Top 12 SAS Programmer Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's data-driven world, SAS programmers are in high demand across various industries, making it crucial for candidates to showcase their strongest skills on their resumes. Highlighting the top SAS programmer skills not only demonstrates your proficiency in statistical analysis and data management but also sets you apart in the competitive job market.

SAS Programmer Skills

1. SAS Base
2. SAS Macro
3. SAS/STAT
4. SAS/GRAPH
5. SAS/SQL
6. SAS Enterprise Guide
7. SAS Visual Analytics
8. JMP
9. Data Step
10. PROC SQL
11. SAS/ACCESS
12. SAS Viya

1. SAS Base

SAS Base is a core component of the SAS software suite that provides a powerful environment for data manipulation, analysis, and reporting. It allows SAS programmers to write scripts and commands for data processing tasks, including importing/exporting data, data cleaning, statistical analyses, and generating reports.

Why It's Important

SAS Base is essential for an SAS Programmer as it provides the core functionality for data manipulation, analysis, and reporting, enabling them to efficiently perform data management, statistical analysis, and generate insights.

How to Improve SAS Base Skills

Improving your SAS Base skills as an SAS Programmer involves a combination of understanding core concepts, practicing coding, and staying updated with the latest features and best practices. Here's a concise guide to help you enhance your SAS programming abilities:

1. Master Core Concepts: Ensure you have a strong grasp of SAS fundamentals like DATA steps, PROC steps, arrays, loops, and macro programming. The SAS Documentation is an invaluable resource.

2. Practice Coding: Regularly challenge yourself with new problems. Websites like LeetCode and Project Euler offer a variety of problems to enhance your coding and problem-solving skills.

3. Learn Advanced Techniques: Dive into advanced topics such as efficient data manipulation, statistical procedures, and high-performance SAS. The SAS Support Communities are a great place to learn from experienced professionals.

4. Stay Updated: SAS software is continually evolving. Keep up with the latest updates and features through the SAS Blogs and SAS User Groups.

5. Utilize SAS Training: Consider enrolling in SAS training courses or certifications to deepen your knowledge and demonstrate your expertise. Explore courses on the SAS Training portal.

6. Implement Best Practices: Focus on writing clean, efficient, and well-documented code. The book "The Little SAS Book" is an excellent resource for best practices and tips.

7. Engage in Peer Review: Engaging with peers for code review and feedback can provide new insights and help improve your coding style and efficiency.

By consistently applying these strategies, you'll be well on your way to improving your SAS Base programming skills.

How to Display SAS Base Skills on Your Resume

2. SAS Macro

SAS Macro is a powerful SAS programming feature that allows for code reuse and dynamic generation of SAS code through the definition of macros. These macros can accept parameters, enabling programmers to automate repetitive tasks and create more flexible and efficient code by parameterizing sections of their programs.

Why It's Important

SAS Macros are important for SAS Programmers because they enable code reuse, simplify complex coding tasks, enhance program flexibility, and improve productivity by automating repetitive tasks.

How to Improve SAS Macro Skills

Improving your SAS Macro skills involves a blend of mastering the syntax, understanding best practices, and continuous learning. Here are concise strategies to enhance your SAS Macro abilities:

1. Master Macro Variables and Scopes: Understand the creation and scope (local vs. global) of macro variables. SAS Documentation on Macro Variables is an excellent resource.

2. Utilize Macro Functions Wisely: Get familiar with built-in macro functions for manipulation and conditional logic. Explore the Macro Functions and Operators documentation.

3. Debugging Macros Effectively: Learn to use %PUT and options like MLOGIC, MPRINT, and SYMBOLGEN for debugging. Insightful debugging tips can be found in Debugging Macros.

4. Modular Programming: Break down complex macros into smaller, reusable components. This approach improves readability and maintenance. Modular Programming in SAS offers practical advice.

5. Optimization Techniques: Understand how to optimize macro execution for performance. Techniques include minimizing macro variable resolutions and using direct data step over macro loops where possible. Refer to SAS Macro Language Efficiency for optimization strategies.

6. Adhere to Best Practices: Follow coding conventions, document your macros, and ensure code readability. The SAS Global Forum often features presentations on best practices and coding standards.

