Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 08:26:14 +0000
Reply-To: Guido T <cymraegerict@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: Guido T <cymraegerict@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: sas interview questions, how to answer?
In-Reply-To: <BAY103-F28CEEFDFCF3B93907EA07BB0B10@phx.gbl>
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Hi,
Looks like the questions are from "The Ultimate Match Merge: Hiring
the Best SAS Programmers" a SUGI 24 paper.
The question from the mail
"what is the difference between function PROCs that calculate the same
simple descriptive statistics?"
is given is the paper as
"What is the different between functions and PROCs that calculate the
same simple descriptive statistics?"
Two different typos, but at least I think I know what the 2nd one means.
I have to admit to asking interviewees *some* of the questions from
this paper, but I haven't yet asked any from the "Non-technical - Do
you think professionally?" section.
Regards
++ Guido
On 11/01/07, David L Cassell <davidlcassell@msn.com> wrote:
> gsuxin@GMAIL.COM wrote:
> >
> >I saw some interview question of sas, but I don't know the exact
> >answer, who can give me some hint, any help is greatly appreciated!
> >
> >1. have you ever linked sas code? if so, describe the link and any
> >required statements used to either process the code or step itself?
> >
> >2. What is the Program Data Vector(PDV)? what are its functions?
> >
> >3. Does sas 'translate' (compile) or does it 'Interpret'? explain.
> >
> >4.At compile time when a sas data set is read, what items are created?
> >
> >5. Name statements that are execution only.
> >
> >6. In the flow of Data step processing, what is the first action in
> >typical data step?
> >
> >7. what's the difference between var A1-A4 and var A1--A4?
> >
> >8.why is sas conisdered self-documenting?
> >
> >9.Briefly describe 5 ways to do a 'table look up' in sas.
> >
> >10. what are some good sas programming practices for processing very
> >large data sets?
> >
> >11.what are some problems you might encounter in processing missing
> >values? In data steps?Arithmetic ? Comparsion? Functions? Classfying
> >data?
> >
> >12. what is the difference between function PROCs that calculate the
> >same simple descriptive statistics?
> >
> >
> >13. if you were given several sas data sets you were unfamiliar with,
> >how would you find out the variable names and formats of each dataset?
> >
> >14.
>
> A couple of these are decent questions. A couple of them are just
> plain garbage. "function PROCs"?!?!?! Really! What's that supposed to
> mean? SAS functions are not PROCs, and SAS PROCs are not SAS
> functions. Are they trying to ask for the differences between
> MEANS, SUMMARY, UNIVARIATE, and TABULATE? Or what?
>
> If there are a few questions that interest you, and you're not comfortable
> with your (potential) answer, go ahead and research the question. Come
> back to SAS-L with your own answer, and let experts here critique your
> response. That's how you really learn about SAS.
>
> And don't worry about idiotic 'SAS interview questions' you find on
> the web. I have yet to find anyone who actually ASKS these
> questions in an interview.
>
> David
> --
> David L. Cassell
> mathematical statistician
> Design Pathways
> 3115 NW Norwood Pl.
> Corvallis OR 97330
>
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