Challenging SQL interview questions

  • Barry,

    I don't think it was a rude response, but it was a little short. However it's not even close to something I would remove.

    My thoughts on a standard response as to a) save typing (yeah, I'm lazy) and b) put a consistent message to people that are not willing to do the work themselves.

  • Thanks, Steve. And agreed.

    [font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung[font="Arial Black"]
    Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc.
    [/font]
    [font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

  • Hey everyone,

    Thanks for all the comments! My initial post was a reflection of my first reaction, and I agree that maybe 'short' is a better word than 'rude'. I will try to choose my words more carefully. Some will have noticed the 😛 in my first post - a sign, perhaps, that my comments were somewhat light-hearted.

    I do still think though that some massive assumptions have been made - that the questions were in fact for an interview, that the OP was trying to wing his way into a position for which (s)he was not, shall we say, a perfect fit.

    I guess my point is that it is fine to not respond to such requests if that is how you feel, but why both with posting a 'short' reply. I like the idea of an appropriate 'standard response'.

    I would love to know the intent and circumstances of the OP, but I suppose we will never know.

    Oh, and - yes - I am relatively new here, but that doesn't mean that I'm a complete n00b. Assumptions, eh?

    😀

    Paul

    edit: for typo

  • Paul White (4/5/2009)


    Hey everyone,

    Thanks for all the comments! My initial post was a reflection of my first reaction, and I agree that maybe 'short' is a better word than 'rude'. I will try to choose my words more carefully. Some will have noticed the 😛 in my first post - a sign, perhaps, that my comments were somewhat light-hearted.

    I do still think though that some massive assumptions have been made - that the questions were in fact for an interview, that the OP was trying to wing his way into a position for which (s)he was not, shall we say, a perfect fit.

    I guess my point is that it is fine to not respond to such requests if that is how you feel, but why both with posting a 'short' reply. I like the idea of an appropriate 'standard response'.

    I would love to know the intent and circumstances of the OP, but I suppose we will never know.

    Oh, and - yes - I am relatively new here, but that doesn't mean that I'm a complete n00b. Assumptions, eh?

    😀

    Paul

    edit: for typo

    I didn't call you a noob. You are new to this forum, and many of us have seen these types of questions many times. There has, in fact, been several heated discussions on a few of those same threads regarding the ethics behind such questions and presenting oneself as "more qualified" than they really are.

    No assumptions were made in this case other than those implied by the original post. Instead of asking for "answers", perhaps the OP should have provided answers as well and asked for feedback based on those answers. Then it would have been more of a quest for enlightenment instead of "tell me how to answer".

  • Lynn!!!

    Lynn Pettis (4/5/2009)


    I didn't call you a noob. You are new to this forum, and many of us have seen these types of questions many times. There has, in fact, been several heated discussions on a few of those same threads regarding the ethics behind such questions and presenting oneself as "more qualified" than they really are.

    Did you not see the 😀 there? The 'noob' comment was a joke - I can't make it any plainer really! 😀 😀 😀

    I'm new to posting on this forum - my account has been live for years and I have been a regular 'lurker' during that time. That's just FYI - I'm not looking to perpetuate the n00b thing.

    Lynn Pettis (4/5/2009)


    No assumptions were made in this case other than those implied by the original post.

    I think the key word there is 'implied'. Just sayin', like.

    Lynn Pettis (4/5/2009)


    Instead of asking for "answers", perhaps the OP should have provided answers as well and asked for feedback based on those answers. Then it would have been more of a quest for enlightenment instead of "tell me how to answer".

    I quite agree. Something along those lines would be a good thing to include in the 'standard answer'.

    Paul

    edit: quoting is hard :rolleyes:

  • Paul White (4/5/2009)


    Lynn!!!

    Lynn Pettis (4/5/2009)


    I didn't call you a noob. You are new to this forum, and many of us have seen these types of questions many times. There has, in fact, been several heated discussions on a few of those same threads regarding the ethics behind such questions and presenting oneself as "more qualified" than they really are.

    Did you not see the 😀 there? The 'noob' comment was a joke - I can't make it any plainer really! 😀 😀 😀

    I'm new to posting on this forum - my account has been live for years and I have been a regular 'lurker' during that time. That's just FYI - I'm not looking to perpetuate the n00b thing.

    Lynn Pettis (4/5/2009)


    No assumptions were made in this case other than those implied by the original post.

    I think the key word there is 'implied'. Just sayin', like.

    Lynn Pettis (4/5/2009)


    Instead of asking for "answers", perhaps the OP should have provided answers as well and asked for feedback based on those answers. Then it would have been more of a quest for enlightenment instead of "tell me how to answer".

    I quite agree. Something along those lines would be a good thing to include in the 'standard answer'.

    Paul

    edit: quoting is hard :rolleyes:

    Remember, you imply, I infer. We have inferred from the OP's implication that these questions were from an interview. If that is incorrect, then the OP needs to correct the impression given to us.