7. Continuous Learning and Practice: Stay updated with the latest features and techniques by reading SAS blogs, participating in forums, and practicing regularly. The SAS Communities and blogs are great resources for learning and sharing knowledge.

By focusing on these areas and leveraging the resources provided, you can significantly improve your SAS Macro programming skills and contribute more effectively to your projects.

How to Display SAS Macro Skills on Your Resume

3. SAS/STAT

SAS/STAT is a suite of statistical analysis tools within the SAS software environment, designed for data analysis and inferential statistical modeling. It offers a broad range of statistical methods to help SAS programmers perform tasks like regression, analysis of variance, survival analysis, multivariate techniques, and more, using SAS programming language.

Why It's Important

SAS/STAT is important for an SAS Programmer because it provides a comprehensive suite of statistical methods and models, enabling the analysis and interpretation of data to inform decision-making in various fields such as healthcare, finance, and research.

How to Improve SAS/STAT Skills

Improving your skills in SAS/STAT as an SAS Programmer involves both deepening your understanding of statistical methods and enhancing your proficiency with SAS programming. Here’s a concise guide on how to improve:

1. Master the Basics: Ensure you have a solid foundation in basic statistics and SAS programming. SAS's official documentation is a great starting point.

2. Advanced Techniques: Learn advanced statistical methods and how to implement them in SAS. The SAS/STAT User’s Guide is invaluable.

3. Practice: Apply what you’ve learned on real datasets. Websites like Kaggle offer datasets and challenges that can help sharpen your skills.

4. SAS Certification: Consider working towards a SAS Certification. It's a great way to validate your skills.

5. Online Courses and Tutorials: Platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy offer courses on both SAS programming and statistics.

6. Join SAS Communities: Engage with other SAS users. The SAS Support Communities offer a platform to ask questions, share knowledge, and stay updated on new developments.

7. Read Books: Books like "The Little SAS Book" and "Applied Statistics and the SAS Programming Language" are great resources. Keep exploring other SAS and statistics books.

8. Stay Updated: SAS software is continually updated. Keep abreast of the latest features and techniques in SAS/STAT by regularly visiting the SAS Blogs.

9. Use SAS Viya: For users with access to SAS Viya, explore its capabilities. SAS Viya provides advanced analytics and is designed for more complex data environments. Learn more through the SAS Viya documentation.

10. Feedback and Review: Regularly seek feedback on your work from peers or mentors. Reviewing your code and statistical analysis with others can provide new insights and learning opportunities.

By following these steps and continuously practicing, you can significantly enhance your SAS/STAT skills and become a more proficient SAS Programmer.

How to Display SAS/STAT Skills on Your Resume

4. SAS/GRAPH

SAS/GRAPH is a software product provided by SAS Institute that enables SAS programmers to produce high-quality, presentation-ready graphics such as charts, plots, and maps from data analyzed in SAS. It offers extensive customization options and is used for visual data exploration and the creation of publication-quality graphical representations of statistical analyses.

Why It's Important

For an SAS Programmer, SAS/GRAPH is important because it provides advanced capabilities to create and customize high-quality, presentation-ready graphs and charts, enhancing the visualization and interpretation of data analysis results.

How to Improve SAS/GRAPH Skills

To improve your SAS/GRAPH skills and output quality, follow these concise steps:

1. Learn the Basics: Ensure a strong understanding of basic SAS/GRAPH procedures like PROC GPLOT, PROC GCHART, etc. SAS GRAPH Procedures

2. Utilize SAS Documentation: Dive into SAS/GRAPH documentation for advanced options and examples.

3. Practice Advanced Techniques: Implement advanced techniques like annotation with PROC GANNOTATE, dynamic data visualization, and customizing graphs with PROC TEMPLATE. SAS Annotation

4. Explore SAS Support Communities: Engage with the SAS Support Community for SAS/GRAPH to exchange ideas, solutions, and get inspired by other users' work.

5. Incorporate External Data: Learn to incorporate external data and graphics into your SAS/GRAPH output for enhanced visualization. Importing External Data

6. Stay Updated: SAS software is regularly updated. Stay informed about the latest features and enhancements in SAS/GRAPH by following the What’s New in SAS section.

