How to Assess the Technical Skills of Remote SAP Developer Candidates
In today's fast-paced digital landscape, businesses are increasingly relying on remote SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products) developers to create and maintain enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. SAP, a robust enterprise software, requires specialized knowledge and experience to customize, configure, and maintain. Hiring a remote SAP developer can be an ideal solution to tap into a global talent pool, but assessing their technical skills remotely presents unique challenges.
To ensure that you're hiring the best remote SAP developers for your project, it’s important to have a thorough and structured process to evaluate their expertise. In this article, we will walk through the steps involved in assessing the technical skills of remote SAP developer candidates.
- Define Your Requirements and Expectations
Before you start evaluating candidates, clearly define the scope of the project and the specific SAP modules and technologies your business requires. SAP encompasses a wide range of technologies and modules, including SAP FICO (Financial Accounting and Controlling), SAP MM (Material Management), SAP SD (Sales and Distribution), SAP ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming), SAP HANA, and more. Each module requires a different skill set, so it’s important to determine which ones are essential for your organization’s needs.
Additionally, outline the expected job role and responsibilities. Is the developer expected to work independently, or will they collaborate closely with other team members? Understanding your needs will help you set clear expectations and ask the right questions during the assessment process.
- Create a Technical Skills Framework
A technical skills framework is an organized structure that allows you to systematically assess a candidate’s proficiency in various SAP tools and techniques. Some essential areas to assess include:
SAP Programming Languages: ABAP, SAP UI5, Java, JavaScript
SAP Module Expertise: SAP FICO, SAP MM, SAP SD, SAP BW, SAP HANA, etc.
SAP HANA (in-memory database): Familiarity with HANA architecture, SQL scripts, data modeling
Integration Skills: Knowledge of integrating SAP with third-party applications and external systems (APIs, Web Services, etc.)
SAP S/4HANA Knowledge: If your business is transitioning to SAP S/4HANA, ensure the candidate has experience with this latest version of SAP.
Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to debug and troubleshoot technical issues effectively.
3. Evaluate Their Resume and Portfolio
The first step in assessing any remote SAP developer candidate is reviewing their resume and portfolio. This allows you to gain insight into their background and the types of projects they have worked on.
When reviewing resumes, focus on:
Relevant SAP Modules: Does the candidate have experience in the SAP modules you require? For example, if you need expertise in SAP FICO and the candidate has worked primarily in SAP MM, they may not be the best fit.
Certifications: SAP certifications, such as SAP Certified Development Associate, SAP Certified Application Associate, or SAP Certified Technology Associate, demonstrate a candidate’s commitment to maintaining up-to-date skills.
Years of Experience: Look for developers with a solid track record of working with SAP, ideally in environments similar to your own.
Portfolio: Ask candidates to provide examples of previous projects they've worked on, especially those that are similar to your needs. Reviewing their work can give you a sense of their coding standards, problem-solving abilities, and technical depth.
4. Conduct a Technical Interview
A technical interview is one of the most effective ways to assess the skills of a remote SAP developer. During the interview, focus on the candidate's problem-solving ability, technical knowledge, and communication skills. Here are some interview techniques you can employ:
4.1. Ask Scenario-Based Questions
Pose real-world scenarios that the candidate is likely to face on the job. For instance:
“How would you approach the integration of SAP with a third-party CRM system?”
“Describe a challenging project where you had to work with SAP FICO. What were the key issues, and how did you resolve them?”
This will test the candidate’s ability to think critically and apply their knowledge in practical situations.
4.2. Assess Technical Knowledge with Open-Ended Questions
Ask questions that test the candidate’s depth of knowledge. For example:
“Can you explain the difference between SAP ECC and SAP S/4HANA?”
“What is your approach to debugging SAP ABAP programs?”
Open-ended questions allow candidates to demonstrate their technical expertise and provide insight into their thought process.
4.3. Use Live Coding Challenges
If feasible, arrange for a live coding session or ask the candidate to work on a real-time problem. This helps you gauge their practical skills, such as how they write code, debug issues, and solve problems on the fly.
For example, you could give the candidate an ABAP programming problem and ask them to solve it while sharing their screen. This approach not only tests their coding ability but also evaluates their problem-solving and communication skills.
- Assess Problem-Solving and Debugging Skills
One of the core responsibilities of an SAP developer is troubleshooting and debugging issues within the SAP environment. Assess the candidate’s ability to identify and fix technical problems.
You can do this by:
Giving them a sample bug or technical issue and asking how they would go about resolving it.
Asking them about past challenges they’ve faced with SAP software and how they handled them.
Assessing their familiarity with debugging tools such as SAP Debugger, SQL Trace, and SAP GUI.
Their ability to troubleshoot effectively is an important indicator of their competence as an SAP developer.
- Check Communication Skills
Since remote work involves a high level of communication, assess the candidate’s ability to articulate technical concepts clearly and concisely. Good communication skills are crucial, especially when working with a distributed team or interacting with stakeholders.
During the interview, pay attention to:
How clearly they explain their thoughts and ideas.
Their ability to describe technical solutions in a way that non-technical stakeholders can understand.
How well they handle feedback or questions during the discussion.
Remote SAP developers often need to document their work, write reports, or collaborate with other team members, so strong communication skills are essential for successful project delivery.
- Evaluate Cultural Fit and Remote Work Experience
When hiring a remote SAP developer, it's important to assess their ability to work in a remote environment. A candidate’s previous experience working remotely can be a good indicator of their adaptability and self-discipline.
Look for:
Experience in Remote Work: Has the candidate worked remotely in the past? If so, what tools did they use (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Jira, etc.)?
Time Management and Self-Discipline: Remote developers must be self-motivated and able to manage their own schedules. Ask questions like: “How do you stay organized when working on multiple tasks or projects?”
Team Collaboration: Even though they are remote, they must collaborate effectively with your team. Look for a candidate who is comfortable with online collaboration and knows how to communicate across time zones.
8. Technical Assessments and Tools
To objectively evaluate a candidate’s skills, consider using technical assessment tools that simulate real-world tasks. Some popular platforms for conducting technical assessments include:
Codility: A platform for testing the coding skills of developers, especially in languages like ABAP or Java.
HackerRank: Provides coding challenges and helps evaluate a developer’s problem-solving skills.
Pluralsight: Offers a range of skill assessments, including SAP-specific topics.
These platforms provide a structured way to test candidates’ technical expertise and compare multiple applicants’ skills.
- Request a Trial Project or Assignment
Another effective way to evaluate the technical skills of remote SAP developer candidates is to offer a trial project or assignment. This could be a small, paid task relevant to your project that tests their ability to deliver results under real work conditions.
For example:
You could ask the candidate to develop a custom SAP report.
Or, have them integrate SAP with another system and assess the quality and efficiency of the solution.
This gives you the opportunity to assess the candidate's coding, problem-solving skills, and work ethic firsthand before making a final decision.
Conclusion
Hiring remote SAP developers requires a thorough and systematic approach to evaluating their technical skills. By clearly defining your needs, utilizing technical interviews and assessments, and considering factors like communication and cultural fit, you can ensure you hire a developer who will add value to your organization.
If you’re looking to hire remote SAP developers with the right technical expertise and experience, use the strategies outlined above to streamline the process and make an informed decision. Remember that the right SAP developer can have a significant impact on the success of your project, so invest the time and effort required to make the best hiring choice.
