misc questions

[sqlcasey]

Hi,

As may or may not be evident from my posts, I have been contemplating a job move for some time now. Basically my question is, is it reasonable to look for a job where I can strictly do SQL Server development work? It seems that so many shops these days have their regular programmers writing SQL code (although with mixed results), or you have to know more than just SQL, such as web development.

I really want to move out of the production DBA arena, and primarily into development... but it seems that a person needs to know more than just sql! Or is that enough?

I thought I wanted to be a DBA, but I realize now that I don't. I also want to be able to work from home part time, which being a DBA doesn't always lend itself to.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I am wondering what kind of jobs exists out there for someone in my position. My experience is primarily in DBA work, with a fair amount of development in both SQL Server and Oracle. I've also done some ASP programming, but wasn't crazy about it. I am kind of in a rut, and not sure what my next career move should be. I feel like I am at the beginning again, even with 4 years database experience.

Any advice, anecdotes appreciated.

Thanks

 

[adamroof]

My last employment for a large company had dba's, exchange admins, developers, but after a few years there, they decided, "Hey, our Network Admins seem to know alot about many aspects of these areas, and they are the ones installing all the apps on the servers anyway, lets make them do it."

The growing technology spawned ease of use and administration apps, so i was able to get by and learned alot, yet not enough. I liked being spread around, but was never able to focus on one area and be a pro. Yet the company dropped their 100K/year each dba and exchange admin and continued to pay their 60K net admins nothing additional to perform both of their duties along with our current tasks.

So at my new job, im the sole admin for all computer related areas, and as a small company, im very valuable, and well compensated due to all i can accomplish. And i get time to learn new areas, and hone in on specific areas at my leisure. Im focused on dbs and .net in-house process improvements, but still change the toner cartridges.

What to take from this? the more areas you can be proficient at, the more employable you are in times of need. The more focused you get, the more you can make, but maybe it would take longer to find a position you desire. So i guess for me, theres no one way or the other. Don't sell yourself short if what you want to do is what you love.

So true is "Jack of all trades, master of none

 

[AlexCuse]

Or as they call me, "Jack@$$ of all trades"!

Casey- I'm sure your job is out there, but it will probably take a lot of looking. I don't know what things are like in your part of the country, but I bet that larger companies still need specialized SQL developers.

You might also consider trying to find work through a consulting firm, as many companies seem to be going that route when they need a specialist these days.

You might also try forum654

Good Luck,

Alex

Ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom

 

[SQLDenis]

>>but it seems that a person needs to know more than just sql! Or is that enough?

No, you will need to know at least vbscript/c# (for DTS/SSIS) probably some dos commands, ftp commands,XML
Maybe even MDX and analysis services/reportingservices/notification services

It all depends on what the shop is doing with SQL Server. But IMNSHO DTS/SSIS is a must

Denis The SQL Menace
SQL blog:

http://sqlservercode.blogspot.com/

 

[ptheriault]

Casey,
The thing that I've learned most is to be as flexable as possible. Eventhough I'm a SR DBA and spend 80% of my time on admin functions for SQL server I have still had to learn WebSphere, Cold Fusion and PeopleSoft to name a few. A title is just a title. Just be willing to learn new things and keep up on as many skills as you can.

- Paul
- If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

 

[AlexCuse]

A most excellent point Denis. I always overlook that because it has come to feel like just a part of SQL to me (DTS that is, I have not used SSIS).

Casey - how familiar are you with DTS?

Ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom

 

[sqlcasey]

Hi all,

Thanks for the posts. I do know that the more I know the better. I'm just confused as to what to learn, since there's no demand to learn *anything* where I'm currently - one of the main reasons I need to move on.

I shouldn't say I don't like web development. I actually don't know much web development, even though I have done some credit card processing stuff, and order history pages, etc. I still feel like I don't know that much.

So yes, I have gotten my feet wet with vbscript, javascript, html and some visual basic and java in the past. I used to have to write test scripts in java using jdbc. I also used to be a fairly accomlished and certified Oracle DBA on UNIX, Linux and NT platforms, simultaneously. I also did some shell scripting.

But basically, all this leaves me feeling very confused! I guess the bottom line is, I like writing code more than administering databases (although that can and does involve writing code). And I really like SQL. I sometimes wonder if I should get into Oracle again. I always wanted to be an Oracle forms developer. But it's been sooo long I've forgotten all my Oracle, and who would hire me?

But then again, I got my first Oracle job w/ only 5 weeks of SQL training, and the rest I learned on my own. I guess that's how it is. I worked my rear end off though, and studied studied studied hours and hours...

I guess my feeling is - if I'm going to invest that much into something again, I want it to stick!

