Interview Questions

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Interview Questions

Ian_McCann

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Points: 5158
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September 21, 2009 at 8:54 am

#214593

After ten years of MS SQL database administration, I feel (hope) that I can answer (resonably well) the questions I will be asked.
But what should I be asking of the employer?
Are there any points where you think " I wish I had checked that before taking the job"?
I am happy in my current role, but a postion has come up a bit closer to home and initially looks very interesting.
Many thanks in advance of your advise.

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Bradley Jacques Ten Centuries Points: 1271 More actions · Answer 1

I like to ask about turnover rate to see whether there is a body desk mentality or whether there is an emphasis placed on retained knowledge.... Just a thought.

Carolyn Richardson SSCrazy Eights Points: 8357 More actions · Answer 2

Ask what the main issues you will have to deal with in the role, if they tell you its something like deadlocks, you'll get a fairly good impression that you will be supporting poor applications.

Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable - Mark Twain
Carolyn
SQLServerSpecialists[/url]

Lowell SSC Guru Points: 323482 More actions · Answer 3

ask indirectly about whether they pony up money for conferences/networking events;

ie: "Did your last admin go to the SQL PASS conference for your company?"

Lowell

--help us help you! If you post a question, make sure you include a CREATE TABLE... statement and INSERT INTO... statement into that table to give the volunteers here representative data. with your description of the problem, we can provide a tested, verifiable solution to your question! asking the question the right way gets you a tested answer the fastest way possible!

Silverfox SSC-Insane Points: 23150 More actions · Answer 4

Ian-440692 (9/21/2009)
After ten years of MS SQL database administration, I feel (hope) that I can answer (resonably well) the questions I will be asked.
But what should I be asking of the employer?
Are there any points where you think " I wish I had checked that before taking the job"?
I am happy in my current role, but a postion has come up a bit closer to home and initially looks very interesting.
Many thanks in advance of your advise.

I am contract, but I have a good idea on what to ask if i was going fulltime, apart from the usual like, what are the working hours, is there flexibility in those working hours, can I work from work. Do I get an allowance for training, Will the company send me to conferences, Do I have any say in what technologies we use, or the decision making.

One of the ones that always came up in the past, is what do you think you will be doing in 5 years time. I would ask them, what can I expect to be doing in 5 years time, if i accept this position.

You want job security, you want flexibility and you want to learn and have a job that keeps you interested. focus your questions around that and you should be ok.

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Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 728164 More actions · Answer 5

I'm pretty open here, and I question a company hard. The first thing I want to do is meet the team(s) I will work with. That can be the developers, maybe the sysop, etc. If I'm serious about the job, then I want to be sure there is some type of fit and it's worth an hour talking with different people. Interviewing with a subset often doesn't show you the problem people that you'll deal with.

I've often been the only DBA, but if not, question them hard about the job they do, what they think, issues they have with the company. It can be hard to get answers if a manager is around, but I question them about what they think (personally) of the management.

I wouldn't roundabout ask about money. I'd directly ask for the training budget, is it per person, do they do conferences, classes, etc. Do I have any control here? Can I buy a book and expense it? Also, can I go to free events during work, like MSDN events, and has anyone else gone.

Dress code and hours are an issue for me, so I ask. I want it clear in the interview what they "expect" on a weekly basis. If they say 40-45, I don't want them saying later that we expect 55.

Think about what you haven't liked in previous jobs, or things that were issues, and then ask about them. Try to do your due diligence and make sure that it's the right job for you, and that they understand what/how you want to work.

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/way0utwest
Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help
My Blog: www.voiceofthedba.com

Ian_McCann SSCertifiable Points: 5158 More actions · Answer 6

Thanks for everybodys contribution.

Plenty to think about there.

I will let you know how I get on.

Silverfox SSC-Insane Points: 23150 More actions · Answer 7

Steve Jones - Editor (9/21/2009)
Dress code and hours are an issue for me, so I ask. I want it clear in the interview what they "expect" on a weekly basis. If they say 40-45, I don't want them saying later that we expect 55.

I can understand your concerns about dress code, if you wear that shirt to work 😛

But on a serious note, Let us know how you get on so we can all learn from your experience.

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[highlight]solve commonly asked questions[/highlight]

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How to post Performance problems by Gail Shaw[/url]
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Gift Peddie SSC Guru Points: 73570 More actions · Answer 8

Dress code and hours are an issue for me, so I ask. I want it clear in the interview what they "expect" on a weekly basis. If they say 40-45, I don't want them saying later that we expect 55.

Here in the US I have worked for a bank where you have to pay $10.00 to wear jeans on none jeans days, jeans days comes about once a month. And I think most consulting companies you are required to be formal most of the time.

Kind regards,
Gift Peddie

Ian_McCann SSCertifiable Points: 5158 More actions · Answer 9

ok, I asked a couple of questions about specific events in the companys history, google news was very useful here, these were really to demonstrate that i had looked into the company.

A couple of questions about the technology they use and why did they pick it.(see how much they knew, and what motivated the companies decisions)

then specifically about my role, what hot topics will I be working on, what will I be doing in five years.

Also asked if I could see an entity relationship diagram and a technical spec for a stored proc and asked about their quality testing.

There was only a limited time, so i elected to save the hours / dress code type questions for the agency, if I have got past this round.

fingers crossed.

jcrawf02 SSC-Insane Points: 24198 More actions · Answer 10

Here in the US I have worked for a bank where you have to pay $10.00 to wear jeans on none jeans days, jeans days comes about once a month. And I think most consulting companies you are required to be formal most of the time.
Kind regards,
Gift Peddie

I love extortion for wearing my own clothes. I'd rather dress up.

[edit]quote grabbed the wrong post, fixed it

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"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."

Gift Peddie SSC Guru Points: 73570 More actions · Answer 11

jcrawf02 (9/23/2009)
Here in the US I have worked for a bank where you have to pay $10.00 to wear jeans on none jeans days, jeans days comes about once a month. And I think most consulting companies you are required to be formal most of the time.
Kind regards,
Gift Peddie
I love extortion for wearing my own clothes. I'd rather dress up.
[edit]quote grabbed the wrong post, fixed it

That was my feeling at the time the bank claimed it was for their charity fund.

😉

Kind regards,
Gift Peddie

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 728164 More actions · Answer 12

I guess I wouldn't be working there. Or I'd have them pay me $5xworking-days-in-a-year more 🙂

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/way0utwest
Forum Etiquette: How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help
My Blog: www.voiceofthedba.com

Ian_McCann SSCertifiable Points: 5158 More actions · Answer 13

Steve Jones - Editor (9/23/2009)
I guess I wouldn't be working there. Or I'd have them pay me $5xworking-days-in-a-year more 🙂

$120 for 5 days work.

Phew!! looks like the US ecconomy is as bad as I had heard.

I will organise a food parcel for you.

barsuk SSChampion Points: 12280 More actions · Answer 14

At my current job, I asked my boss-to-be about my hours before getting hired. So he said about 45 hrs/wk. 2 years later I ended up working at least 55-60hr/wk. Go figure. And I am not alone in my company working those hours.