    By the way, I saw the "smiley" but did not place it with the immediately preceding comment. It is the weekend, and I choose not to fully engage my brain unless needed for complex issues. 😛

    I don't feel this is a complex issue. Ethical issues are pretty straight forward and black and white.

    😉

  • Paul White (4/5/2009)


    I do still think though that some massive assumptions have been made - that the questions were in fact for an interview...

    Well that one was no assumption. The OP actually said it, just look at the title of this thread. 🙂

    [font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung[font="Arial Black"]
    Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc.
    [/font]
    [font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

  • RBarryYoung (4/5/2009)


    Paul White (4/5/2009)


    I do still think though that some massive assumptions have been made - that the questions were in fact for an interview...

    Well that one was no assumption. The OP actually said it, just look at the title of this thread. 🙂

    Yes I saw that! 😉

    It's just that the diversity of languages/cultures on here mean that the title could have been intended/be read differently - perhaps it was titled that way to pique interest? I don't know - you're probably all right - the OP was after answers to potential interview questions, dunno *shrug*.

    I think I'm just going to agree to disagree on this one. Some of you guys are clearly convinced by your point of view, I'm just less certain, and that's all it is.

    Everyone have a good day - especially those still enjoying the weekend. Some of us are halfway through Monday!

    Paul

  • Well, it's still Sunday, and I am I praying for MORE SNOW! I want a snow day! :w00t:

  • Lynn Pettis (4/5/2009)


    Well, it's still Sunday, and I am I praying for MORE SNOW! I want a snow day! :w00t:

    Well, according to my faithful weather widget, Colorado Springs will get 'a little snow at times today'...

    Thinking snowy thoughts in your general direction...hope it helps! :unsure:

  • Personally, I don't have any problems in postings of interview questions or even homework questions, given the fact that the OP must have tried to solve it before posting.

    Instead of a response such as "no interview questions", I would rather like to see responses such as "what you have tried so far?", that way we can make him learn, off course that depends on him whether he wants to or not.

    Long time back in an Interview (I still remember that interview, it was real tough for me)

    Interviewer: "Can you tell me what is an Halloween Problem and when does it occur?"

    Me: "What?":ermm:

    Interviewer: "Halloween Problem.."

    Me: (thinking):blink::crying:

    Me: "Is it related to SQL Server?"

    (at this point, Interviewer must be thinking "What a dumb question!!!")

    Interviewer: "Yes"

    Me: "Well, I don't know, sir.":doze:

    Later, I didn't get that job:-D...

    Now, if I would have posted that question in SSC and I would be very un-happy:crazy: if I receive a response such as "No interview questions".

    I know you people have gone through a lot of this and know better than me, but I just wanted to put my opinion on it.

    --Ramesh


  • Maybe it's just a language issue Ramesh, but what you are suggesting sounds unethical.

    [font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung[font="Arial Black"]
    Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc.
    [/font]
    [font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

  • Hallowen problems occur on October 31st.

    Its when a piece of code scares SQL into stack dumping.

    Fix is to wait till next day and re-boot.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

  • Ramesh (4/6/2009)


    Now, if I would have posted that question in SSC and I would be very un-happy:crazy: if I receive a response such as "No interview questions".

    If you had asked that here, my answer would have been something along the lines of "We don't answer interview questions here. Have you tried google?" If you have tried google and don't fully understand what you've found, that's another matter.

    Seriously, if I'm answering interview questions for someone, then I should be the one who gets the job. Interviews are supposed to be about what you know and what you don't know. If you fail an interview because of one way out, ridiculous question then it indicates a bad interviewer and, maybe, a not-so-pleasant company.

    Aside, what job were you interviewing for? There aren't may jobs, other than writing a relational database engine, that I can think of that need people to understand the Halloween problem.

    Off the top of my head, the only thing I can tell you about it is when it was discovered.

    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
  • I wouldn't have been able to answer the question about a Halloween Problem. Never heard of it till just now in this thread.

    If it had come up in an interview, I would have had to say I don't know what it is. After the interview, I'd have tried to look it up. If I couldn't find it, or couldn't figure out the explanation (I could in this case, I'm just being hypothetical here), I might ask about it in the forum. I'd explain, "In an interview I just failed, I ran into a question that I just can't get a clear explanation of. Can anyone explain...?"

    In a case like that, I don't think anyone would have a problem answering the post. My general rule of thumb is that I won't answer interview-type questions in the hour they were posted. By that time, I'm pretty sure I'm helping someone learn, not helping someone get a job they won't be able to handle.

    Barry, I'm going to have to go with the original answer being a bit curt. On the other hand, the original post pretty much deserved it. You are, of course, completely right to not tollerate that kind of thing, but I would have tried for a bit softer approach, because of the potential for misunderstanding on both sides.

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