SQL Server developer entry level jobs

  • Hi All,

    where do I start looking for entry level jobs in North-East US ,any suggested web-sites? ...

    one more question: if company has too many requirements for opening job and I don't have all of them, should I still apply? please suggest, I am new to this.

    Thank you

    Simon M.

  • Monster.com, Indeed.com, Dice.com, LinkedIn, Google can give you a wide-range of candidate sites...

    Requirements are typically a "wish" list, however I wouldn't apply for a position where you have 3 out of let's say 25 items on the list. If you're savvy and think you'd be able to pick up the technologies rather quickly then I'd say give it a shot. But be VERY honest with yourself and to the hiring manager, cover letter, etc.

    Personally I'd look for a junior level position, learn the ropes, then pursue better opportunities once you build your experience and skill set up 🙂

    ______________________________________________________________________________Never argue with an idiot; Theyll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience

  • I'd send them their requirements back with a % (0-100%) with 0% having no clue and 100% being an absolute master on the requirement for each requirement they have. If you're less than 70% (and be bloody honest and if you don't know enough to rate yourself, ask us ;-)) on most of them, then as the previous poster said, make your cover letter in such a fashion as to ask them if they'd take a Junior that's willing to learn and to teach himself more.

    On that note, if you don't own a copy of SQL Server Developer Edition ($50-60 USD including shipping) and have it installed on one of your machines where you can start practicing and know what "Books Online" is, then I wouldn't bother. For most companies to take on a Junior that "wants to learn", you have to show some dedication to learning. If you can tell them what you taught yourself in the last month (and I'd include such facts on the cover letter), then they just might take you in. The "Objective" on your resume should say something to the effect that you want to be an SQL Developer to start with and move to a postition of DBA and that you're willing to work for it.

    If you get an interview, it will be hard but not SQL Server wise. They're going to absolutely grill you on what you're doing to teach yourself and how much progress you've made in the last several months. If you can't talk to that, you will fail the interview as an entry level candidate.

    Remember at all times... absolute honesty. Companies cherish such individuals for most positions but it's absolutely essential if you want to become an SQL Server Developer and maybe work your way up to being a hybrid DBA (VERY well paid) that can do both system's work and also function as an Application DBA.

    My other suggestion would be to engage a recruiting company or two. They know which companies will be will to take on an intelligent and motivated Junior.

    --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)

  • Thank you Jeff Moden,

    Thank you for your time

    I recently got 2 MS certificates, 70-461, 70-463. I know this is not much but I am still improving skills at SQL Server 2012, SSIS and SSRS. Just started Windows Server and my next step would be c# . C# is what most of the new job has beside all above. but I want to find entry level job to pay my bills and study more when I get home.

    Thank you again

    P.S. loved it -"Just because you CAN do something in T-SQL, doesn't mean you SHOULDN'T."

  • Thank you MyDoggieJessie,

    Thank you for your time

    I recently got 2 MS certificates, 70-461, 70-463. I know this is not much but I am still improving skills at SQL Server 2012, SSIS and SSRS. Just started Windows Server and my next step would be c# . C# is what most of the new job has beside all above. but I want to find entry level job to pay my bills and study more when I get home.

    Thank you again

  • I don't care what requirement is, I send my resume for them any way.

    And even if you fail in interview its still good, because you can research about questions they asked from you in several days and learn new things and use this knowledge in next interviews 😉

    ___________________________________
    Computer Enterprise Masoud Keshavarz
    I don't care about hell.
    If I go there I've played enough Diablo to know how to fight my way out.

  • IMHO, knowledge is good, but experience is better (and most often trumps it) - things from articles/books/etc can be learned, but I believe applied learning from an actual experiences is something that gets built up over time and can't always be substituted with book smarts...

    ______________________________________________________________________________Never argue with an idiot; Theyll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience

  • Nor with certifications. You just have to get experience building databases and dealing with problems that come up.

  • I agree with you, best experience when you are dealing with real problems, that's why I installed windows server 2012 Hyper-V in my computer, SQL Server 2012 and doing some real time examples like linked servers, Replication, SQL Agent jobs are set up to run, some SSIS packages to import data from one servers database to another virtual machine database etc. I have done some reporting projects and so on...getting ready for real work....thank you all for the comments 😉

  • Thank you , I will definitely check it out....

  • "You can get the job on the basis on your SQL certificate"... depends a lot on how big the pool of available SQL developers is in your area, I guess. Not so where I live. And if you don't know what you're doing when you're dealing with billions of records, that could be a problem...

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