SQL Server Administration Interview Questions 

I am a 40 year old, who was recently made redundant from an office administration job, which I held for the last 15 years. This is the only type of office work experience I have. I am now thinking of studying for some I.T qualifications. I recently did a search on the internet for any I.T training providers based in the West Midlands, England, and the list seems to be endless. How do I find out which are the 'good' training providers, and which are 'not so good'? What things do I need to look for? What about the fees for training ? Would course fees be the same for all training providers who train in a specific skill (say SQL)?

After spending time and money on training, how can I be sure that I will get a job at the end of it all? Finally, I am a bit reluctant to start any I.T course because I see it as a bit of a gamble - spending time & money on learning the course, but no guaranteee of a job at the end of the day.

Please advice.

A Computer Science course?
A Information Technology course?
A Database Administration course? (does that exist?)
A Web Development course?! (I just added this because I heard that some DBA must know a little bit of web development, but I don't know if that is true or false)

Which one?

I think is computer science that I should take, but after graduation, when you start to search for a job can you say that you are a DBA? even though in the resume it says that you have a CS course and not a DBA course? I'm very confuse in this part.

Also, how many programs(or softwares?) a DBA need to know for the job? I heard SQL, Oracle, etc. But do they only work with one program/software or more?

I'll really appreciate your help!

I'm close to retiring from the Air Force and will be settling down in Seattle with my beautiful wife and 3 year old daughter. Naturally I'm a little anxious about the transition and trying to prepare for it... After living financiallly modest ($35k/a year) thoughout my 20 year military career, I want my second career pay in the IT-field to hopefully reach the six figures range (mainly to repay my wife for sticking by me through all the hardships). I bring the following to the table...

Experience:
20 years AF retired (15 yrs Systems Analyst(IT) / 5 years Logistics)
5 tours in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom & Enduring Freedom
Security Clearance
NCOIC or in charge of Computer Operations
Ran an IT Helpdesk, MS applications(Excel, ACCESS, PPT,etc), Windows 9x, NT, 2000, Vista, SQL server, Active Directory, RFID, FTP, mainframes, LAN topographies and architecture, build databases with eyes closed, etc

Education:
Master of Business Administration
MS, Technology Management(specializing Information Sys & Services)
BS, Management Information Systems
AAS, Information Systems Technology

Certifications
Graduate Certificate, Project Management

With that said I have a couple of questions...
I'm looking to become an IT Manager/Director with an eventual eye on CIO. First, what kind of IT job should I be focusing on to get me in the door when I begin my IT job search in Seattle? Second, given what I'm leaving the military with (education, experience, etc) what should be a realistic pay range for me to expect to start out with?

I'm looking for employment OTHER than government-related to include Boeing, etc.

With this upcoming major transition for my family and I, any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I am preparing myself to pass 1 test certification for SQl Server 2005. I always want to pass a MCP Server 2003. After that I am expecting to apply for a System Administration job. I am practicing with a lab at home. I have a few years of PC experience. Do you guys think that I have time to learn some linux? Will it look good during my interviews? I don't want to become a linux administrator, just a System Administrator(Windows) or DBA later. Thanks.

Which one should I take in order to get a job right away (an a decent job)

Should I take a java and c++ class or an oracle class?
I like databases and programming. I have no knowledge of programming.

I have a bachelor of science in Business Administration and an specialization in Information Systems and I want to get a job right away.

Which one would you think is best to learn and why?

Programming: java, c++
Databases:Oracle, SQL

and how long should I study so as to be ready for entry-level jobs in the current market?

Remember I asked 2 questions, first is which one you think is better and why and second is how long do you think one needs to study (from 0 level) so as to be ready for the job market (meaning putting it in the resume and not getting embarrassed on the job interview for not knowing enough!)

I have a pretty solid resume as far as advancement and responsibilities go. I've worked for this software dev. firm for almost 2 years now. I started out in administration, then moved to HR and financing, now I'm in the QA/Software testing role. Its a very demanding position as I have been and am still currently the only tester (minus the automation tools we utilize). I've always been tech savvy, I know my way around IT troubleshooting, updating, and installing and have a knack for picking up anything tech. Its hard to relay that sort of information on a resume, though, any suggestions?

In my current role, I'm basically the sole testing engineer and release manager. I use MySql and Oracle databases, utilizing queries and sql scripts, configuring configuration/xml files, building the software locally, and deploying for demonstrations and company wide testing. I feel I have a good grasp on what it takes, but really lack the years many companies are looking for, its just hard to relay the fact that I'm the sole person for this stuff, hence the quick and deep immersion into it all. I would love to learn more, but there aren't any local colleges/universities that offer more tech classes that I'd like to take. Those that do are not just rip-offs, but not the exact field I'm interested in. I would love to be a developer (not programmer) or business analyst/QA manager.

Does anyone have experience in this, and if so, what would you recommend to someone in their latter 20s looking to make a profession out of it? I love to read and try things out on my own, so self-teaching is cool by me. I've recently started self-teaching on web development, am very creative and again, just love technology. Thanks in advance.

Finally, I have experience in high tech...the company I work for writes software management tools for companies looking to track assets utilizing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.

I am graduating with a Bachelor in Business Administration with emphasis in Information Systems.
I have taken only 1 course of java and 1 course of SQL and 1 course of networking.

