Dumb interview answers

  • We’re recruiting for a support role here. As part of the interview, we see how they approach problem solving and give them an example of a web app with a SQL back end for time recording, which no one can log into (this is an intermittent production issue). The best (bearing in mind the thread title) answer we’ve had was “The users must be doing something wrong”

    Next candidate please

    -------------------------------Posting Data Etiquette - Jeff Moden [/url]Smart way to ask a question
    There are naive questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand (the world). There is no such thing as a dumb question. ― Carl Sagan
    I would never join a club that would allow me as a member - Groucho Marx

  • I love getting stammering responses to questions like "What do you like to do?"

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • SQLRNNR (2/18/2014)


    I love getting stammering responses to questions like "What do you like to do?"

    "I'm sorry, but I don't see the relevance, I thought we were discussing a job opening?"

    ---------------------------------------------------------
    How best to post your question[/url]
    How to post performance problems[/url]
    Tally Table:What it is and how it replaces a loop[/url]

    "stewsterl 80804 (10/16/2009)I guess when you stop and try to understand the solution provided you not only learn, but save yourself some headaches when you need to make any slight changes."

  • "I can't believe you're asking me all these product specific questions. You shouldn't be writing your queries using product specific language because that eliminates the ability to quickly and easily change platforms." - A candidate for a SQL Server Database Developer position.

    Candidate.

    "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

  • The following was in 1991 and in response to the question, "How many seminars or classes have you attended to keep up on technology?"

    Answer: "I'm not really into continuing education. I've been programming for 8 years now and I don't see how things can change much from all that I've seen."

  • OCTom (2/18/2014)


    The following was in 1991 and in response to the question, "How many seminars or classes have you attended to keep up on technology?"

    Answer: "I'm not really into continuing education. I've been programming for 8 years now and I don't see how things can change much from all that I've seen."

    Is this guy still working in RPG or did he break down and attend a seminar somewhere along the way? 😛

    _______________________________________________________________

    Need help? Help us help you.

    Read the article at http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/ for best practices on asking questions.

    Need to split a string? Try Jeff Modens splitter http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Tally+Table/72993/.

    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 1 – Converting Rows to Columns - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/T-SQL/63681/
    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 2 - Dynamic Cross Tabs - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Crosstab/65048/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 1) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69953/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 2) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69954/

  • Sean Lange (2/18/2014)


    OCTom (2/18/2014)


    The following was in 1991 and in response to the question, "How many seminars or classes have you attended to keep up on technology?"

    Answer: "I'm not really into continuing education. I've been programming for 8 years now and I don't see how things can change much from all that I've seen."

    Is this guy still working in RPG or did he break down and attend a seminar somewhere along the way? 😛

    Maybe he's a Project Manager asking developers to do things as he used to 20 years ago.

    Luis C.
    General Disclaimer:
    Are you seriously taking the advice and code from someone from the internet without testing it? Do you at least understand it? Or can it easily kill your server?

    How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help: Option 1 / Option 2
  • Luis Cazares (2/18/2014)


    Sean Lange (2/18/2014)


    OCTom (2/18/2014)


    The following was in 1991 and in response to the question, "How many seminars or classes have you attended to keep up on technology?"

    Answer: "I'm not really into continuing education. I've been programming for 8 years now and I don't see how things can change much from all that I've seen."

    Is this guy still working in RPG or did he break down and attend a seminar somewhere along the way? 😛

    Maybe he's a Project Manager asking developers to do things as he used to 20 years ago.

    +1

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • A candidate who described himself as a database performance and recovery specialist.

    Me: You get alerts that a critical database is not available and when you look in Management Studio you see that SQL has flagged the database as Suspect. What is the first thing that you do?

    Him: Open Visual Studio and start a new VB project.

    Me: ......... :blink:

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Grant Fritchey (2/18/2014)


    "I can't believe you're asking me all these product specific questions. You shouldn't be writing your queries using product specific language because that eliminates the ability to quickly and easily change platforms." - A candidate for a SQL Server Database Developer position.

    Candidate.

    How is Joe?

  • Gazareth (2/19/2014)


    Grant Fritchey (2/18/2014)


    "I can't believe you're asking me all these product specific questions. You shouldn't be writing your queries using product specific language because that eliminates the ability to quickly and easily change platforms." - A candidate for a SQL Server Database Developer position.

    Candidate.

    How is Joe?

    + 1.5 Million.

    I'm a DBA.
    I'm not paid to solve problems. I'm paid to prevent them.

  • Gazareth (2/19/2014)


    Grant Fritchey (2/18/2014)


    "I can't believe you're asking me all these product specific questions. You shouldn't be writing your queries using product specific language because that eliminates the ability to quickly and easily change platforms." - A candidate for a SQL Server Database Developer position.

    Candidate.

    How is Joe?

    Ha! Good one.

    The nicest man in the world in real life by the way.

    "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

  • Grant Fritchey (2/19/2014)

    The nicest man in the world in real life by the way.

    So I hear. All meant in good humour 🙂

    Those boilerplate-esque posts just tickle me!

  • Sean Lange (2/18/2014)


    OCTom (2/18/2014)


    The following was in 1991 and in response to the question, "How many seminars or classes have you attended to keep up on technology?"

    Answer: "I'm not really into continuing education. I've been programming for 8 years now and I don't see how things can change much from all that I've seen."

    Is this guy still working in RPG or did he break down and attend a seminar somewhere along the way? 😛

    Too funny! How did you know it was for RPG? It was for what used to be called a Programmer/Analyst position using RPG on an IBM S/38.

    When I tell my kids that I used to program RPG they think it was for role playing games. 😀

    The last I heard he became a truck driver in 1996.

    Tom

  • Luis Cazares (2/18/2014)


    Sean Lange (2/18/2014)


    OCTom (2/18/2014)


    The following was in 1991 and in response to the question, "How many seminars or classes have you attended to keep up on technology?"

    Answer: "I'm not really into continuing education. I've been programming for 8 years now and I don't see how things can change much from all that I've seen."

    Is this guy still working in RPG or did he break down and attend a seminar somewhere along the way? 😛

    Maybe he's a Project Manager asking developers to do things as he used to 20 years ago.

    The last I heard he was a truck driver.

    Tom

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