time the ne/t semester.
DD: In m* last So$ I was the E/ecutive &ssistant for the (resi#ent of a footwear
manufacturin' com(an*. &mon' other thin's> I t*(e# all his corres(on#ence. ,e woul#
'ive me the letters han#written an# I woul# t*(e them u(. I notice# there were a lot of
'rammatical mista8es in his letters> so I correcte# them. 6ut when he saw the t*(e#
letters with m* corrections he ma#e me chan'e them $ac8 to his version> an# he tol# me
never to ma8e chan'es to his letters a'ain. Aou have to un#erstan#> these were not minor
mista8es. & t*(ical letter rea#> 7;ear Jr. So5an#5So> It was real nice meetin' to'ether
a'ain with *ou *ester#a* at m* office.7 I reco'nise# a futile situationT he was not 'oin'
to chan'e his min#. &n# $esi#es> if the (resi#ent of the com(an* wants his letters to rea#
a certain wa*> thatQs his (rero'ative. So I acce(te# the criticism an# sto((e# correctin' his
letters.
DD:I wor8 as an e#itorial assistant at a $oo85(u$lishin' house> an# recentl* I came u(
with an i#ea for a new $oo8B a $oo8 a$out the histor* an# chan'in' #*namics of the
airline in#ustr*. I tol# m* $oss m* i#ea an# she thou'ht it ha# merit> so at the ne/t
e#itorial $oar# meetin' I (resente# the conce(t to the $oar#. Well> the other e#itors were
not nearl* as enthusiastic. The* sai# that the airline in#ustr* ha# alrea#* $een written
a$out a lot an# the* #i#nQt see enou'h of an au#ience for the $oo8. &fter the meetin' m*
$oss an# I #iscusse# the $oar#Qs reaction an# m* (resentation s8ills an# how the* coul#
$e im(rove#. Even thou'h m* i#ea was not well receive#> (resentin' it to the $oar# an#
#iscussin' it with m* $oss were valua$le learnin' e/(eriences. &s a result of this
e/(erience the ne/t time I ha# to 'ive a (resentation m* (ro(osal was acce(te# an# I
receive# 'reat fee#$ac

4: ,ow #o *ou feel a$out wor8in' in 'rou(s ;o *ou ten# to (la* a (articular role
I enSo* wor8in' in 'rou(s. &lthou'h some (roSects ma* ta8e a little lon'er when several
(eo(le have to reach a consensus> I $elieve the result is alwa*s $etter when *ou can
$enefit from several (eo(lesQ i#eas. IQve foun# that when I wor8 in 'rou(s IQm usuall* the
(erson who ma8es sure the wor8 'ets finishe#5the #etail (erson> the (erson who ties u(
all the loose en#s an# who sees the thin' throu'h.
11:,ow #o *ou wor8 un#er (ressure
I wor8 well un#er (ressure> althou'h I usuall* tr* to avoi# 'ettin' into eleventh hour
situations.
11:If *ou are hire#> how lon' will *ou sta* with this com(an*
&s lon' as the wor8 is challen'in' an# I have the o((ortunit* to learn an# a#vance> I see
no reason to consi#er leavin'. ,ow lon' #o *ou $elieve that will $e