I think my degree sucks but I need to pay my loans back (I owe around $45,000. I need to study something else, I know, so as to put in my resume. I like programming, I like databases, I am ok with networking but not as much as databases and programming. Please give me an advise on what should I learn so I can be more marketable in the job market.

Based on your advise, I will go to amazon.com and buy a book and learn it. Please serious responses.
Thank you
Please only the ones in the IT industry.

This research explores to install a teaching system of PACS provideing students an effective teaching environment to study and practice First to explore the framework of teaching system then analysis and develope PACS system based on client server framework and SQL Server is used as database. The image of X-ray, Mammography simulator and Dental x-ray simulator from department of radiological technology is digitized and stored in the SQL Server database in MIS department and then it can be displayed in view station in school with installed view station. The student can choose image to exercise. The teachers can ask the students to show the images according the parameters setting. After the practice the students can familiar the operation procedure as in hospital. The teaching system of PACS can provide the students of department of radiological technology, MIS, nursing and healthcare administration a good practice environment before to work in the hospital system.

I am honestly not sure if I want to do computer programming, web design or database administration. I know C,C++, some Java, javascript, python, HTML (I hand code it), SQL (Oracle and MS 2000), Pascal and VB. I know a little about artificial intelligence. I even know something about optimizing image file sizes for the web. I have an Associate's Degree in Computer Programming from 1999. I have a decent web presence due to various open source software that I helped with.

Despite all of this, I can't seem to get into any IT jobs. I got into one, but they let me go after a few months because they hired me for a position that they were not ready to hire anyone for in the first place. I was an MIS Developer I there. I used MS SQL Server 2000 while I was there.

How do I fix my career path and get into an IT job where I can be happy?

Somebody please help. I spend thousand of dollars to received education from Oracle University and had recently received Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) in Oracle 10g Database Administration. I am also a Oracle Certified Associate in PL/SQL Form. I am going to receive LPI level 1 and 2 certification from Linux Professional Institute by next month too. My question here is: "So what? How come I still not able to get a Junior Oracle DBA position after I had posted numerous of resumes for months". Can someone please tell me what's wrong? What am I lacking of? What should I do next?

Can someone give me a list of certificate that you can get?

For example, in the IT industry you can get the SQL Certificate, it proves that you have training in the specified area.

Can someone name a few certificates or training program in the fields of IT (Database, Programming, Administration, etc) and Financial industry (Accounting, Broker, Real Estate, etc)

Thx for the help

in this sentence?

Users working in multiple user configuration mode require a good
knowledge of administration of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard
and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard for completing CT2000 maintenance task.

I plan to go for a 2 year vocational degree in Computer Science that has an emphasis on Database Administration.

I already do a lot of work in SQL and I also do a lot of various tech/IT work. I have 10 years of IT related experience now, but no certs and no degree. I feel like this has always held me back, even though I am often given more responsibilities than the people I work with who have degrees, I also feel I am paid less and passed up (for promotion) more often too. Basically, I feel like a grunt who does the work to boost others higher.

Anyway, I will have to continue to work full time. I have a house to take care of, and my wife and I just had our first child (baby girl). On top of these responsibilities, I also had(have) A.D.D., but have not taken any meds for it for over 10 years now. School was always hard for me, I just skated by while doing as little as possible to maintain grades that would let me pass and graduate, but nothing more. Any advice? Think I can succeed?

i dont have technical computer skills,my uni has announced the 1 year certificate course in I.T
well diploma in I.T includes
1.Introduction to I.T
2.Office automation and internet
3.Methametics1
4.Methametics2
5.Data structure & c++
6.Data communication
7.Java programming
8.concept RDBMS,Oracle SQL&PL/SQL
9.Oracle database Administration
10.Business Communication and skills
11.Windows NT
12.Operating System UNIX

In future my mind is towards banking side or like in call centers,in jobs posts some banks or call centers needs computers skills also.....and i don't know which skills they are talking about...i just wanna to know will Diploma in I.T course help me in banking,business or as a call center agent ,also in future my MBA wld be in Human resources mangement not in MIS
i m very confused whether should i join this course or not,currently i am also doing M.A in economics

my uni has offered subjects in the masters in economics are
compulsory are
1.international economics
2.monetary economics

optional subjects are
1.methametical economics
2.econometrics
3.developmental economics
4.Human resources magement
5.Islamic economics
they refused to include the other subjects like finance and stabilization
what do u think should i join masters in economics,are those 5 subjects better?which 3 subject should i choose as an optional from the above 5
Remember i am interested in banking field or other multinational compamies like uniliver etc
teme what to do
or should i join 1 year certificate course in I.T which includes
well diploma in I.T includes
1.Introduction to I.T
2.Office automation and internet
3.Methametics1
4.Methametics2
5.Data structure & c++
6.Data communication
7.Java programming
8.concept RDBMS,Oracle SQL&PL/SQL
9.Oracle database Administration
10.Business Communication and skills
11.Windows NT
12.Operating System UNIX


In future my mind is towards banking side or like in call centers,in jobs posts some banks or call centers needs computers skills also.....and i don't know which skills they are talking about...i just wanna to know will Diploma in I.T course help me in banking,businessor as a call center agent ,also in future my MBA wld be in Human resources mangement not in MIS