Our clients often bring us in to interview their candidates for junior and senior positions. Whether you’re a junior, senior, or expert candidate, we’ve got questions that help us figure out whether you’ve really got the goods – or just faking it. In this 30-minute session, we’ll spend 10 minutes asking you our favorite junior, senior, and expert questions. Think fast: some answers will be multiple choice, and some questions will be open-ended. Will you make the cut?
Next week we’ll cover the answers. See you there!
Timothy Corey August 8, 2012 | 9:26 am
Question 11 (the one in the preview) seems easy enough. If a vendor’s queries are running slowly, the best way to speed them up is to delete the extra data you don’t need. I usually delete all of the log files (who needs logs after all). If that doesn’t give me enough speed, I turn off the backup jobs. I mean, do we really need a copy of data we already have? Of course not. That’s just a silly waste of disk space.
Seriously though, great post.
Michael J Swart August 8, 2012 | 11:52 am
These are excellent. Excellent because they not only separate the fakers from the rest, but because they also gauge a level of experience or familiarity with SQL Server.
I plan on using these myself (nearly verbatim) and if any candidates happen to ace it because they follow BrentOzarPLF, then that’s still a plus
Michael
Greg August 8, 2012 | 12:17 pm
Brent,
I’ve recently left a salaried position and, after posting my resume onlinen have been deluged with a number of subcontractor inquiries.
I’ve done a little searching, but haven’t had much success in being able to determine a ‘loaded’ hourly rate which compares to my former compensation. In other word, I’m trying to figure out what other sr. SQL Server DBAs are compensated for W-2 and corp-to-corp work. Two obvious points are that I don’t want to bid myself too high, but I also want to take into account my former benefits: vacation, medical/dental, sick, 401(k), etc.
Maybe a posting explaining how you did similar when going from a salaried position to a contractor and, ultimately, working for yourself? I’m not asking you to do the calculations or my homework for me, but just a pointer to some good resources. Again, obviously, geographic location is also something I need to factor in.
It’s hard b/c, depending on whom I talk to, I hear things anywhere from $65 – 200+.
It’s a jungle out there.
Confused (and recently resigned),
Greg
Brent Ozar August 8, 2012 | 1:53 pm
Greg – that’s a great question. Pick up the book Secrets of Consulting by Weinberg, and it’s got a great chapter on how to set your rate. I followed that methodology, and that helped a lot.
Mahesh August 12, 2012 | 4:13 am
Rule of thumb:
1. Take your annual salary.
2. Knock three zeroes off the end.
3. That’s your hourly rate.
Ayyappan August 8, 2012 | 12:43 pm
These are great questions. I am excited to answer and added this in must read interview questions list.
Greg August 8, 2012 | 1:59 pm
Brent,
Excellent. Thank you. …will purchase the book now.
All the best,
Greg
Shaun August 8, 2012 | 3:24 pm
Great video! I love these kinds of posts (I think Thomas LaRock did something similar a while ago) because it gives me a chance to see how much I really know and if my evaluation of my SQL skills are accurate.
Rade August 9, 2012 | 2:33 am
Is it next week yet? =)
Varun Dhawan August 9, 2012 | 1:02 pm
This is coolest SQL Interview ever!
You guys are an amazing team! I mean every questions is plain simple English, yet it requires so much of depth on the subject…..which I believe only a “real world” DBA can answer…!
Question 9. and 10. are my favorites …as these are ones which requires you to first openly admit that issue is beyond your current knowledge, however yet challenges you again to seek for the right direction to get resolved fastest.
Thanks again for so much you do for the community and make SQL “a beautiful place”
Varun Dhawan | http://blogs.msdn.com/b/varund/
Harika August 10, 2012 | 7:44 am
Thanx for helping us in this way…..
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