1!:What has $een *our most #ifficult wor8 e/(erience
Fast *ear when I was wor8in' in the recruitment #e(artment for a lar'e financial
institution I was havin' a #ifficult time $ecause all the wor8 I was 'iven was the same 5
that is> rea#in' throu'h hun#re#s of resumes. Not onl* was the wor8 the same> $ut it was
also te#ious. &fter several wee8s of this> when I thou'ht I woul# 'o ma#> I a((roache# $*
$oss an# tol# her how I felt. I as8e# if I coul# ta8e (art in some interviews an# I also
ma#e su''estions on how I thou'ht I coul# contri$ute more to the ,R #e(artment. J*
$oss reacte# ver* (ositivel*. She tol# me the onl* reason I was rea#in' resumes all #a*
was $ecause she thou'ht that as a new (erson that"s what I reall* wante# to #o. She was
ver* (lease# I a((roache# her #irectl* with m* (ro$lem an# imme#iatel* assi'ne# me to
new #uties.
1%:Where #o *ou see *ourself five *ears from now 9assume *ou"re a can#i#ate who has
not ha# mana'erial e/(erience:.
To $e honest I thin8 itQs #ifficult to 8now now e/actl* where IQll $e five *ears from now.
<ertainl*> m* main 'oal is to move forwar# an# to 'et ahea#. In or#er to #o that I nee# to
continue m* learnin' in the areas that are essential to this com(an*. This is somethin' I
reall* loo8 forwar# to #oin'. Once IQve #one that I can #efine m* 'oals more narrowl*.

1):What #o *ou #o in *our s(are time
D: To tell *ou the truth> itQs rare that I have a free moment> since> as *ou 8now> I wor8
ver* lon' hours. Fuc8il*> I love m* (rofession. 6ut when I #o fin# m*self with a free
afternoon or wee8en#> I li8e to rela/ $* rea#in' an# listenin' to music.
DD:I have interest in theatre an# I li8e to wor8 with a local theatre 'rou( on wee8en#s.
The 'rou( con#ucts theatre wor8sho(s for chil#ren ever* summer an# I have $een
volunteerin' for the last two *ears


1+:,ow #i# *ou feel a$out *our last $oss
I have a lot of res(ect for the wor8 she #oes> an# I learne# 'reat #eal from her.

1.:What have *ou #one that shows initiative
When I was a Fecturer in 3niversit*> m* #e(artment was one of the smallest> an# we
often ha# trou$le 'ettin' sufficient enrolments in our classes an# classes 'ot cancelle#.
This was e/tremel* frustratin' to me so I went to see the ;ean to tal8 a$out it. ,e
e/(resse# his commitment to the #e(artment an# su''este# we form a tas8 force with the
#e(artment hea# an# a few other stu#ents to a##ress the (ro$lem. In the followin' *ear
we revam(e# the curriculum so that it was more in line with stu#ent #eman#s. &s a result>
classes were $etter atten#e#. It was a 'reat learnin' e/(erience.

10:Tell me a$out *ourself.
What woul# *ou li8e to 8now


12: Tell me a$out the (ositive an# the ne'ative as(ects of *our last So$.
I reall* enSo*e# wor8in' for &rtwor8 &#vertisin' at m* last So$. I was wor8in' on ver*
#ifferent (roSects that I foun# challen'in'> an# I was a$le to wor8 with some reall*
talente# (eo(le. I thin8 I learne# a lot from them. The #ownsi#e was that I was onl* there
for a short (erio# of time so that I was una$le to see some of m* (roSects throu'h to
com(letion.

14:,ow much mone* #o *ou want to ma8e in this So$ 9&ssume *our tar'et ran'e is Rs
!.+ la8hs X Rs % la8hs:
&s I un#erstan# it> the (osition woul# entail re(ortin' #irectl* to the e/ecutive e#itor>
overseein' all as(ect of $oo8 (ro#uction from acquisition to (u$lication> reviewin'
su$missions> an# actin' as a liaison $etween authors an# a'ents an# the com(an*. &m I
missin' an*thin' In that case> $ase# on m* trac8 recor# an# qualifications> what woul#
$e the salar* ran'e for the (osition

!1:What as(ects of *our e/(erience ma8e *ou qualifie# for this So$
I un#erstan# *ou are tr*in' to e/(an# *our reach into *outh. &s well as havin' covere#
sales of soft #rin8s an# $ran#e# a((arels in *our area 'ainin' soun# 8nowle#'e of *outh
s(en#in' ha$its. I have also increase# sales $* over 11I in the ei'hteen months I have
$een there. I have valua$le contacts in the area that I can imme#iatel* ta( into. In other
wor#s I can hit the 'roun# runnin'.