TSQL Tuesday #93: Interviewing Patterns & Anti-Patterns
Welcome to T-SQL Tuesday for August 2017!
T-SQL Tuesday is a chance for you to join in the SQL Server community and write a blog post on a suggested topic. You can use this as a way to start a new blog, dust off a blog you haven’t used in a while, or make it part of regular blogging: your choice!
I would love for you to participate. The whole SQL Server community would. Please, join us!
To participate:
- Write a post on the topic below
- Schedule the post to go live on Tuesday, August 8 (between zero am and midnight, UTC)
- Include the TSQL Tuesday logo in the top of your post
- Link the post back to this one (it’s easier if you comment on this post and link it)
- Optional: Tweet a link to your post using the #tsql2sday hash tag on Twitter
“What color database is fastest?”
Extra credit: if you’d like to host your own TSQL Tuesday in the future, read the full rules for info on how to sign up.
I will write a round-up post on Monday, August 14 summarizing up all the magic you guys write.
This month’s topic: Interviewing Patterns and Anti-Patterns
What advice do you have for people preparing for or going through an interview?
Feel free to be creative on this topic. Take whichever approach you like best:
- You may focus on patterns to follow for success
- You may list anti-patterns, too: things that might seem like a good idea, but are a recipe for disaster
- You can write about your own highs and lows as a candidate or as an interviewer
- Be as specific as you want for interviewing for or hiring for your given skillset, whether you’re a developer, DBA, manager, consultant, or something else entirely
Whichever route you take, it’s probably a good idea to disguise the identities of past employers, candidates, etc.
Personally, I’m going to take the approach of writing about an interview for a SQL Server position that I completely bombed as a candidate, and why it ended up being one of the best learning experiences of my life (although it was painful at the time). It taught me a lot about successful interviewing patterns.
I can’t wait to learn about YOUR interviewing patterns and anti-patterns as well.
Get ready, get set, get blogging!
62 Comments. Leave new
Well…Mauve has the most RAM…
True!
Mauve is close, but not quite correct. Technically it should be Violet. As with any technology, the best is always associated with “the fastest moving”. Also, logically it would be moving towards you, as technology that is “moving away” is of less interest (old, tired, now less relevant). Furthermore, it has to be seen to be of worth. So using basic physics, high-speed visible sources of light moving toward you will be blue-shifted to the extreme end of the visible light spectrum. So it must be at the highest end of the visible spectrum, which is Violet (according to the ROYGBIV set of colours). Of course, in alternate realities it would be Octarine, which is the 8th colour of the rainbow on certain worlds (usually these are located on the back of a giant Turtle, right next door to Marketing).
http://sqlblog.com/blogs/rob_farley/archive/2017/08/08/interviews-and-niches.aspx is mine…
Here’s my post on database design and interviewing http://wp.me/p4beUo-um
Thanks for hosting, Kendra.
Here is my short contribution: http://sqlonice.com/tsql-tuesday-93-the-buzzword-arms-race/
My pleasure! Thanks for writing.
http://drcdba.com/2017/08/08/tsql-tuesday-93-interviewing-patterns-anti-patterns/
Here’s my contribution, https://informationwithinsight.com/2017/08/08/recruitment-interview-patterns-and-anti-patterns/ . I see Rob F was quicker though!
Some people just live in the future 🙂
Thanks for writing!
[…] TSQL Tuesday, the brain-child of Adam Machanic ( blog | twitter ), has come around once more and this time it is being hosted by Kendra Little ( blog | twitter ). The topic? Interviewing Patterns & Anti-Patterns. […]
Thanks Kendra, my attempt –> https://nocolumnname.wordpress.com/2017/08/08/tsql-tuesday-93-interviewing-patterns-anti-patterns/
[…] T-SQL Tuesday is a monthly blog party hosted by a different member of the SQL Server Community each month. It is the brainchild of Adam Machanic (b|t). This month’s host is Kendra Little (b|t) who gives us the topic of “Interviewing Patterns and Anti-Patterns“. […]
[…] For this month’s T-SQL Tuesday, Kendra Little asked us to share our interview patterns, anti-patterns, highs, and lows. […]
Posted mine! The DBA Job I Turned Down: https://ozar.me/2017/08/the-dba-job-i-turned-down-tsql2sday/
[…] topic of this months T-SQL Tuesday #93 (hosted by Kendra Little / @Kendra_Little) is Interviewing Patterns & Anti-Patterns. The […]
Kendra – thanks for hosting! This is my 1st T-SQL Tuesday submission – http://www.mlakartechtalk.com/t-sql-tuesday-93-interview-get-help/
Thanks!
Hooray! Welcome to TSQLTuesday!
T-SQL Tuesday #93: 3 Jobs I Didn’t Take and 1 I did: http://sqlsoldier.net/wp/sqlserver/tsqltuesday933jobsididnttakeand1idid
Thanks Robert! I really enjoyed this post, it made me laugh and is very insightful.