By following these steps and continuously practicing, you can significantly improve your SAS/GRAPH skills and the quality of your graphical presentations.

How to Display SAS/GRAPH Skills on Your Resume

5. SAS/SQL

SAS/SQL is a component of SAS (Statistical Analysis System) that allows SAS programmers to use SQL (Structured Query Language) syntax within SAS programs to query and manipulate data. It provides a powerful way to perform complex data operations, enabling users to work with databases and datasets more efficiently.

Why It's Important

For an SAS Programmer, SAS/SQL is important because it enables the direct querying and manipulation of databases, allowing for efficient data retrieval, filtering, and aggregation, thereby enhancing data analysis capabilities within the SAS environment.

How to Improve SAS/SQL Skills

Improving your SAS/SQL skills involves a blend of theoretical learning, practical application, and staying updated with the latest trends and updates in the field. Here are concise steps along with external links for an SAS programmer:

1. Master the Basics: Ensure you have a strong foundation in both SAS and SQL syntax, data manipulation, and basic programming concepts.

   • SAS Programming Basics
   • SQL Tutorial

2. Practice Regularly: Apply your skills on real-world datasets or participate in coding challenges.

   • Kaggle: Practice with Real-Life Data Sets

3. Advanced Techniques: Learn advanced SAS macros and PROC SQL for complex data manipulation.

   • Advanced SAS Programming
   • PROC SQL

4. Optimization: Understand how to optimize your SAS/SQL code for better performance.

   • SAS Performance Tuning

5. Stay Updated: Follow SAS blogs, forums, and the latest literature to stay current with new functions and procedures.

   • SAS Blogs
   • SAS Communities

6. Training and Certification: Consider SAS certification courses to validate your skills and knowledge.

   • SAS Certification

7. Networking: Join SAS user groups or online communities to exchange knowledge and experiences.

   • LinkedIn Groups for SAS Professionals

By consistently applying these strategies and leveraging the resources provided, you can significantly improve your SAS/SQL skills.

How to Display SAS/SQL Skills on Your Resume

6. SAS Enterprise Guide

SAS Enterprise Guide is an interactive, graphical user interface (GUI) that provides SAS programmers with a user-friendly environment to access, manage, analyze, and present data. It facilitates advanced data manipulation, statistical analysis, and reporting without the need to write SAS code manually, although it also supports custom code for more complex tasks.

Why It's Important

For an SAS Programmer, SAS Enterprise Guide is important because it provides an intuitive, graphical interface that simplifies data analysis, enhances productivity through automation, and allows for easy access to both SAS and external data sources, all while enabling programmers to write and execute custom SAS code efficiently.

How to Improve SAS Enterprise Guide Skills

Improving your experience and efficiency with SAS Enterprise Guide as an SAS Programmer involves familiarizing yourself with its features, customizing your environment, and leveraging external resources for advanced functionalities. Here’s how you can enhance your proficiency:

1. Explore Advanced Features: Dive into SAS's documentation to explore advanced features of SAS Enterprise Guide. Understanding its capabilities fully can significantly boost your productivity.

2. Customize Your Environment: Tailor the SAS Enterprise Guide interface and settings to your preferences. This includes setting up code auto-completion, templates, and frequently used processes.

3. Use Shortcuts and Automation: Learn and implement keyboard shortcuts for common tasks to save time. Consider automating repetitive tasks with scripts or macros.

4. Integrate with Other Tools: Enhance capabilities by integrating SAS Enterprise Guide with other tools and languages. For example, incorporating Python or R scripts can extend your data analysis capabilities. SAS Support Communities can be a great resource to learn from others' experiences.

5. Stay Updated: Regularly check for updates and new features. SAS often releases updates and enhancements that can improve performance and offer new functionalities.

6. Participate in Forums and Communities: Engage with SAS communities and forums to exchange tips, tricks, and advice with fellow programmers. This can provide you with novel solutions and insights into tackling various challenges.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve your proficiency and efficiency in using SAS Enterprise Guide, making your data analysis tasks more streamlined and effective.