So, I don't know which direction to go anymore - web development and asp.net, reporting services, olap, data warehousing, Oracle, etc... I just don't want to have to worry about low disk space, upgrading cpu's, administering security, doing restores at 3 am, etc...!

 

[AlexCuse]

Well the question becomes, what have you enjoyed the most (besides SQL)? This becomes key, in a world where it is hard to get by with such a specialized skill set.

I would suggest getting familiar with VB.net/C#, as these would help you with both reporting services and SSIS. That way if you decide you want to do something else, you have some familiarity with those two languages. But it all comes down to what you like. What has been your second, third, and fourth favorite jobs in your career?

Ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom

 

[SQLSister]

Try a job as a SQL Server report writer or one who writes reporst against both Oracle and SQL server or a data analyst position.

Questions about posting. See faq183-874

 

[sqlcasey]

my favorite job was a temporary summer cook position but that was a different era, ha

so, at this point, i glean that knowing vb or c# is a good thing, along with dts, ssis, and reporting services

 

[SQLBill]

Where I work, we have developers and DBAs (I'm a DBA). The developers all have some knowledge of other languages. I could ask around and see which ones they know.

I think you should have no problem finding a SQL Server developer position. Apply for it, state in your coverletter your SQL Server programming knowledge/experience and the fact that you are willing to learn any other programming language the company desires you to use.

-SQLBill

Posting advice: FAQ481-4875

 

[sqlcasey]

Thanks SQL Bill. That is encouraging.

 

[SQLDenis]

The next question is how well are you prepared for an interview

Here are some (but not all) of the questions that I ask when interviewing people

http://sqlservercode.blogspot.com/2006/12/how-well-do-you-interview-and-do-you.html

I will tell you that most of the people coming to the interview (some of them 8-10 years experience)have no clue what is going on
Do not depend too much on Enterprise Manager use Query Analyzer only; some shops will have you write out SQL statements and if you always used Enterprise Manager you will fail big time

Let me know if you would get 80% of the questions correct, that would set you up for a face to face with even harder questions ;-)

Denis The SQL Menace
SQL blog:

http://sqlservercode.blogspot.com/

 

[sqlcasey]

Yeah, I'm definitely not ready for an interview yet

I'm still working on the resume

 

[AlexCuse]

SQLSister - I thought the same thing when I was driving home. Back in the old days, when my 'Analyst' title was actually appropriate, I would spend all day writing SQL. Fun times.

Although I prefer to mix it up a bit now.

Casey- check out sqldts.com, there are a lot of good tutorials on there that would help get you up to speed. I believe they cover SSIS as well (or at least have a link to another site that does).

Good Luck!

Alex

Ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom

 

[ESquared]

Of the 45 questions,

3 I knew the concept pat but didn't remember the exact name, with a tiny hint I'd have a full answer (horizontal vs. vertical partitioning; schemabinding; parameter sniffing)
1 I know the method but I don't remember the syntax, would have to look it up in BOL (force index usage through optimizer hints, but not guaranteed to always use the index)

2 I think I know but I'm not 100% sure (monetary values using money, smallmoney, or decimal, depends on the needs and I remember something about math with money being weird; faster bulk loading = make sure input file is in clustered index order?)

1 I need brushing up on before I can speak authoritatively (index scan, index seek, table scan)
2 I have no clue of (option fast (10); trace flag 1204)

Which makes 3-5 that I would get wrong, which is 89% to 93% correct. Do I get the second interview?


Of course I am going to fix all these defects pronto.

 

[SQLDenis]

Yes you would get the chance for a in person interview

faster bulk loading = drop existing indexes first
trace flag 1204 = log deallocks and write them to SQl server log
option fast (10) = return 10 rows as soon as they are available don't wait for whole result set, this makes it seems that the data is there earlier since you will show those 10 rows to the client immediately

Denis The SQL Menace
SQL blog:

http://sqlservercode.blogspot.com/

 

[AlexCuse]

Hehe I wouldn't get called back, unless all the people you interviewed were sixty percenters. Denis, you will be happy to know, that since I took your quiz the first time (got around 60-65% I believe) I have been studying these and I got around 80% this time. Or maybe you aren't, but I am happy about it anyway

One question re. table scan/seek.
Fastest is index seek, and slowest is table scan, right?

Ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom

 

[SQLDenis]

seek is fastest
think about seek like this
if you have a book you use the index to look up the page in the book, then you go to that page
scan = you go thru every page in the book looking for the word which is of course way slower

Denis The SQL Menace
SQL blog:

http://sqlservercode.blogspot.com/

 

[sqlcasey]

Thanks to everyone for their advice. SQLSister, thanks for the "data analyst" tip - sounds like that could be right up my alley... I actually had no idea what this was, and that I would be qualified for this type of work. Good to know. And there seem to be lots of jobs!