• meridius10 (2/10/2013)


    I came to SQL Server from using Access so this is why I am asking these questions... At the same time, algorithms in website search engines are mainly working with keywords so it seems that a large part of the recruitment process is candidates needing to make sure that they put the right one's in.

    Just an additional question; what's the norm in working styles, if there is one? Do most developers use views to select as much of the query as possible and then modify the T-SQL or do they just type out the code straight off?

    That's a harder question. It gets to programming methodology, best practices, local practices, and finally, how the optimizer works. As a general concept, think of views as a masking mechanism. They hide stuff for security or for complexity. But, never forget that it's just a query. What happens is that people start thinking of views as tables (and they are absolutely not) and then JOIN one view to another or nest a view inside a view inside a view. Then, you're shooting the optimizer in the head and people are frequently surprised at how bad performance gets. So, in answer to your question, it depends.

    As to putting SQL or T-SQL on your resume, Gail might flog you for it, but I wouldn't see it as that big a deal if you had both. Although, honestly, you could just put SQL and SQL Server and most people would just infer T-SQL. For the fundamentals, SELECT FROM WHERE UPDATE INSERT DELETE, the differences between T-SQL and ANSI SQL are minimal. I realize we're trying to match our CVs to what search engines return, but I suspect that's impossible. Especially when people post job requirements that mean you have to be a DBA, a SAN Admin, a developer, a hardware expert, SharePoint guru, network architect and sub-atomic physicist with a top secret clearance, 2 years of experience and they're willing to pay $50k. In short, no one meets the requirements because anyone with all that knowledge and skill has a LOT more than 2 years experience and expects to make MUCH more than $50k.

    Instead, I'd focus on honesty and clarity on your CV. Let me know what you've done and what you know. Lies and exaggerations will burn you.

    "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