6 Key Abilities that SAP Consultants and Software Engineers Must Show in the Interview
In some tech-driven careers, it can feel as though you are navigating between two worlds: the technical and non-technical. You have to have the technical expertise, but soft and interpersonal skills are also becoming increasingly important. As a consequence, professionals who interview for SAP and software engineering positions need to demonstrate these 6 abilities throughout the hiring process:
- Use simple language to communicate complex ideas
You know what you mean, but not everyone else does.
If you need to use a technical term or jargon, try to find an analogy you can use to help explain and communicate your message.
The closer your language is to another person’s language and knowledge-base, the better you’ll be able to communicate with them. Show the interviewer that you’re conscious of this and can work with managers and employees who don’t share your technical acumen.
- Recognize different workstyles
What do you know about the people you’ll be working with, reporting to, and communicating when you begin working? Do they work with their hands? Are they used to seeing written outlines or drafts?
Ask the interviewer questions that will give you a better understanding of the preferences and characteristics of the people you’ll be interacting with. The more you know about the people you’re trying to work with, the better you’ll be able to create workflows and communication protocols that fit best with the existing company culture and employee work habits.
- Pay attention to detail
Over the course of the interview process, you have many opportunities to show employers how conscientious you are. Ask the employer specific, rather than broad or general, questions to gain more information about the role and to show them that you’ve done your research.
Avoid questions that can be answered with a Google search. Instead, use that preliminary research as a jumping off point so you’ll be able to more fully understand the organisation’s needs and context of the position as you learn more “behind the scenes” information in the interview.
- Adjust well to quickly changing environments
Stories and anecdotes are great ways to frame the evidence of this ability from your past. Think about the interviewer’s questions in terms of how you’ve addressed a situation or change in the past. Is the plan you ended up moving forward with the one you initially tried? If not, what did you learn from your first approach that made the second a success? Were there any challenges that you were able to overcome throughout the course of the project that demonstrate your ability to adapt?
- Manage multiple moving parts of a challenge
Throughout the course of your working week, you will be faced with complexity. Different people doing different things that you need to monitor and manage; the parameters of the project you’re working on may change. Without a clear, organized way of keeping track of your work – and the many moving elements of a project – you are bound to feel out of the loop and potentially slip up.
When interviewing, be organized in how you do things. Be punctual for the meeting. Have anything that was requested for the interview ready. Search the address of the employer beforehand so you know exactly where you’re going. Do everything you can to limit surprises on the day of your interview. Then follow up with your interviewer afterwards via email or a thank you note. These actions show employers that you are conscientious.
- See the big picture and understand how your actions affect it
Ask yourself why the organisation perceives the need for someone to undertake the role you are looking to fill. What can’t happen without someone filling the role you’re interviewing for? How would your actions in that role affect other aspects of the business you’re interviewing with? What does your work allow others in the organization to do?
Ask the interviewer questions about context. What are the company’s goals, outside of your department? If you notice a change or trend in the industry, ask the interviewer how they’ve seen the business affected by it.
Final Thoughts
SAP consulting and Software Engineering positions require technical knowledge and skill, but also require candidates to have a strong set of personal skills in order to truly thrive in the role. To secure an offer, make it a point to showcase both technical and non-technical skills to your prospective employer.
Need help finding your next opportunity? Reach out to our team for help!