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September DBA Fundamentals training in DFW – Free

September 3, 2017 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

I will be teaching an all day (9-5) class on SQL Server Database Administration fundamentals at the Microsoft building in Irving/Las Colinas on September 15, 2017.

Update: This is now a free class.  There will be a donation bucket, with 100% going to the Red Cross.

The target audience for this is System admins, Developers, Tier 1 support staff, IT managers…anyone that has to deal with SQL Server on a regular basis and finds themselves Googling everything.

Register (REQUIRED) on EventBrite to learn the following topics (subject to change due to time, class flow):

• What makes up a SQL Server

• How a database is structured

• How to install and what to look out for

• Finding what you need in Management Studio

• SQL Security Basics

• How to create and manage backups

• How to create a database, 3 different ways

• Basic performance troubleshooting

• Picking a Disaster Recovery option for your environment

Please see the FAQ section of the registration page, and feel free to contact me for anything not covered there.

Thanks!

Kevin3NF

Filed Under: Accidental DBA, Beginner, Career, SQL, Training

TSQL Tuesday: Interviewing Patterns and Anti-Patterns

August 8, 2017 by Kevin3NF 4 Comments

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“.

Of the suggested choices, I picked:

  • You can write about your own highs and lows as a candidate or as an interviewer

I’ve been in the workforce for 26 years as of this writing…and in IT since 1998.  I have bounced around between Independent Contractor/Consultant, to Full-time employee, to W-2 contractor working for someone else’s client.   I’ve been on probably around a hundred face-to-face interviews, several hundred if you add in phone screens and recruiter calls.  On the other side of the desk I’ve interviewed dozens of database professionals, either to come work for/with me, or on the behalf of recruiters that didn’t have a SQL Server person that could do the tech screen.

I’ve seen a few things good, bad and ugly along the way.   I’ve been asked a few brilliant questions, and some seriously stupid ones (“What kind of tree would you be?”  Really? Dude….)

My number one rule for a candidate BEFORE you go into an interview:

  • Make sure you know something about the business and it’s industry before you walk in the door.  Everyone knows how to back up a database, or use Profiler, or what an Availability Group is.   Those are givens and of course you need to be able to discuss them.   But, when it is your turn to ask questions…you need to have some ready to go.   Know what industry the firm is in.  Know where they rank.  Are they gaining or losing ground?  Why?  What are they doing to get better as a firm?   This shows that you care about more than just your paycheck.
  • Be ready to admit what you don’t know!  When I was interviewing for a contract support gig at Microsoft in 2004, I told them I had never seen a cluster and had only touched replication once, in a lab.   They put me on the team that supported clustering and replication (and security and DTS and….).  Because I followed with “but I’m happy to learn them”.  I still use that line today…only now its Azure and PowerShell!
  • If the interview is over a meal, DO NOT order something you eat with your hands.   Specifically a Club Sandwich at a bank in Tulsa, OK.  You’re going to drop some in your lap and look like a slob.  If you are a slob, there’s no need to advertise! 😀

Yes, that’s more than one number one rule.  Its ok, because its my blog and that works here.  Its like magic or something.

My rules for when you are interviewing a SQL Server candidate:

  • Respect the candidate’s experience.  If she has 15 years as a DBA, don’t waste your breath on the types of backups. Its insulting.
  • Do ask what features they know well, know a little, and don’t know at all.  See above advice to candidates.
  • Do NOT make the job description look like a shopping list and put every SQL feature you’ve ever heard of in the requirements section.  If you are contemplating a Data Warehouse project that isn’t even funded yet, that goes into the “nice to have” part.   Focus on the top 5 skills that the person will spend the majority of their time on.
  • The candidates are human too…treat the first one you see as an equal, as well as the 10th, or 100th.   They are giving you their time, just as you are using theirs…but you are getting paid to be there.  The relationship and interaction with them in the first interview may very well set the tone for many years of working with this person.