[…] It’s been a while since I’ve done a T-SQL Tuesday. This month, it’s hosted by Kendra Little (b|t). Her challenge for us to talk about Interviewing Patterns and Anti-Patterns. You can read the full details here. […]
Thanks for hosting this month! Here’s my entry: https://debthedba.wordpress.com/2017/08/08/t-sql-tuesday-93-auditioning-for-the-job/
Thanks for hosting. Interviews and Oranges. https://blobeater.blog/2017/08/08/interviews-and-oranges/
Great post, and I love your story at the end!
http://dallasdbas.com/interview-tips/ –Kevin3NF
Here’s mine: https://truthsolutions.wordpress.com/2017/08/08/tsql2sday-interviewing-patterns/
Thanks for hosting – https://sqlmac.com/t-sql-tuesday-93-interview-fails/
My pleasure, thanks for writing!
http://sqlworldwide.com/tsql-tuesday-93-do-not-drive-during-interview/ is mine. This is a true story.
A cathartic rant 🙂 https://matthewmcgiffen.com/2017/08/08/how-to-be-a-bad-interviewer/
Thank you for ranting! I enjoyed reading it.
[…] thank Kendra Little (b|t) for hosting TSQL Tuesday #93. Topic for this month Interviewing Patterns & Anti-Patterns. What advice do you have for […]
It depends, the anti-pattern, https://wordpress.com/post/tpet1433.wordpress.com/399
Here’s mine: https://sqlatspeed.com/2017/08/08/t-sql-tuesday-93-shock-and-subtlety-of-sexist-interviewers/. Thanks again for hosting!
My pleasure, thank you for writing, Matt!
I’m in!
https://blogs.sentryone.com/aaronbertrand/looking-back-at-bad-interviews/
Thank you for writing! Your post gave me lots of ideas of things I want to learn about and write about 🙂
[…] This month, Kendra Little his hosting T-SQL Tuesday. The monthly blog carnival among SQL Server, Microsoft Data Platform, Data People. It’s been around for quite some time. I hosted the 4th T-SQL Tuesday back in 2010 or 2009 about Storage and IO. So cool to see it going this long. And a topic that I had a few thoughts on so it forced me to take out the old keyboard and type up a few hundred words. Anyway, I’m going to talk about a story I’ve mentioned here before in various forms over the years, but it is worth looking at from a different perspective. The lesson is about a phrase. And why you should never be afraid to utter it. The topic this month is around Interviews. […]
Thanks for hosting! https://straightpathsql.com/archives/2017/08/important-lesson-job-interview-tsql2sday/
Thank YOU for writing.
Thanks for hosting Kendra. Here’s my contribution: http://t-sql.dk/?p=2096
Terrific! Thanks very much.
Thanks for hosting Kendra! This will be my first TSQL2Day post. I Don’t Care Who You Are https://toddkleinhans.wordpress.com/2017/08/08/i-dont-care-who-you-are/
LOL! That’s a hilarious post — and you make a great point.
Thanks! Sometimes my muse just needs a nudge and then it kinda flows out. Your video was great too btw. Hard to admit feelings of failure but that is part of how we learn and grow.
Here’s mine. Thanks for hosting and for the great topic!
http://sqlblog.com/blogs/adam_machanic/archive/2017/08/08/playing-the-third-party-recruiter-game-t-sql-tuesday-093.aspx
Great post, Adam. Very useful advice, I know I’ll be linking to your post for years to come.
Here’s mine(1st T-SQL Tuesday post for 3 years or so!) https://tenbulls.co.uk/2017/08/08/learning-to-say-no/
[…] Tuesday #93 and the series is called Interview Patterns & Anti-Patterns and it is hosted by Kendra Little. Thanks […]
Hi Kendra,
thank you for hosting the challenge this month.
Here are my thoughts on the suggested topic: http://www.nikoport.com/2017/08/08/tsql-tuesday-93-job-interviews/
Best regards,
Niko
Here’s mine: https://www.sqltheater.com/2017/08/08/unforgettable-job-candidate/
Thanks for hosting, Kendra!
Here ya go…https://stacylaray.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/interviews/
[…] month‘s event is hosted by the fabulous DBA/SQL-consultant (& part time cartoonist) Kendra Little! Go check out her […]
Late to the party, as usual… natethedba.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/tsql-tuesday-93-interviews/ =D
Late? I lost my watch, I think you’re right on time 🙂
I can’t remember if I posted mine here. But just under the wire. “Interviews are a Two Way Street.” http://bit.ly/2uo2qMI
Thank you! I didn’t have the link yet. Got it now. Great post, thank you for highlighting the importance of asking questions. Love the part about avoiding yes/no questions, and why.
Forgot to check the trackback. Apologies, here’s mine
https://sqldbawithabeard.com/2017/08/08/i-hate-interviews-tsql2sday/
No problem at all, thanks for writing!
Hi frand. http://www.databythebeach.com/tell-me-about-a-time/
Hello back, and thanks!
This is just the encouragement I needed! Thanks for sharing and wonderful tips!