success in interviews – part 2: Essentials

At work, we will succeed if we get results! Not just any results…but those results that matter!

As SAP professionals we will get many things thrown at us, we have to prioritize based on important (point 1) and then get to work on those. Dive into the customer requirements and get full clarity (point 2) and then while designing your solution, communicate your solution clearly to the customer.

Keep thinking, evaluating…while working…weekly evaluation, monthly evaluations….. (point 3) Continuous improvement!

So, the three essentials needed for success at work are also needed for success in interviews. Lets get started…

1. What is most important?

2. Clarity

3. Review afterwards

1. What is most important?

Before you enter the interview-room; think – What is the most important thing? What one thing will ensure 90% of your success?

What is the most important thing – is different at different stages. In a Technical round, it is technical knowledge, in a managerial round, it is Communication etc.

To focus on the most important is not easy as it sounds! Your brain might be distracted by the fancy office or other candidates waiting or your mind could be tired but stop everything and focus on the most important. This requires practice and discipline.

In the interview, you get a question, before answering the question (very quickly think) – what is most important point related to this question.

NOTE: The most important…maybe the two most important, not 5 most important.

Your brain is practicing discipline to prioritize and select.

Example:

I faced a question, in your resume I read that you had worked on Output in your last project. What did you do exactly?

I started telling exactly what I had done…create new output type, used an existing access sequence etc. etc.

WRONG APPROACH !!!

I should have asked my self – What is most important?

Answer: This is a technical round, I need to reply so that the interviewer realizes two things about me – I understand Output functionality and its how it is used by business.

I should have started with

what is output & how it helps the business?

what are the main configuration steps?

what are the cut over activities needed (create master data)?

what are the test scenarios?

2. Clarity

Have the skill & courage to give clarity to the interviewer

You have given an answer, you feel that your reply is not fully clear to the interviewer OR you think, you could have given a clear reply. Give an example to support your reply. Don’t bother if it takes an extra couple of minutes or don’t worry that the interview would like to go to the next question.

For example, after explaining AAG customer (account assignment group), you can say that few examples are export customers, domestic customers.

Give clarity and for it you will need skill to judge how clear is it to the interviewer and then you will need courage, to stay on that point and give more info (from different angles)

If interviewer is asking many questions at once, then s/he is testing how can do you manage an overload of information.

Divide the questions into groups, (structure), decide -is it in scope or out of scope? and then give clear and to the point comments.

You need to take that control, be proactive.

This is a must for success in interviews and at work.

3. Review afterwards

After every interview-day, irrespective of success or failure, make notes:

a. What you did well?

b. What you need to improve?

Have clear and “tiny” action points. Make sure that you can work on these daily.

Big things happen, when small steps are taken daily, with energy, patience and passion.

Every “interview-day” event is opportunity that makes you better. Continuous improvement

Keep working…keep following the 3 essentials…and (by default) keep succeeding in interviews!

Good luck,

Typewriter

side comment:

Going for an interview is not same as going for daily-work!

Scenario: While waiting for an interview (in the hall / room) or while in an interview, your mind has to be fully active. Just like Venus Williams shuffles her body weight just before receiving a tennis serve, your mind too has to shuffle or do some rituals…to get to the “peak”

success in interviews – part 1: Process

success in SAP SD – essentials: business process