How to Display SAS Enterprise Guide Skills on Your Resume

7. SAS Visual Analytics

SAS Visual Analytics is a software tool that enables SAS programmers to analyze and visualize data using a range of interactive reports and dashboards, facilitating easy exploration of data and identification of patterns or insights through a user-friendly interface. It supports advanced analytics and integrates with SAS programming for customized analyses.

Why It's Important

SAS Visual Analytics is important for an SAS Programmer because it enables the quick creation and sharing of interactive reports and dashboards, facilitating the visualization, analysis, and understanding of complex datasets to derive actionable insights, thereby enhancing the value and impact of data-driven decision-making processes.

How to Improve SAS Visual Analytics Skills

To improve your skills in SAS Visual Analytics as an SAS Programmer, consider the following concise steps:

1. Understand the Basics: Ensure you have a solid foundation in SAS Visual Analytics by reviewing the official SAS Visual Analytics documentation.

2. Explore SAS Tutorials: Utilize the SAS Tutorials for hands-on video guidance on various functionalities and advanced techniques.

3. Practice with Datasets: Apply your skills using real or simulated datasets. Experiment with different types of data and visualization options to understand the tool’s capabilities.

4. Join SAS Communities: Engage with the SAS Visual Analytics Community to ask questions, share insights, and learn from experienced SAS users.

5. Stay Updated: Keep abreast of the latest features and best practices by regularly checking the What’s New in SAS Visual Analytics section.

6. Learn SAS Programming: Enhance your SAS programming skills to better manipulate data before visualizing it. The SAS Programming Basics is a good starting point.

7. Use SAS Support Resources: For specific technical issues or advanced topics, refer to the SAS Support portal for documentation, notes, and solutions.

By following these steps and regularly applying your skills, you can significantly improve your proficiency in SAS Visual Analytics.

How to Display SAS Visual Analytics Skills on Your Resume

8. JMP

JMP is a suite of computer programs for statistical analysis developed by the JMP business unit of SAS Institute. It provides dynamic visualization and interactive data analysis tools primarily for scientists and engineers, facilitating exploratory data analysis and statistical modeling. For an SAS programmer, JMP serves as a complementary graphical and interactive interface to the more code-centric SAS programming environment, offering a more intuitive way to perform statistical analyses and data visualization.

Why It's Important

JMP is important for an SAS Programmer because it provides an interactive, visual, and intuitive interface for data analysis and exploration, allowing for efficient data manipulation, statistical modeling, and graphical representation, thus complementing SAS programming capabilities with dynamic data visualization and exploratory analysis tools.

How to Improve JMP Skills

To improve your skills in JMP as an SAS programmer, follow these concise steps:

1. Familiarize Yourself with the Interface: Spend time navigating the JMP interface. Reference the official JMP User Guide for a comprehensive overview.

2. Learn JMP Scripting Language (JSL): Enhance your ability to automate tasks by learning JSL. The JMP Scripting Guide provides valuable insights.

3. Integrate SAS and JMP: Leverage the power of both platforms by learning how to integrate SAS with JMP for more robust data analysis. Visit the SAS and JMP Integration page for tips and techniques.

4. Participate in JMP User Community: Engage with the JMP User Community for valuable discussions, webinars, and user-shared scripts.

5. Practice with Real Data: Apply your skills on real datasets to solve practical problems. Kaggle offers datasets and competitions that can provide practical experience.

6. Attend JMP Training and Webinars: SAS offers JMP Training Courses that range from beginner to advanced levels. Regular participation in webinars can also enhance your knowledge.

7. Stay Updated: JMP is regularly updated with new features. Keep abreast of the latest developments through the JMP Blog and official documentation.

By systematically following these steps and actively seeking out learning opportunities, you'll significantly improve your JMP skills as an SAS programmer.

How to Display JMP Skills on Your Resume

9. Data Step

In SAS programming, a Data Step is a block of code used to read, manipulate, and create datasets. It allows for data processing, analysis, and preparation by executing a sequence of statements on an observation-by-observation basis.

Why It's Important

The Data Step is crucial for an SAS Programmer as it allows for data manipulation, preparation, and analysis by enabling the creation, modification, and management of SAS datasets, thereby forming the foundation for subsequent statistical analysis and reporting tasks.

How to Improve Data Step Skills

To improve Data Step efficiency as an SAS Programmer, focus on:

1. Minimizing Input/Output (I/O): Reduce the amount of data read or written by using KEEP= or DROP= data set options to limit the variables processed.

2. Efficient Loops: Avoid unnecessary looping. Use array processing and direct assignments when possible.

3. Using WHERE instead of IF: Utilize the WHERE statement to filter observations as it processes data before it is read into the program data vector (PDV), reducing I/O operations. SAS Documentation on WHERE vs. IF

4. Indexing: Create indexes on large datasets for variables used in WHERE clauses, significantly speeding up data retrieval. SAS Documentation on Indexes

5. Compressing Data Sets: Use data compression to reduce the size of SAS datasets, which can improve I/O efficiency. Specify the COMPRESS=YES option in the dataset's OPTIONS statement. SAS Documentation on Compression

6. Using HASH Objects: For lookup tasks, consider using HASH objects instead of merging datasets, as they can be much faster for in-memory operations. SAS Documentation on HASH Objects

7. Avoid SORTING if not necessary: Sort operations are resource-intensive. Use them only when necessary or consider using the BY statement in procedures that support it without requiring a sorted dataset.

8. Macro Variables for Constants: Use macro variables for constant values that do not change within the data step, to avoid recalculating or redefining them.

9. Use SET with (NOBS=) option: When processing subsets of data, use the (NOBS=) option to determine the number of observations without reading the entire dataset.

10. Efficient Use of Arrays: When dealing with repetitive calculations or operations, arrays can simplify code and reduce processing time. SAS Documentation on Arrays

For comprehensive guidelines and best practices, regularly consult the SAS Documentation and engage with the SAS Support Communities to stay updated on efficient coding techniques and new features.

How to Display Data Step Skills on Your Resume

10. PROC SQL

PROC SQL is a procedure in SAS that allows programmers to use SQL (Structured Query Language) syntax to access, manipulate, and manage data within SAS datasets. It offers an alternative to traditional SAS DATA steps and procedures, enabling more direct and sometimes more efficient data processing.

Why It's Important

PROC SQL in SAS is important because it provides a powerful, flexible alternative to traditional DATA step processing, allowing for efficient data manipulation, complex queries, and joining tables, thus enhancing an SAS programmer's ability to manage and analyze data more effectively.

How to Improve PROC SQL Skills

Improving your PROC SQL skills as an SAS programmer involves several strategies to enhance efficiency, readability, and performance. Here are concise tips along with inline linking to relevant resources for deeper understanding:

1. Understand SQL Basics: Ensure a strong foundation in SQL syntax and concepts. W3Schools SQL Tutorial is a good starting point.

2. Leverage SAS-Specific Features: Get familiar with SAS-specific PROC SQL features. The SAS documentation on PROC SQL provides comprehensive insights.

3. Optimize Query Performance: Learn about indexing, query optimization, and avoiding full table scans. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) offers a useful guide on SQL optimization.

4. Use Joins and Subqueries Effectively: Understand how to use joins and subqueries efficiently for complex data manipulations. The SAS paper on Combining and Modifying SAS Data Sets: Examples provides practical examples.

5. Practice Coding Standards: Adopt coding standards for readability and maintenance. SQL Style Guide offers guidelines for writing clean SQL code.

6. Utilize Advanced SQL Techniques: Explore advanced techniques such as window functions and array processing. The SAS documentation on Advanced SQL Techniques covers this in detail.

7. Review and Refactor: Continuously review your SQL code to identify areas for improvement and refactoring.

8. Participate in SAS Communities: Engage with the SAS Community to learn from experienced professionals and share your knowledge.

By following these steps and continually practicing, you can significantly improve your PROC SQL skills and enhance your capabilities as an SAS programmer.

How to Display PROC SQL Skills on Your Resume

11. SAS/ACCESS

SAS/ACCESS is a set of software products provided by SAS Institute that allows SAS programs to read, write, and manage data from various external databases, data warehouses, and other data sources, enabling seamless integration and interoperability between SAS and different database systems.

Why It's Important

SAS/ACCESS is important for an SAS Programmer as it enables seamless integration between SAS and various external data sources, such as SQL databases, Hadoop, and cloud services, allowing for direct data access, manipulation, and analysis without the need for data conversion or manual importing/exporting, thus enhancing productivity and data processing capabilities.

