Here's how you can get ready for a technical interview for an ERP position.

Here are some steps which can be considered: Understand the Job Requirements Brush Up on Core ERP Concepts Revise Technical Skills Practice Problem-Solving Prepare for Behavioural Questions Review Past Projects Stay Updated on ERP Trends Prepare Questions for the Interviewer Technical Tests and Assessments Mindset and Confidence

An ERP has a centralized database management system with an integrated relational schema for all enterprise data. The DBMS ensures data accuracy and consistency with concurrency control when ERP users process transactions simultaneously in real time. An ERP comprises modules like Purchasing and General Ledger. A module usually has its own libraries or folders of program, data, display, print and source code files. An ERP vendor can provide source code with a client-specific agreement. The development of the integrated modules is based on the concept of cross-functional business processes for seamless operations. It is possible to implement only a few modules and deploy other modules later. An ERP system is on premise, cloud-based or hybrid.

ERP technical skills are required for on-premise ERP installation, data migration from old systems to the ERP, customization, testing and maintenance. Custom coding involves knowledge of SQL and any programming language used to develop the ERP application programs. ERP updates and upgrades usually override customized programs needing some rework. Some ERP vendors provide their own custom programming tools which are compatible with their ERP updates and upgrades. Report and user interface customization can be considered as advanced configuration. For on-premise ERP systems, an advanced knowledge and experience of the server, its operating system and any related infrastructure is important to ensure a reliable system performance and security.

Real-world examples can illustrate your understanding of ERP solutions effectively. Research case studies where ERP implementations have led to business improvements, and be prepared to discuss the challenges faced, such as change management, data migration, or system integration, and how they were overcome. This will demonstrate your ability to apply ERP knowledge to solve practical business problems and highlight your awareness of the complexities involved in ERP projects. By showcasing these examples, you can provide concrete evidence of the value and impact of ERP systems in real-world scenarios.

ou should be able to articulate how an ERP system can streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. Understanding key business metrics and how they can be positively affected by an ERP system will demonstrate your ability to think beyond the technical aspects and consider the broader business impact of ERP solutions. This holistic understanding will showcase your ability to leverage ERP systems to drive meaningful business improvements.

A business process is a sequence of activities, sometimes running in parallel, which is conditioned by business events or decision gateways. It can be visualized as collaboration and process diagrams with symbols of Business Process Model and Notation or BPMN 2.0 which is a global standard for process modeling understandable by both business and technical people. Existing or As-Is processes are redesigned as improved or To-Be processes which can be from scratch for business process reengineering. An ERP system is configured and customized to perform these streamlined processes with automated repetitive tasks and without bottlenecks and redundant tasks. The goal is to manually process only exceptional transactions with missing or wrong data.

Some anticipated questions can be about the pros and cons of on premise or software as a service ERP, commercial or open source ERP, big bang, phased rollout or parallel run implementation, custom coding, low-code/no-code development and how to overcome any drawback. Flexibility, usability, scalability, integration with third-party applications, security and privacy, backup and recovery strategy, disaster recovery planning, Internet of Things, robotic process automation, machine learning and generative AI, real-time analytics, mobile apps and blockchain are other interesting topics for a technical interview.

Anticipating possible interview questions can provide a significant advantage. Be ready for technical inquiries about specific ERP modules, system architecture, and data security. You may also be questioned on your project management experience and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams. However, be prepared to discuss your problem-solving strategies and methods for staying current with ERP trends and technologies. By anticipating these areas, you can craft insightful responses that effectively showcase your qualifications and expertise. I would advice to look at the job description and analyse what technical skills they are looking for in the skills and role duties sections. They will likely ask you questions on these topics.

Clear communication is crucial in any technical role, especially when explaining complex systems like ERP. Practice articulating your thoughts on ERP concepts in a way that is both technically accurate and understandable to non-technical stakeholders. For example, rehearse explaining an ERP system's benefits to a CEO or training end-users on new software features. Demonstrating this skill in your interview will show that you can effectively bridge the gap between technical and business teams, ensuring smooth collaboration and understanding across the organisation.

Effective communication of technical ERP complexities for better understanding by a non-technical audience can be improved with visual support. BPMN 2.0 collaboration and process diagrams with ERP system pictures can help business people to easily understand business processes, centralized and integrated database, cross-functional collaboration with a single source of truth, modules and features, technological innovations, customer relationship management, supply chain management, analytical insights and other technical topics which are useful and important for them to know.

I always advise my candidates that one way to prepare for an interview is to spend some time thinking of all the work you have done with an ERP system. As you start to think about this, more examples of where you have done excellent work will come to mind. Use these examples in your interview to prove your hands on experience.