Assessment coming up for SQL developer position

F

freddster

Expert Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2013
Messages
2,470
Reaction score
21
I'm going for a SQL dev assessment test next week. What questions should I expect and what areas should I focus on more and which less?
 
They're more likely to test your overall logic and algorithmic thinking, problem solving approach, database knowledge and some SQL scripting skills as opposed to just pure SQL scripting skills.

At least that's how I would test my candidates. I want to see a number of things:

1) You can think for yourself.
2) How you think.
3) Domain knowledge.
4) Technical skills.

Technical skills can be taught, problem solving is acquired with experience and thought.
 
This is a common question:
Assume a table with salaries. Find the second highest salary in the table.

Also, know the difference between all JOINS. Everyone knows how to INNER JOIN but you'll be surprised how many know what a FULL OUTER JOIN will return.

Then also troubleshooting. How would you debug slow running SQL/Stored Proc?

We normally also ask basic stuff like the following in our interviews too:
What is a trigger
What is a UNION
Would you rather use a view or a stored proc and why
 
Last edited:
Cam said:
This is a common question:
Assume a table with salaries. Find the second highest salary in the table.

Also, know the difference between all JOINS. Everyone knows how to INNER JOIN but you'll be surprised how many know what a FULL OUTER JOIN will return.
Click to expand...


I would rather propose that that person write me functionality to return a combined result set. I mean anyone can learn to do a cursor loop without using cursors, but not that many can combine data logically and practically. Of course being able to tell the principles apart of joins is good, but still.

XennoX said:
They're more likely to test your overall logic and algorithmic thinking, problem solving approach, database knowledge and some SQL scripting skills as opposed to just pure SQL scripting skills.

At least that's how I would test my candidates. I want to see a number of things:

1) You can think for yourself.
2) How you think.
3) Domain knowledge.
4) Technical skills.

Technical skills can be taught, problem solving is acquired with experience and thought.
Click to expand...

This.
 
profeet said:
I would rather propose that that person write me functionality to return a combined result set. I mean anyone can learn to do a cursor loop without using cursors, but not that many can combine data logically and practically. Of course being able to tell the principles apart of joins is good, but still.



This.
Click to expand...

True, I agree.

A question is normally a starting point for a discussion to understand the thought process of the interviewee. It's fine if the answer isn't a 100% correct but the logic is sound.
 
Cam said:
True, I agree.

A question is normally a starting point for a discussion to understand the thought process of the interviewee. It's fine if the answer isn't a 100% correct but the logic is sound.
Click to expand...

Haha true. You need to warmup the person first :D
 
Difference between a primary key and a foreign key, what's a clustered index and a non-clustered index; have been questions asked of me on assessments.

Usually these cover basics you should know, but if you're self-taught, might not. So cover the basics. I'm sure you can think for yourself, otherwise you won't be doing a SQL dev assessment...
 
profeet said:
Haha true. You need to warmup the person first :D
Click to expand...
LOL ...

halfmoonforever said:
Difference between a primary key and a foreign key, what's a clustered index and a non-clustered index; have been questions asked of me on assessments.

Usually these cover basics you should know, but if you're self-taught, might not. So cover the basics. I'm sure you can think for yourself, otherwise you won't be doing a SQL dev assessment...
Click to expand...

Thanks all, busy revisiting the theory stuff and a bit more...
 
Learn conversions/casts again, but other than that you either know it or you dont.
 
freddster said:
I'm going for a SQL dev assessment test next week. What questions should I expect and what areas should I focus on more and which less?
Click to expand...

You really shouldn't need to cram for a test for a Job...
 
Write me a query that uses a ranking function, explain why you would use such a function.
 
Necropolis said:
That's only a little vague...
Click to expand...

No its not. You can do whatever you want with the query, but show the use of the rank function. Interviews where I have asked this candidates answered it sufficiently.

I'm not going to spoon food the candidates, if you call yourself a SQL developer or applying for such a position. You should be well versed in the various functions and no hand holding should be required.
 
semaphore said:
No its not. You can do whatever you want with the query, but show the use of the rank function. Interviews where I have asked this candidates answered it sufficiently.
Click to expand...

The beginning part is exceptionally vague "Write me a query" - for what data?
 
Necropolis said:
The beginning part is exceptionally vague "Write me a query" - for what data?
Click to expand...

Why don't you come up with the data? In any case I'm not poising this at you. If they ask him (OP) what the rank function is or how to use it, he should know.

(But in the past we used give me the total amount of loans greater than 10k, partition it by the province, then logically sort it by the suburb).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X