How to Improve SAS/ACCESS Skills

Improving your use of SAS/ACCESS, which allows you to connect and interact with various databases from within SAS, involves a blend of understanding best practices, optimizing your code, and staying updated with the latest features. Here are concise tips to help an SAS programmer enhance their SAS/ACCESS skills:

1. Understand Database Specifics: Learn the specifics of the database you are connecting to with SAS/ACCESS. Different databases might have unique optimizations or functionalities.

2. Use LIBNAME Statements Efficiently: Utilize the LIBNAME statement to access database data efficiently, enabling you to use SAS procedures directly on database tables. SAS Documentation on LIBNAME.

3. Leverage SQL Pass-Through: Use SQL pass-through facility to send native SQL queries directly to a database from within SAS, allowing for more efficient data processing. SQL Pass-Through Facility.

4. Optimize Data Transfers: When transferring large amounts of data, consider techniques to minimize data movement, such as filtering data at the source or using bulk-load capabilities. Efficient Data Transfer Techniques.

5. Stay Updated: SAS frequently updates its software. Stay informed about the latest SAS/ACCESS features and optimizations to maximize your data access capabilities. SAS/ACCESS What’s New.

6. Utilize Indexes and Keys: When possible, use indexes or keys within your database to speed up data retrieval.

7. Parallel Processing: For databases that support it, consider using parallel processing options to speed up large queries.

8. Network Considerations: Ensure that your network is optimized for data transfer between SAS and the database, as network latency can significantly impact performance.

9. Educate Yourself: SAS offers a variety of resources and training courses that can enhance your understanding and skills with SAS/ACCESS. SAS Training for SAS/ACCESS.

10. Join the Community: Engage with the SAS community through forums and social media to share tips, tricks, and get help with challenging problems. SAS Support Communities.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve your efficiency and effectiveness when using SAS/ACCESS in your projects.

How to Display SAS/ACCESS Skills on Your Resume

12. SAS Viya

SAS Viya is a cloud-enabled, in-memory analytics engine designed by SAS, offering scalable, distributed processing capabilities for data management, visualization, analytics, and machine learning. For an SAS programmer, it represents an evolution of the SAS platform, providing a modern, flexible environment that supports programming in SAS as well as other languages like Python and R, facilitating collaborative and advanced analytics projects.

Why It's Important

For an SAS Programmer, SAS Viya is important because it provides a modern, cloud-native architecture that supports scalable, high-performance analytics and AI, enabling seamless integration of open-source languages and models, and facilitates collaboration across various teams and technologies within an organization.

How to Improve SAS Viya Skills

To improve your SAS Viya skills as an SAS Programmer, consider the following concise tips:

1. Familiarize with the Cloud Analytics Services (CAS): Understanding the CAS engine will help you optimize data management and analytics. SAS Documentation provides a thorough overview.

2. Learn SAS Viya Programming Syntax: Enhance your proficiency by mastering the new SAS Viya coding procedures. The Programming in SAS Viya guide is a great resource.

3. Utilize SAS Studio or Jupyter Notebooks: Get comfortable with these environments for coding in SAS Viya. Check the SAS Viya for Learners for practical exercises.

4. Explore Machine Learning and Advanced Analytics: Expand your analytics capabilities with Viya’s advanced procedures. Start with the Machine Learning with SAS Viya course.

5. Practice with Real-World Data: Apply your skills on datasets relevant to your interests or industry. The SAS Data for Good initiative offers interesting datasets.

6. Connect with the SAS Community: Exchange knowledge and get support through SAS Communities. Engage in discussions and stay updated on best practices.

7. Stay Updated on New Features: SAS Viya is continuously evolving. Regularly check the What’s New in SAS Viya documentation for updates and enhancements.

8. Undergo Official SAS Training: Consider enrolling in SAS Viya training courses to systematically build your expertise from basic to advanced levels.

Improving your SAS Viya skills involves a combination of learning, practice, and community engagement. Stay curious and proactive in exploring new features and applications.

How to Display SAS Viya Skills on Your Resume