Interview Questions.

  • Hello gurus,

    I am very new to SQL Server. I have attended the intreview for SQL server Junior developer. I can not find the answers for some of the questions which they have asked me.I googled it. But i could not get some answers.Could anyone help me to find out the answers? Please help me to get into job.

    How can you create a script for row selection in a table?

    What is Query Analyzer's replacement in SQL Server 2005?

    What are the new SQL Server 2008 index types?

    resolving concurrency problems in SQL Server 2005?

    How to find size of SQL Server tables and objects with stored procedure

    What are common name restriction on tables and columns?

    How to retrive database tables with no records

    What are the different ways of moving data/databases between servers and databases in SQL Server?

    What are the steps you will take to improve performance of a poor performing query?

    If I create a separate index on each column of a table. what are the advantages and disadvantages of the approach?

    Is there any significant performance difference when joining tables across different databases on the same server?

    Thank you

    Mahesh kumar

  • Generally we don't answer interview questions here. Interviews are for you to show what you know, not for you to memorise other people's answers. Some of those questions are fairly advanced and don't have simple answers. My guess, the interviewer was trying to see where the limits of your knowledge and experience were.

    Google should get you answers to quite a few of those. If you don't understand the answers, we can help, but we're not going to answer them all for you.

    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
  • mahesh_7474 (6/1/2009)


    Hello gurus,

    I am very new to SQL Server. I have attended the intreview for SQL server Junior developer. I can not find the answers for some of the questions which they have asked me.I googled it. But i could not get some answers.Could anyone help me to find out the answers? Please help me to get into job.

    OK. Here's the most important thing to learn. SQL Server documentation is called Books Online. It installs with SQL Server or it's available through HTML here. Learn how to search for topics within it and you'll learn SQL Server.

    How can you create a script for row selection in a table?

    Look up the key word SELECT in Books Online (also called BOL for short)

    What is Query Analyzer's replacement in SQL Server 2005?

    You can look up that in BOL

    What are the new SQL Server 2008 index types?

    Check out the section called "What's New"

    resolving concurrency problems in SQL Server 2005?

    That might not be there as such or it might be a bit difficult to find. So the next best thing is a search on Google.

    How to find size of SQL Server tables and objects with stored procedure

    I don't think they meant with a stored procedure. They meant with a query. Check out the topic on system objects in BOL

    What are common name restriction on tables and columns?

    BOL

    How to retrive database tables with no records

    In this case, look up the concept of aggregation in the BOL, although there's also ways to do this using system tables

    What are the different ways of moving data/databases between servers and databases in SQL Server?

    Lookup backup & restore and the word Wizard and the string SSIS in BOL

    What are the steps you will take to improve performance of a poor performing query?

    Buy my book! Kidding. There are several topics on this in the BOL. If not hit Google.

    If I create a separate index on each column of a table. what are the advantages and disadvantages of the approach?

    There are advantages? That's going to take a while longer for you to learn. After you've read all the other information listed above, if you're still stuck on this question, you could post it seperately and I'll bet someone will help out.

    Is there any significant performance difference when joining tables across different databases on the same server?

    I'd suggest reading up on the topic on Indexes for this one.

    If you get stuck on details, come on back & ask questions, but remember, we're here to learn and to help others learn, not act as a backstop to a complete lack of knowledge or ambition. Hit the books. All the information is out there.

    "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

  • Did they, by any chance, ask you how you like your pork chops cooked?

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Jeff Moden (6/1/2009)


    Did they, by any chance, ask you how you like your pork chops cooked?

    Jeff and the meat...

    LOL!

  • Do you really think you should get the job if you don't have the skills they want?

    Are you going to talk to the interviewer and say:

    "I was able to google answers for these questions, but I couldn't find a guru to tell me the answers for the rest?"

    __________________________________________________

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

  • Grant Fritchey (6/1/2009)


    What are the steps you will take to improve performance of a poor performing query?

    Buy my book! Kidding. There are several topics on this in the BOL. If not hit Google.

    No really buy his book, SQL Server 2008 Query Performance Tuning Distilled

  • Florian Reischl (6/1/2009)


    Jeff Moden (6/1/2009)


    Did they, by any chance, ask you how you like your pork chops cooked?

    Jeff and the meat...

    LOL!

    Heh... yeah... in this case, I'm thinking "fresh meat". 😛

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Jack Corbett (6/1/2009)


    Grant Fritchey (6/1/2009)


    What are the steps you will take to improve performance of a poor performing query?

    Buy my book! Kidding. There are several topics on this in the BOL. If not hit Google.

    No really buy his book, SQL Server 2008 Query Performance Tuning Distilled

    I absolutely agree with that... it's one of the best recommendations, yet. Will help make you more pork chop proof, to boot.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • mahesh_7474 (6/1/2009)


    Hello gurus,

    I am very new to SQL Server. I have attended the intreview for SQL server Junior developer. I can not find the answers for some of the questions which they have asked me.I googled it. But i could not get some answers.Could anyone help me to find out the answers? Please help me to get into job.

    How can you create a script for row selection in a table?

    What is Query Analyzer's replacement in SQL Server 2005?

    What are the new SQL Server 2008 index types?

    resolving concurrency problems in SQL Server 2005?

    How to find size of SQL Server tables and objects with stored procedure

    What are common name restriction on tables and columns?

    How to retrive database tables with no records

    What are the different ways of moving data/databases between servers and databases in SQL Server?

    What are the steps you will take to improve performance of a poor performing query?

    If I create a separate index on each column of a table. what are the advantages and disadvantages of the approach?

    Is there any significant performance difference when joining tables across different databases on the same server?

    Thank you

    Mahesh kumar

    Mahesh,

    As Bob suggests, the employer is not asking these questions to make sure you know or can find the answers, but rather to guage your overall familiarity and knowledge of SQL Server. One question that's sure to be asked in any follow-up interview is "Where did you learn to use and administer SQL Server?" At that point, will you want to say "I haven't learned that, but I was able to track down these specific items", or will you lie to them, saying that you'd taken a class somewhere? Lying is probably not a good choice, either for your own peace of mind or your future prospects when you're caught.

    So, here's the help you asked for to get a job in this field: seek out training, preferably with an instructor or mentor at work if you're already working in IT. Be honest with yourself and prospective employers about what your current skillset is. One major plus may be that you are a fast learner (prove it with an example from your current or recent job), and are therefore probably capable of taking on some SQL-related tasks soon.

    So, duck the "flying porkchops" from those who are understandably offended by your seeming to want to cheat your way into a job, and take action towards a realistic, honest start to this stage of your career.

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