37 SAP HANA Interview Questions (With Sample Answers)

Updated 6 September 2022

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SAP SE is a German multinational software company, which is one of the top providers of software for enterprise resource planning globally. It provides HANA (High-performance Analytic Appliance) which is a cloud service. If you are interested in a job in technology, it might be helpful to be familiar with SAP's cloud systems. In this article, we list several SAP HANA interview questions and share a few example answers to help you prepare for your interview.

General SAP HANA Interview Questions

To better understand your profile and background, interviewers may ask you general SAP HANA interview questions at the beginning of the conversation. You may come across enquiries like these in this section:

Why do you want to work for this company?
Tell me about yourself.
What did your previous colleagues think of you?
What words best describe you in your workplace?
What does your typical workday look like?
How do you put forth a lot of effort?
Which characteristics do you value in a colleague?
How did you come to know about this position?
Can you withstand pressure from work?
How effectively are you able to plan and collaborate with your colleagues?

Questions About Experience And Background

To determine if you fulfil the qualifications for the post, interviewers may ask you questions about your prior employment or education history as the interview progresses. These are a few typical enquiries:

Give us an overview of your training and employment history.
Tell us about a conflict you have had with a previous colleague.
Give an example of a moment when you were under a lot of strain at work.
Tell us about a moment when you succeeded in achieving a goal and how you accomplished it.
Give an example of a problem you solved in a prior role.
How do you set priorities when you are required to manage several projects simultaneously?
Can you describe your experience with SAP HANA?
How would your past manager describe you?
Do you have leadership experience?
Do you have technical certifications?

In-Depth Interview Questions

Interviewers may assess your level of knowledge about the position you are applying for, by asking detailed questions at the end of the interview. Examples of such questions include:

What happens if the SLT for HANA system goes down for a prolonged length of time?
Describe the functions of the session and the transaction manager.
Describe the steps you may take to prevent the storage of unnecessary logging data.
Describe the steps involved in processing an SQL statement.
What are the different sections of SAP HANA called?
Name the genesis of SAP HANA.
How do Oracle and SAP HANA vary from one another?
What makes Row Storage and Column Storage different from one another?
Describe what latency is.
Describe transformation rules in detail.
What is the description of the master controller position in SAP HANA?
What does a SAP HANA catalogue look like?
What do the SAP HANA CE functions entail?
What are the various SAP HANA data types for?

Interview Questions With Sample Responses

You may prepare your responses for interview questions by reviewing these common questions and their sample answers:

1. Define SAP HANA and describe its applications.

To find out if you are familiar with a subject, interviewers may ask you to define it and its functionality. If you want to show that you understand the broad concept, you can answer this question with a brief definition. You can further mention its applications and functionality in your response.

Example: 'SAP HANA is a database management system that is in-memory and column-oriented. As the programme controls a database server, its main duty is to safeguard and obtain data as required by the applications. It also has an application server, extract, convert and load capabilities and performs advanced analytics.'

2. What are some benefits of using SAP HANA?

This question offers you a chance to demonstrate your familiarity with the tool and you can address this question by expanding on your experience. The more in-depth the interview gets, the more likely it is that this kind of simple inquiry can start a line of questioning that gets more complex. In your response, try to include as many benefits as you can. You may also mention drawbacks.

Example: 'The SAP HANA platform quickly replicates and ingests structured data from relational databases, programmes and other systems, both SAP and non-SAP. Professionals can process massive volumes of data quickly with SAP HANA. As a result, it can analyse enormous volumes of real-time data in a shorter amount of time using in-memory database technology.'

3. Do you have any questions for us?

This enquiry usually comes after an interview session comes to its end and it is customary for interviewers at most firms to take questions from candidates. Candidates can use the opportunity to quiz the interviewer about the firm, the work environment and important workflows and processes. The interviewers may get the impression that you are well-prepared if you respond to this question thoughtfully.

Example: 'What policies has the organisation implemented to prevent burnout at work? Is paternity or maternity leave available to employees under the corporate policy? What major clients does the organisation maintain at the moment? What primary domains does the organisation operate in at the moment?'

Tips For A SAP HANA Interview

These are some tips for a SAP HANA interview:

Become familiar with the firm and the interviewers

Learning about a business and an interviewer's position within it is crucial. You could feel more assured throughout the interview if you know this information. Examine a company's website, most recent press releases and social media postings to grasp its objectives and ascertain how your expertise best positions you to achieve them. Try to look up the organisation's mission statement and broad goals so you can discuss them with an interviewer.

Utilise company merchandise

Use company products or services before the initial interview, regardless of the position you are seeking. Since you may represent a good or service, it is best if you use it a few times before you pursue a job. Learn about features and how users feel about products and services.

Enquire about the interview structure

Consider learning more about the types of interviews a hiring process involves, because every company conducts interviews differently. Some may provide brainteasers, case studies or standard interview questionnaires. Most interviewers ask detailed questions about the job, where you may be required to provide detailed responses or work on a regular assignment.

Answer questions using the STAR method

The STAR interview approach is a methodology that aids in your preparation for questions that assess your ability to deal with particular job-related scenarios. You may use examples from everyday life to develop clear, efficient replies using this technique. STAR stands for:

Situation: Describe a challenge you encountered.
Task: Explain your position in the situation.
Action: Detail the measures you took to overcome the challenge.
Result: Describe the results you obtained, including things you learned.

Rehearse your answers

Delivering your responses aloud is a good method to improve your presentation. To review answers to questions, seek the assistance of a family member or close friend or simply repeat it to yourself in front of a mirror. It is important to be open to constructive criticism about your response and delivery.

Prepare for behavioural questions

Employers may conduct a behavioural interview to find out how you may respond to challenging situations in professional settings. An interviewer may search for indicators of your general behaviour in your responses. These enquiries may be more open-ended in comparison to other sections of an interview.

Be respectful

Some interviewers may request input from past colleagues and managers. This applies to everyone in a previous workplace, including security officers. Try to be respectful to everyone you encounter on a daily basis and work with. Check your attire and hair, trim your nails neatly and polish your shoes regularly, to maintain a professional appearance. Throughout the interview, try to be confident in body language and while delivering responses.

Follow up

It is good practice to enquire about what to anticipate following an interview. You can request an interview performance report or evaluation from hiring managers and also make a list of any further material that you are required to provide, such as a reference section or an assignment. To send each of your interviewers a unique and personalised thank-you email, ask for their business cards.

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