March 8, 2009 at 5:24 pm
If i was an interviewer and i was given a chance to short list people I would not consider this question. I would not mind, as long as the candidate knows where to find out of the box stuff, in this case the current question.
March 8, 2009 at 6:45 pm
ok - I blogged about this - go vote if you're interested: What's a valid question for a DBA interview?
Thanks
Paul Randal
CEO, SQLskills.com: Check out SQLskills online training!
Blog:www.SQLskills.com/blogs/paul Twitter: @PaulRandal
SQL MVP, Microsoft RD, Contributing Editor of TechNet Magazine
Author of DBCC CHECKDB/repair (and other Storage Engine) code of SQL Server 2005
March 8, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Hey Paul,
It was so kind of you to actually get some more views on this in your blog. The one which you blogged as "What's the name of the executable file that runs a SQL server" is acceptable, looking at the way the question was framed it's nice and direct. But, I was more concerned the way the interviewer asked the OP as :
When u open the Enterprise manager u find out the database...and u clik on that databases u see what are the databases available in the databases.
can anyone tell me which executable file running behind this?
this intrigues me:)
and also I have seen couple of executable files under SQL server such as: FTSStub.exe- Let's say an interviewer asks the DBA, what is the purpose of this executable file in the server? Do you really think a DBA should know? Well, as you said, answering to the question does show that the particular candidate is more interested. But does it make him a bad DBA for not knowing the answer?.(even now while I am typing I don't know what's the purpose of the file, but will research on those).
Thanks for your time.
March 8, 2009 at 8:12 pm
It's part of the full-text system, but only in 2005 and before 🙂
I don't think it makes someone a bad DBA if they don't know it, but someone who does know it may be a more knowledgeable DBA than someone who doesn't. Note that I didn't say it made them a better DBA - 'better' is entirely subjective - someone may know lots about SQL Server, but have all kinds of misconceptions about best practices, for instance. Or they may know all of that, but be totally socially inept - which would make them less than useful in an enterprise that requires teamwork or interaction with users.
Interviewing is a science and an art, like many things. And on that note, checkout the index usefulneess quiz that Kimberly just posted (we're having fun with surverys) - see Why aren't those nonclustered indexes being used?
Thanks
PS Great thread btw...
Paul Randal
CEO, SQLskills.com: Check out SQLskills online training!
Blog:www.SQLskills.com/blogs/paul Twitter: @PaulRandal
SQL MVP, Microsoft RD, Contributing Editor of TechNet Magazine
Author of DBCC CHECKDB/repair (and other Storage Engine) code of SQL Server 2005
March 8, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Paul Randal (3/8/2009)
It's part of the full-text system, but only in 2005 and before 🙂
haha that's awesome!
But I think this discussion still goes on. You could really include those questions just for some fun or to have a bit of chat with the interviewee but I still want to stick to my point that, it doesn't really make difference if they know answer to the above question or not. I would rather ask him about some hot topics or any new technologies in the market like virtual servers, future versions of SQL server or anything like that.
By the way How to vote on the blog? I am not able to find the way 😛
March 8, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Paul Randal (3/8/2009)
Or they may know all of that, but be totally socially inept - which would make them less than useful in an enterprise that requires teamwork or interaction with users.Interviewing is a science and an art
Yes, that's quite true especially interviewing someone for the role of DBA, as I always say no other IT guy is as close to the business as a DBA. You should be looking for more skills in a DBA apart form routine humdum... for example at my work in my free time I usually document a new concept that might be useful to my team members in the future with links to the articles or sometimes help my developers or do some extra tuning.....
I definitely agree, interviewing is an art in itself. 🙂
March 9, 2009 at 7:24 am
Krishna (3/8/2009)[hrBy the way How to vote on the blog? I am not able to find the way 😛
There's a survey widget-thing embedded in that blog post - is it not there for you? I think it uses Javascript so if that's not enabled in your browser you won't be able to see it.
Paul Randal
CEO, SQLskills.com: Check out SQLskills online training!
Blog:www.SQLskills.com/blogs/paul Twitter: @PaulRandal
SQL MVP, Microsoft RD, Contributing Editor of TechNet Magazine
Author of DBCC CHECKDB/repair (and other Storage Engine) code of SQL Server 2005
March 9, 2009 at 10:27 am
Yep, found it Paul and voted it. It was my browser playing around with me:D. Thanks a lot!!
March 9, 2009 at 12:49 pm
It is really interesting to see the results of the poll (at least as they are of this moment).
I think that perhaps it might be different if the poll were something along the lines of "Should this question make or break an interview" as opposed to is it a valid question. Obviously you guys have discussed that in great detail and all interviews are subjective in nature, which makes any question valid but it may also make an interviewer who takes a question of this nature too seriously seem like an unreasonable individual.
March 9, 2009 at 1:19 pm
No way should this be a make or break question IMHO.
Paul Randal
CEO, SQLskills.com: Check out SQLskills online training!
Blog:www.SQLskills.com/blogs/paul Twitter: @PaulRandal
SQL MVP, Microsoft RD, Contributing Editor of TechNet Magazine
Author of DBCC CHECKDB/repair (and other Storage Engine) code of SQL Server 2005
March 9, 2009 at 2:23 pm
What is the purpose of the interview? It is very easy for anyone to ask difficult questions.
For me, if someone know the day to day stuff and know how to do research is good enough unless he is looking for 150K.
Here are the few question for those who consider any question is a valid question.
Question.
What are the issue resolved in Service pack 2 of SQL 2000?
What is the value 4096 indicate in status column of sysdatabases?
What is the value return by SELECT EVENTDATA()? (Those who have not read today article CAREFULLY will not able to answer this)
It will take less than 10 minutes to find answer for all the three questions so why bother asking them in interview? You can still judge the knowledge of the candidate by asking the following questions.
1. Did you ever install service pack on SQL Server? Are there any challanges you have encounter?
2. What kind of information I can find in sysdatabases
3. Are you aware about EventData() function? Where can it be benefited?
It is not easy to take a interview. Hiring manager should make sure their technical poeple know how to conduct interview or you will defeat the purpose of interview.
Amit Lohia
March 9, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I'm actually glad i knew that Client Side for 2005 was SQLWb. When I first starting this job, my machine had 1Gb Ram (they've doubled since, thank God) on it and I generally don't reset my Machine at night because I work right up to the minute I have to go. Knowing that SQL Server was the program that (even when not running any queries, just open in the background) was taking up half my Memory (and a lot of Virtual Memory) meant I could close it when getting "System low on Resources" message - unless I was writing queries in which case i was screwed!
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