Some wacky stories from my past:

  • See food suggestion above.  That was me, obviously.  Probably had food in the beard as well.  Maybe even a bat in the cave just to round it out.  Never heard back from them, after they flew me in for the lunch conversation. Be professional.
  • I’m a pretty confident interviewer…but I got too confident for one a few years ago and didn’t really prep.  Did it from my truck outside a Taco Bell (hardly the first time).  Nobody told me there would be 4 other people on a bad speakerphone in addition to the person I was supposed to talk to. Nor did they tell me that Negative Nancy was going to hit me with trick question after trick question.  I said early on I was not a SQL developer…so she spent 20 minutes asking me T-SQL syntax questions.  I could hear the giggle in her voice.  I finally said I was done and left the call.  Told the recruiter there was no way I would ever work for that team.  Recruiter told me I did well based on what she heard back.   NOPE.
  • Best question I ever asked:  Interview with a home builder (there are dozens in the DFW area) post-2008 recession.   Knowing that the housing industry was absolutely pummeled, I asked how they weathered the storm, and what actions were taken by the company to protect themselves.  The previously quiet manager of the IT dept. piped up and said “We laid off 60% of the sales force, and built this amazing data center since materials were extremely cheap.”  I showed him I was thinking outside of the (SQL) box, and responded by joining the team lead and me in the conversation.  I got the gig, but turned down the FT offer a few months later.

That’s all I have.  Well…I have tons more, but there are other posts in this months TSQL Tuesday for you to read, so go do that!

Thanks for reading,

Kevin3NF

Filed Under: Career, SQL, TSQL2sday

Thoughts from a New Speaker

June 19, 2017 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

Sunday afternoon…enjoying the “Post SQL Saturday” calm…

SQL Saturday Houston was yesterday, which in and of itself is not that unusual for me.   I’ve been to many technical conferences over the last 18 years…4 SQL Saturdays, 2 PASS Summits, SQL Server launch events, TechNet stuff back in the late 90’s and more user group meetings than I can count.

This particular event was the first time I ever went as a speaker.   Its technically the first time I’ve ever spoken to a technical audience.   12 years ago I did a demo of some Red Gate tools, but that was a short ad-hoc thing.  I’ve taught a few training classes in the workplace and am currently doing a 5 week fundamentals class now.  Small, interactive and very different than yesterday.

Wisdom for first time speakers can be found all over.   Blogs, Twitter, and there is even a Slack channel for it in the SQL Community slack. Almost all of that says to start small, like at work or at the local user group.  Practice and rehearse, until your dog and kids know your topic inside and out. Never type in a demo, etc.

I prepared a slide deck and pretty much winged it…which is what I do best.  If I rehearse things I get nervous and wind up second guessing myself.  I skipped the local user group part and went straight for  SQL Saturday.  I applied to speak at Houston (DR/Backups) and Chattanooga (Security) hoping to get a nibble on one.  Much to my surprise I was accepted to both.  Apparently the desire for beginner/fundamental topics is significant.  The attention some of my fundamental blog posts gets tends to support this.

My session went really well (in my opinion), with the only technical issue being a projector that overheated and had to cool for a few minutes. As a joke I broke out my backup laptop claiming to have been half-prepared.

I was a bit nervous the day before, but when I got to the event site and into the Speakers/Sponsor/Volunteer room, all that went away.  I almost had a last minute switch of session times with Bob Ward, as he was running a little late.  But, he got there with a few minutes to spare.

One of the best prep things I did was go to Brent Ozar’s (b|t)performance tuning pre-conference on Friday.  I went as much to watch presentation style as for the knowledge being shared.  Brent is a great presenter.  I also really enjoy anything Pinal Dave (b|t)has to say, mostly due to the excitement and passion he delivers it with.  Pinal could make a snail race exciting.

The San Jacinto Junior College facility was fantastic with clean rooms, stable WiFi, etc.  Everything there looks new.  The local SQL Saturday team had all the bases covered.  Allen (t), Devon (t), Sarah and the rest made for a fantastic day.

I’m looking forward to Chattanooga next weekend, and who knows where beyond that.   If you are interested is presenting, don’t let anything stop you from responding to a call for speakers.  Applying is half the battle 🙂

Thanks for reading,

Kevin3NF

 

 

 

Filed Under: Career, Speaking, SQLSaturday

SQL Saturday Houston 2017

June 13, 2017 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

I will be presenting my session “Backups for non-DBAs….the Why, not the How” at SQL Saturday Houston on June 17, 11am.

