For anyone pursuing an IT position, having an understanding of SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is essential to landing a job and moving up in your career. Questions about this organizational reporting resource are often asked throughout the interview process for major IT positions. To get prepared, you should know what SSRS interview questions frequently come up and how to answer them.
Why is it important to prepare for SSRS interview questions?
SSRS allows organizations to better understand how areas of the business are performing. Whether it’s product marketing or administration, these tools help companies make big decisions. When they’re not working properly, it can be detrimental to the business.
That’s why many IT positions need to know how to manage SSRS systems and troubleshoot issues when they arise. Typically, certain positions need to know about SSRS more than others. They include:
- SSRS Report Developer
- Database Developer
- SQL Programmer
- BI Data Developer
Obviously, if SSRS is in the title, you’ll need to know something about the program. If you’re applying, you likely already do.
What are the common SSRS questions?
Now that you know if you’ll have to answer questions about the program, below are some of the most common ones to prepare for.
What are some important features of SSRS?
You know that SSRS can help create various reports for a business. Knowing what the features are that make that happen and how to help with the accuracy of those reports is imperative.
Here are some of the features that you can highlight:
- Create reports through different forms, charts, and matrixes
- Work in the cloud and allow users to edit and access reports on the web
- Use graphics, content, and images in reports and save them directly on the server
- Export and download reports in formats that are frequently used like CSV, XML, and PDF
There are a ton of features you can outline for this answer. Make a list of the ones you think are most important, so you have them at the ready.
What are some of the cons of SSRS?
Companies rely on SSRS for a reason, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Like almost any program, it comes with its own set of problems. Knowing what they are and how to look for them is essential.
Here are some of the problems you should speak to:
- It can only be run on windows, which can be a problem for companies using different systems
- You can’t share values between main and subreports
- It was designed for developers, so it’s not intuitive for the less tech-savvy
- It can drain server resources when running large reports
What reports can SSRS create?
You know that the program is designed to create customized reports for businesses, but what are those reports? To help troubleshoot and maintain the system, you have to know what it offers. Make a list of the most popular reports and some of the less known ones, and be prepared to list them out.
Include items like Drilldown reports and Cached reports, as well as Clickthrough reports and Subreports.
Like with any interview, answering questions clearly and concisely showcases your knowledge. If you prepare by reviewing the information you know about SSRS, you’ll be ready to answer any question they ask.
For other career-related questions, be sure to check out our other articles on Careerstint!
