Are the posted questions getting worse?

  • Ed Wagner (3/24/2014)


    Lynn Pettis (3/24/2014)


    I don't know why, but this sort of thing scares me.

    WOW! Now that's enough to scare anyone. Just think...he has access to the server. :w00t:

    Who will be the brave one to ask how recent the bak file is?

    Or how he became a DBA?

    Takes a lot to scare some of you guys.

    And there is quite a bit there.

  • Lynn Pettis (3/24/2014)


    I don't know why, but this sort of thing scares me.

    And he sent me a PM asking if I'd assist with getting the system back up and running. Even if I was still consulting I suspect the answer would be "No."

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Ed Wagner (3/24/2014)


    Lynn Pettis (3/24/2014)


    I don't know why, but this sort of thing scares me.

    WOW! Now that's enough to scare anyone. Just think...he has access to the server. :w00t:

    It's probably nothing more than a case of "Why's the <app which has been working for years> not working? What do you mean 'who's the administrator'? We've never needed an administrator before. Hey <random person in office>, get this thing working NOW."

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • GilaMonster (3/24/2014)


    Ed Wagner (3/24/2014)


    Lynn Pettis (3/24/2014)


    I don't know why, but this sort of thing scares me.

    WOW! Now that's enough to scare anyone. Just think...he has access to the server. :w00t:

    It's probably nothing more than a case of "Why's the <app which has been working for years> not working? What do you mean 'who's the administrator'? We've never needed an administrator before. Hey <random person in office>, get this thing working NOW."

    Yep. That moment when everyone around you steps back from the line.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • GilaMonster (3/24/2014)


    Lynn Pettis (3/24/2014)


    I don't know why, but this sort of thing scares me.

    And he sent me a PM asking if I'd assist with getting the system back up and running. Even if I was still consulting I suspect the answer would be "No."

    I wanted to see why he said the .bak file was corrupt.

    There is the (remote) possibility that it was OK, he just didn't know how to use it.

    Although I totally agree - he needs someone local so he could watch them see if / how they can fix it.

    Hoping that he was volunteered for the DBA job.

    It would be really scary if he was hired through any kind of interview process.

  • GilaMonster (3/24/2014)


    It's probably nothing more than a case of "Why's the <app which has been working for years> not working? What do you mean 'who's the administrator'? We've never needed an administrator before. Hey <random person in office>, get this thing working NOW."

    Welcome to my world :blink:

    Far away is close at hand in the images of elsewhere.
    Anon.

  • Greg Edwards-268690 (3/24/2014)


    It would be really scary if he was hired through any kind of interview process.

    But... I've been working in SQL for 10 years... I'm a senior DBA!

    Wayne
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
    Author - SQL Server T-SQL Recipes


    If you can't explain to another person how the code that you're copying from the internet works, then DON'T USE IT on a production system! After all, you will be the one supporting it!
    Links:
    For better assistance in answering your questions
    Performance Problems
    Common date/time routines
    Understanding and Using APPLY Part 1 & Part 2

  • WayneS (3/25/2014)


    Greg Edwards-268690 (3/24/2014)


    It would be really scary if he was hired through any kind of interview process.

    But... I've been working in SQL for 10 years... I'm a senior DBA!

    My computer at work turns on and boots up when I press the power button in the morning.

    I am a Certified Professional in all things computer related!

    A few more years of walking by the server room, and I can add Network Admin to my credentials!

    Gotta love how easily I gain additional skills.

    Does it help if I know someone who knows the few things I don't know yet? 😛

    Then I could progress even faster.

    Speaking of progress, know of any jobs?

    Seems I'm ready for a move.

    Things are kind of chaotic here for some reason.

  • Greg Edwards-268690 (3/25/2014)


    WayneS (3/25/2014)


    Greg Edwards-268690 (3/24/2014)


    It would be really scary if he was hired through any kind of interview process.

    But... I've been working in SQL for 10 years... I'm a senior DBA!

    My computer at work turns on and boots up when I press the power button in the morning.

    I am a Certified Professional in all things computer related!

    A few more years of walking by the server room, and I can add Network Admin to my credentials!

    Gotta love how easily I gain additional skills.

    Does it help if I know someone who knows the few things I don't know yet? 😛

    Then I could progress even faster.

    Speaking of progress, know of any jobs?

    Seems I'm ready for a move.

    Things are kind of chaotic here for some reason.

    Alas, based on comparing the contents of some resumes I've seen with their actual capabilities as uncovered during an interview, that is too true.


    My mantra: No loops! No CURSORs! No RBAR! Hoo-uh![/I]

    My thought question: Have you ever been told that your query runs too fast?

    My advice:
    INDEXing a poor-performing query is like putting sugar on cat food. Yeah, it probably tastes better but are you sure you want to eat it?
    The path of least resistance can be a slippery slope. Take care that fixing your fixes of fixes doesn't snowball and end up costing you more than fixing the root cause would have in the first place.