This is mostly targeted at non-DBAs such as owners, managers, CxOs, developers and sysadmins…but all are more than welcome.

We will be discussing various scenarios to consider as part of an overall DR/Business Continuity plan, as well as sharing a few horror stories from the field…both ancient and current.

The session abstract:

Join me and get some new perspective on what your DBA is doing, and why!

Targeted at the non-DBA such as BI/DW folks, Application Developers, Managers, and System Admins, this session will go over the reasons we back up our databases, our systems, etc. Considerations such as Single points of failure, High Availability/Disaster recovery, Business Continuity and others will be discussed in this interactive conversation. It will be conversation heavy, with supporting slides to download, and one Database backup demo at the end if time permits.

Everyone involved in a technical role needs to at least know that the things they have created will be recoverable in the event of a disaster, or even just an “oops” moment. The CIO/CTO should know how long critical systems will be down when bad things happen. Backups are everyone’s responsibility…whether asking the right questions or implementing the process.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Kevin3NF

 

Filed Under: backup, Career, HADR, Restore, SQLSaturday

SQL DBA Fundamentals training, Day 2

May 27, 2017 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

Day 1 of the free DBA fundamentals was a huge success!!  Thanks to all that came out.

Day 2 (June 7) registration goes live at noon on Saturday, May 27 (still free):

RSVP here

This is an in-person class…not online and not recorded.  We are not that fancy yet…

We will be covering the following:

  • SQL Server Security model (in plain English)
  • A guided tour of SQL Server Management studio

You do not need to bring a laptop, but if you have one with SQL Server and SSMS installed to follow along, please feel free to bring it.

You do need to be registered to attend…we completely filled our space last Wednesday, with no room for walk-ins.  Please do not just show up and make me have you stand in the corner 🙁

There will be a waitlist when the tickets are gone.

If you came to Day 1 and sent me a request, you are already registered for Day 2.

Thanks, and see you there on June 7!

Kevin3NF (follow me on Twitter…its your homework!)

Filed Under: Accidental DBA, Beginner, Career, EntryLevel, SQL

Free SQL Server DBA Fundamentals training (DFW) – completed

May 4, 2017 by Kevin3NF 2 Comments

Free.  In person.  Interactive.

Update: This is in-person only…not online or Webex at this time.

I really like training and teaching the basics of anything to people new to it.  Right now that is SQL Server, and cycling (I am Kevin3NF or CoachKev depending…).  Every day on the various forums I see the same questions over and over on basic tasks…and the askers go away with a solution but very often they don’t get the understanding to be able to resolve the issue on their own the next time.

So…if you are in or near the Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas area and have a couple of hours free after work once every 2 weeks come join me for some very informal training.

Target audience:

  • Managers
  • Developers
  • SysAdmins
  • Students (college, tech schools, etc.)
  • Very junior/accidental DBAs that are struggling to stay afloat

If you are already a DBA, this is probably not for you unless you are just starting out.

RSVP for Day 5 here

5 weeks, every other Wednesday 6-8pm starting on May 24, 2017 in Richardson, TX.

  •  Day 1 (May 24):
    • Intro to databases, with a little history thrown in
    • Installing SQL Server 2016/2014 (on your laptop)
  • Day 2 (June 7):
    • Getting around in SQL Server Management Studio
    • SQL Server Security Model
  • Day 3 (June 21):
    • Backup Basics…the Why, followed by How
    • Creating a database from scratch, or from a backup
  • Day 4 (July 5):
    • Database querying basics – getting the CRUD
    • Indexing and basic performance troubleshooting
  • Day 5 (July 19):
    • High Availability/Disaster Recovery options (overview)
    • Wrap up

If this goes as well as I hope, I will offer it again after some time off.  Maybe in a different part of the Metroplex.

Not sure if this class is right for you?  Ask in the comments, send me a DM on Twitter, or email me.

Thanks for reading!

Kevin3NF

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Filed Under: Accidental DBA, Apprentice, Beginner, Career, EntryLevel, Speaking

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