SQL DBA high ended question (5+ years’ experience)

  • Hi Friends,

    I would like to know SQL DBA high ended question (5+ years’ experience) what kind of questions they will ASK …………………. Just for curiosity

    Thanks a lot :

    Rajesh

  • What do you mean? What kind of questions they'll ask in what context?

    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 (8/5/2014)


    What do you mean? What kind of questions they'll ask in what context?

    I guess in a job interview.

    Need an answer? No, you need a question
    My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
    MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

  • Koen Verbeeck (8/5/2014)


    GilaMonster (8/5/2014)


    What do you mean? What kind of questions they'll ask in what context?

    I guess in a job interview.

    In that case, for 5+ years experience:

    Name 3 backup types in SQL Server

    List the three recovery models and the differences between them.

    Name two types of indexes and the differences between them.

    On the off chance that they get any of those right, then we could get into a proper discussion.

    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 (8/5/2014)


    Koen Verbeeck (8/5/2014)


    GilaMonster (8/5/2014)


    What do you mean? What kind of questions they'll ask in what context?

    I guess in a job interview.

    In that case, for 5+ years experience:

    Name 3 backup types in SQL Server

    List the three recovery models and the differences between them.

    Name two types of indexes and the differences between them.

    On the off chance that they get any of those right, then we could get into a proper discussion.

    Good grief. Is this for 5+ years experience? I'm not a DBA but I know the answer to all of them (at least on a high-level).

    I'm probably spoiled for hanging out too much on this site. 😀 😎

    Need an answer? No, you need a question
    My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
    MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

  • I asked the same questions I asked someone with 2-3 years of experience. I just expected better answers. Also, when we get to the open-ended questions, I expect answers with stories as well as questions to test assumptions, etc.

    Here's a sample:

    You get a phone call. The person on the phone says the database is slow. What do you do?

    Your responses to this tell me what you know, how well you know it and your experience level. And, there is absolutely no way to look up the answer ahead of time. You know this stuff, or you don't.

    "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

  • Koen Verbeeck (8/5/2014)


    GilaMonster (8/5/2014)


    Koen Verbeeck (8/5/2014)


    GilaMonster (8/5/2014)


    What do you mean? What kind of questions they'll ask in what context?

    I guess in a job interview.

    In that case, for 5+ years experience:

    Name 3 backup types in SQL Server

    List the three recovery models and the differences between them.

    Name two types of indexes and the differences between them.

    On the off chance that they get any of those right, then we could get into a proper discussion.

    Good grief. Is this for 5+ years experience? I'm not a DBA but I know the answer to all of them (at least on a high-level).

    I'm probably spoiled for hanging out too much on this site. 😀 😎

    I'd expect the majority of DBAs at the mentioned level to be able to give me two backup types and two recovery models and maybe get the index question half right, maybe.

    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 (8/5/2014)


    Koen Verbeeck (8/5/2014)


    GilaMonster (8/5/2014)


    Koen Verbeeck (8/5/2014)


    GilaMonster (8/5/2014)


    What do you mean? What kind of questions they'll ask in what context?

    I guess in a job interview.

    In that case, for 5+ years experience:

    Name 3 backup types in SQL Server

    List the three recovery models and the differences between them.

    Name two types of indexes and the differences between them.

    On the off chance that they get any of those right, then we could get into a proper discussion.

    Good grief. Is this for 5+ years experience? I'm not a DBA but I know the answer to all of them (at least on a high-level).

    I'm probably spoiled for hanging out too much on this site. 😀 😎

    I'd expect the majority of DBAs at the mentioned level to be able to give me two backup types and two recovery models and maybe get the index question half right, maybe.

    Yeah, everyone gets the intro level questions. "What's the difference between a deadlock, spelled d e a d l o c k, and a block, spelled b l o c k?" God I love that question. Most people carefully describe a block and then carefully describe a block. Recovery models, yes. "What's the difference between a clustered and a non-clustered index?" I've actually listed out the basic questions in a blog post[/url]. But, that's just the "get me in the door" questions. The real interview starts with my previous question.

    "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 (8/5/2014)


    You get a phone call. The person on the phone says the database is slow. What do you do?

    Migrate from Oracle to SQL Server? Do I get the job now?

    Need an answer? No, you need a question
    My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
    MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

  • Grant Fritchey (8/5/2014)


    "What's the difference between a deadlock, spelled d e a d l o c k, and a block, spelled b l o c k?" God I love that question. Most people carefully describe a block and then carefully describe a block.

    I'll take a stab at this (mind that I am a lowly BI developer:-)).

    Blocking is when one process has locked a resource and another cannot use that resource until the first process finishes. Usually resolves itself once the first process gives up the lock.

    Deadlock is when two processes have acquired locks on two different object and before they can move on they need access to each others resources. They lock each other out and there is no resolution but to kill one of the processes.

    Need an answer? No, you need a question
    My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
    MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP

  • Koen Verbeeck (8/5/2014)


    Grant Fritchey (8/5/2014)


    You get a phone call. The person on the phone says the database is slow. What do you do?

    Migrate from Oracle to SQL Server? Do I get the job now?

    😀

    I think my current employers got all of their interview questions from Gail.

  • With the number of features within SQL Server it is actually quite hard to decide what somebody with 5 years experience should know - its really down to want you want from a DBA. Production DBA or Development DBA? SSIS, Analysis Services? High Availabilty expertise? Optimisation skills? The list can go on.

    I know there are huge chasms within my knowledge of SQL Server and yet I know things that other DBAs with substantially more experience than myself know. Of course I also meet a large number of DBAs with knowledge that I lack.

    Some basics have to be assumed and Gail's questions are a good starting point but with the sheer breadth of facilities within it, it isn't as easy a question as you might think.

  • 5 years experience? I expect to hear stories, end to end solutions. I expect to hear what blew up under their fingertips when the rolled something to production and for them to tell me what the RCA found. I expect them to know what an RCA is!

    I don't expect them to know every inch of every piece of equipment. I expect them to be able to competently tell me what their areas of expertise are, and what they aren't... and to know it.


    - Craig Farrell

    Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.

    For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
    For index/tuning help, follow these directions.[/url] |Tally Tables[/url]

    Twitter: @AnyWayDBA

  • Guess one has to differentiate between five years of work and five years worth of experience. Questions like "what are the DAC limitations", "consequence of an idle connection holding a lock on a 'popular' resource" or "what are the Resource Governor configuration gotchas?" would make my list. Mind you the answers wouldn't have to be perfect for a 'fiver':-D

    😎

  • Koen Verbeeck (8/5/2014)


    Deadlock is when two processes have acquired locks on two different object and before they can move on they need access to each others resources. They lock each other out and there is no resolution but to kill one of the processes.

    SQL Server will automatically choose the deadlock victim, or (as I have just been reading here you can SET DEADLOCK_PRIORITY. No link for this on SQL2014, is it being deprecated?

    qh

    [font="Tahoma"]Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. – Carl Jung.[/font]

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 89 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply