SAS Interview Questions and Answers

Technical interviews including SAS (Statistical Analysis System) interviews often have more in depth questions designed to test your expertise. Most interviews will start with a few personal questions about you and your experiences.

However SAS interviews are likely to include a section of questions to find out how much you know about your skill and give the employer a better idea of your level of expertise.

To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common SAS interview questions and answers:

1. What is SAS?
   SAS is an integrated set of software products. The acronym stands for Statistical Analysis System
    
2. What are the special input delimiters?
   The input delimiters are DLM and DSD.
    
3. What is the difference between a format and an informat?
   Format: A format is to write data i.e.  WORDIATE18 and WEEKDATEW

   Informat: An informat is to read data i.e. comma, dollar and date (MMDDYYw, DATEw, TIMEw, PERCENTw
    

4. Describe an SAS function.
   TRIM: removes trailing blanks from a character expression

   Str1 = ‘my’;

   Str2 = ‘dog’;

   Result = TRIM (Str1)(Str2);

   Result = ‘mydog’
    

5. What is a PDV?
   A PDV or Program Data Vector is a logical area in the memory. SAS creates a database of one observation at a time. At the time of compilation an input buffer is created which holds a record from and external file. The PDV is created following this input buffer creation.
    
6. What is a PUT statement?
   A PUT statement is a flexible tool in data step programming.

   Examples of a PUT statement are:

   PUT _all_ - writes the values of all variables

   PUT 132*’_’ – writes 132 underscores

   PUT one two three – writes three variable values separated by a space.
    

7. What is the difference between SAS functions and procedures?
   Functions expect values to be supplied across an observation.

   Procedures expect one variable value per observation.
    

8. Which SAS Statement does not perform automatic conversions in comparisons?
   The “where” statement does not perform automatic conversions in comparisons.
    
9. SAS contains how many data types? What are they?
   SAS has 2 data types, Character and Numeric.
    
10. How do you specify variables to be processed by the FREQ procedure?
    Use the TABLES statement.

In SAS interviews it’s a good idea to try and keep your answers precise as this helps you come across as confident. Being able to answer questions succinctly is also a very clear indicator of your knowledge.

For more advice on perfecting your interview technique, we've partnered up with CV Knowhow who offer interview coaching so click here to find out more.

Good luck!