    Need to UNPIVOT? Why not CROSS APPLY VALUES instead?[/url]
    Since random numbers are too important to be left to chance, let's generate some![/url]
    Learn to understand recursive CTEs by example.[/url]
    [url url=http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/St

  • My poster child interview disappointment: Good resume' on paper, but then the man walked in, opened up his laptop, and scrolled through a "cheat sheet" document each time he was asked a question. He rarely made eye contact as he paged up and down searching for answers. When his answers were so off base that we rephrased questions, he would argue that he had already answered them. Go figure.

    __________________________________________________

    Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain. -- Friedrich Schiller
    Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look what's going down. -- Stephen Stills

  • The Dixie Flatline (3/25/2014)


    My poster child interview disappointment: Good resume' on paper, but then the man walked in, opened up his laptop, and scrolled through a "cheat sheet" document each time he was asked a question. He rarely made eye contact as he paged up and down searching for answers. When his answers were so off base that we rephrased questions, he would argue that he had already answered them. Go figure.

    Why would you let him use his laptop? I would have asked politely to close it and focus on the interview.

    Luis C.
    General Disclaimer:
    Are you seriously taking the advice and code from someone from the internet without testing it? Do you at least understand it? Or can it easily kill your server?

    How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help: Option 1 / Option 2
  • The Dixie Flatline (3/25/2014)


    My poster child interview disappointment: Good resume' on paper, but then the man walked in, opened up his laptop, and scrolled through a "cheat sheet" document each time he was asked a question. He rarely made eye contact as he paged up and down searching for answers. When his answers were so off base that we rephrased questions, he would argue that he had already answered them. Go figure.

    Cool. Open book interview questions. You don't mind if I just turn my MIFI on do you? I'll be connecting to SQL Server Central during the interview process. You guys just keep an eye out for any questions marked "URGENT." That'll be me.

    <sigh>

    I have two favorites, on opposite ends of the spectrum.

    Many moons ago, close to twenty years now, I interviewed a guy for an Access developer's position (yes, they used to pay for that). This guy answered every single question like he had written the product. It was amazing. I'd never met anyone who knew so much. We brought three different people in to ask questions and he aced them all. So we hired him. His first day on the job, he didn't get anything done... and I mean anything. Second day, we started watching him. He'd never sat in front of a computer before. He didn't know how to work the mouse. He was confused by the keyboard. He had clearly never even touched a computer before. But, we turned him away from the computer and asked him how to do stuff, and he knew it all. Weirdest darned thing I'd ever seen.

    My second favorite is short & sweet. We were interviewing someone for a senior level SQL Server position. After a couple of questions (which he didn't do well on) he stated, "Why are you asking me all these questions that are product specific. You should only ever be using ANSI standard commands & syntax and never, ever use any of the product specific controls or functions. Otherwise how can you nimbly shift between different platforms." And then he got vehement about it. It was fun.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • Grant Fritchey (3/25/2014)


    He got vehement about it. It was fun.

    I can imagine the fun that could be had. :ermm:

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • SQLRNNR (3/25/2014)


    Grant Fritchey (3/25/2014)


    He got vehement about it. It was fun.

    I can imagine the fun that could be had. :ermm:

    Some of these would make good UTube material.

    I can imagine someone pretends to be taking notes on a tablet, like notes of the responses, while actually recording the interview.

  • Grant Fritchey (3/25/2014)


    The Dixie Flatline (3/25/2014)


    My poster child interview disappointment: Good resume' on paper, but then the man walked in, opened up his laptop, and scrolled through a "cheat sheet" document each time he was asked a question. He rarely made eye contact as he paged up and down searching for answers. When his answers were so off base that we rephrased questions, he would argue that he had already answered them. Go figure.

    Cool. Open book interview questions. You don't mind if I just turn my MIFI on do you? I'll be connecting to SQL Server Central during the interview process. You guys just keep an eye out for any questions marked "URGENT." That'll be me.

    <sigh>

    I have two favorites, on opposite ends of the spectrum.

    Many moons ago, close to twenty years now, I interviewed a guy for an Access developer's position (yes, they used to pay for that). This guy answered every single question like he had written the product. It was amazing. I'd never met anyone who knew so much. We brought three different people in to ask questions and he aced them all. So we hired him. His first day on the job, he didn't get anything done... and I mean anything. Second day, we started watching him. He'd never sat in front of a computer before. He didn't know how to work the mouse. He was confused by the keyboard. He had clearly never even touched a computer before. But, we turned him away from the computer and asked him how to do stuff, and he knew it all. Weirdest darned thing I'd ever seen.

    My second favorite is short & sweet. We were interviewing someone for a senior level SQL Server position. After a couple of questions (which he didn't do well on) he stated, "Why are you asking me all these questions that are product specific. You should only ever be using ANSI standard commands & syntax and never, ever use any of the product specific controls or functions. Otherwise how can you nimbly shift between different platforms." And then he got vehement about it. It was fun.

    A Celko student and follower.

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