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Interviewing for a SQL Server DBA role, any tips?

  • May 24, 2022 at 7:22 am

    #4038041

    Hi all,

    as the title says, I'm interviewing for a job as a SQL Server DBA next week and I'm looking for some tips on what to expect and how to best prepare.

    I've worked with MS SQL Server and MS Access (unfortunately it's primarily the latter) for the past 16 years, building BI solutions, but I've mostly been working alone (only IT "specialist" in a Finance dept.) so I've had no team to work with and spar with.

    I'm competent writing SQL statements and I'm comfortable with Indexing, PK/FK etc., but I've little experience with SSMS, backup & restore etc. Basically most of my knowledge comes from MS Access.

    The requirements for the role is as below:

    Responsibilities:

    SQL Server 2005-2012

    Create, Review & Tune T-SQL

    Database Administration, Optimization, Design, Installation & Maintenance

    Management & Maintain Security, Access, Back-ups & Recovery

    Performance Monitoring & Reporting

    Required Skills

    Detailed knowledge of SQL Server 2005-2012

    Expert in Transact-SQL

  • May 24, 2022 at 2:47 pm

    #4038264

    "...I've little experience with SSMS, backup & restore etc...."

    Download free version of SQL. and start practicing actual backups and restores to point-in-time.

    Backup & Restore is a critical role for DBA.

  • May 24, 2022 at 5:46 pm

    #4038506

    The free edition of SQL Server is called the "Developers Edition" and it has the same capabilities as the "Enterprise Edition".

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-downloads?SilentAuth=1&wa=wsignin1.0

    Be advised the download is for 2019.  I did a quick check and didn't find one for 2012.  It doesn't mean that it no longer exists somewhere... it just means that my quick check didn't find it.

    Also, you do not need to stand up a Windows Server to use the Developers Edition.  It'll work just fine on a desktop/laptop.  I do strongly recommend that you do such an install on some other drive than the C: drive, if you have more than one drive.  It'll also give you experience in doing an install.

    --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)

  • June 30, 2022 at 1:14 pm

    This was removed by the editor as SPAM

  • June 30, 2022 at 3:50 pm

    #4057142

    So, enquiring minds want to know, how'd it go on the interview?

     

    --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)

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