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ewomack
Starting Member
33 Posts |
 Posted - 2009-11-02 : 17:59:52
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| Hello,I will very likely have an interview for a SQL Server admin job. As a system analyst I've supported SQL Server 200 & 2005 in the past (monitored Configuration manager, stored procudures, etc.). I also know SQL from SELECT to OUTER JOIN. My gap is the actual administration of the server. I know DBAs monitor the server (usage, etc.) and plan for backup and disaster recovery. In an entry-level interview, what would you expect the interviewers to be looking for? Thank you!Ed |
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russell
Pyro-ma-ni-yak
5072 Posts |
Posted - 2009-11-02 : 23:15:45
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| A few questions I ask every DBA I interview, regardless of their experience level:- What is the size of a data page?- Tell me about the different types of indexes in SQL Server and explain the differences.- Tell me about the various types of backups available in SQL Server and explain the differences.- What are the different recovery models in SQL Server. How do I choose the appropriate one for my databases?- What is the maximuim number of clustered indexes I can have on one table?- How can I determine if an index is fragmented?- When should I rebuild it?- How do I rebuild it?- What is the purpose of the transaction log?- Describe the default locking behavior in SQL 2005- How can I identify blocking?- How can I determine if my SQL Server is experiencing memory pressure?- I have a corrupt database. What's the best way to repair it?- How can I determine the IO impact of a given query?- How can I move large amounts of data without growing the transaction log?- A DBA accidentally dropped a critical highly transactional table in production. Walk me through the exact procedure to restore it without taking the application offline |
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russell
Pyro-ma-ni-yak
5072 Posts |
Posted - 2009-11-02 : 23:16:37
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Good luck with your interview! |
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess
38200 Posts |
Posted - 2009-11-03 : 00:02:26
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| If I were interviewing a junior DBA, I'd ask even more basic questions since a junior isn't expected to know much yet. I would start a dialogue with the person to ensure they knew how to use the tools, knew basic to moderate T-SQL syntax, and had a good understanding of the operating system. I'd also ensure the person could troubleshoot problems by questioning them about various issues. Everything else would be through on the job training.Tara KizerMicrosoft MVP for Windows Server System - SQL Serverhttp://weblogs.sqlteam.com/tarad/Subscribe to my blog"Let's begin with the premise that everything you've done up until this point is wrong." |
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masterdineen
Aged Yak Warrior
550 Posts |
Posted - 2009-11-03 : 04:36:47
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| Good luck mate let us know how you get onRegardsRobMCTS certified |
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Entry level SQL DBA interview...