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 SQL Server DBA questions

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AskSQLTeam
Ask SQLTeam Question

0 Posts

Posted - 2002-12-17 : 08:14:46
Erica writes "If you're a SQL Server DBA and you're interviewing for a job, what kinds of questions would you want answered before you'd know if you're interested in the position? I just got a new Req to recruit on and I want to ask the hiring manager the right questions to make sure I get him an awesome DBA with the right qualifications.

Thanks in advance.

Erica S."

jasper_smith
SQL Server MVP & SQLTeam MVY

846 Posts

Posted - 2002-12-17 : 08:49:45
I'm confused as to who's asking the questions
Do you mean questions an employeer asks an interviewee or the other way around ?


HTH
Jasper Smith
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Merkin
Funky Drop Bear Fearing SQL Dude!

4970 Posts

Posted - 2002-12-17 : 20:03:28
Ask if they read SQL Team

Damian
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sherrer

64 Posts

Posted - 2002-12-17 : 21:36:55
You probably ought to hire a DBA consultant to interview for you since it doesn't appear you have the staff to do so. You will get your money's worth. And... by the way I am not a consultant!


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nr
SQLTeam MVY

12543 Posts

Posted - 2002-12-18 : 10:57:41
I am.
Only ever interviewed (and hired) one person who I thought could do the job though.

The idea is just to get him/her into an area they don't know about and see how they cope. Willingness to admit they don't know is important.
Try some ambiguous questions too and see if they're willing to tell you that the question is poor.

The market is crawling with people who've wrtitten the odd embedded sql statement in VB (and probably got themselves a mcdba) and fancy themselves as database experts.

==========================================
Cursors are useful if you don't know sql.
DTS can be used in a similar way.
Beer is not cold and it isn't fizzy.
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jsmith8858
Dr. Cross Join

7423 Posts

Posted - 2002-12-18 : 11:03:02
Yes! Do not focus on memorized answers or if they know what certain terms or acronyms mean.

Give examples and see if they can work it through, or see how they think about the solution.

For example, I wouldn't ask

"What is the difference between an INNER JOIN and an OUTER JOIN"

I would ask:

"How could I tell if data exists in one table but not another" or something like that, to determine if they know what a LEFT OUTER JOIN can be used for and how it works, instead of them quoting a text book definition that they don't really understand.




- Jeff

Edited by - jsmith8858 on 12/18/2002 11:05:54
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nr
SQLTeam MVY

12543 Posts

Posted - 2002-12-18 : 11:15:48
I like what's the diference between a clustered and non-clustered index
(Now I prefix it with 'do you know what a clustered index is')

When is it a good idea and when bad to cluster on an identity.
(Shame microsoft have stopped saying it's always a bad idea).

Worth a chat about different methods of deleting duplicates and the merits of each.

Why reporting from an OLTP database causes problems.

How to stop a batch process from blocking / using up the transaction log.
How you could monitor what it's doing without crashing it.

==========================================
Cursors are useful if you don't know sql.
DTS can be used in a similar way.
Beer is not cold and it isn't fizzy.
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