Voice of the DBA

Tag: career

  • Why SQL Server?

    I love this logo, and I love working with SQL Server.
    I love this logo, and I love working with SQL Server.

    Over the last few months I’ve met quite a few people that were just starting to work with SQL Server. For many of them, they’ve attended talks or presentations of mine or others, trying to learn enough to become more competent at their jobs. As is the case for many people starting out with a technology, they were thrown into it at their job and are struggling to understand the technology.

    That’s how I started, but I’m wondering if that’s how most of you started. I would guess most of us didn’t necessarily choose to work with this platform, but since that time, many of us have had other choices. This Friday, I wanted to ask about your work in the SQL Server world and participation at SQLServerCentral.

    Why do you work with SQL Server?

    It’s a simple question, but one that many of you might not think about. Are you stuck with SQL Server? Did you fall into this role and enjoy it? Or have you never considered moving on? A lot of people get stuck in ruts, especially ones that work well for them, without ever considering other options.

    For me, I fell into SQL Server when an instance was installed on my Novell network. I enjoyed working with sets of data and was amazed at how much easier it was to work with SQL Server than Oracle, and how much better performance was over dBase. It didn’t hurt that the pay for database work was great, but I have enjoyed working with SQL Server, and with short forays into the DB2, Oracle, and MySQL worlds, I’ve learned that I enjoy SQL Server more.

    Steve Jones

    The Voice of the DBA Podcasts

    We publish three versions of the podcast each day for you to enjoy.

  • Early Software

    My first computer as a kid.
    My first computer as a kid.

    I  have no idea what the first software I saw working on a computer system was. I’m sure it was some  basic demo program on a Vic-20, which I convinced my mother to buy for us. I remember learning to program on this machine for a year or so before saving up enough money to get an Apple II system. I purchased a few games, but most of the software that ran on my computer was written by me. Programs to solve chemistry and physics labs, early attempts at making our own Dungeons and Dragons programs and even a baseball statistics program to “replay” games from the past.

    The first real software I saw in a business setting was a construction estimation program that combined a spreadsheet with some basic CRUD application for managing projects. A neighbor had a business and hired me one summer to help him get it running in his office and train his staff to use it. I’m not sure how well it worked, but I remember being amazed at how much effort and paper it reduced for his company.

    Since that time computers have evolved and software has grown tremendously to incorporate many more graphical elements than I imagined as a kid. However those early programs still stick in my mind and I’m sure have influenced the way I view the world today. Dave Winer wrote about early software and how it’s influenced the applications we have today. I do think there are a lot of influential programs, and the wide variety of them, and the different ways people reacted to them, resulted in what we have today. This Friday, I wanted to ask you this:

    What software first inspired you to work with computers.

    What programs changed your career, or perhaps motivated you to work more closely with the data and less with the programs. Is there any software you really enjoy working with? Do you wish you could build something similar? Let us know today.

    Steve Jones

    The Voice of the DBA Podcasts

    We publish three versions of the podcast each day for you to enjoy. Today there are no podcasts due to various issues, but the podcasts will return on Monday.

  • Life is Like a Manure Spreader

    Life can be like a manure spreader.
    Life can be like a manure spreader.

    Not in the way you think, but in the hookup process. When I shovel enough horse presents to fill up the device, I get to the point where I need to connect it to one of our farm vehicles and go a-spreadin’.

    My wife complained at one point that I was unhooking the spreader and resting the tongue on the ground. When it got full she had trouble lifting it up and getting it on the hitch. I understood that and since I didn’t want to be the permanent manure-speader-hooker-upper, we found a block to rest it on so that the hookup was easier. However you still want to jockey the ATV or tractor close enough that you can easily get one to meet the other and minimize the lifting.

    As I was performing this process one morning, it got me thinking about work and some of the conflicts I’ve seen with other people. To be fair, I’ve had a few conflicts at one of my companies and was struggling to budge from my position. I try to work with people, but I’ll admit I can be a bit stubborn and pig-headed at times, especially when I think I’m right.

    But I think you must bring things together to be effective. Even the most adamant leaders, while they mostly get their way, they have to find a way to get the other side to bridge the gaps between them. Unless people can find a way to bridge those gaps, I really think that any enterprise is doomed to much less success than they might otherwise have. It doesn’t matter if you’re the CEO of a billion dollar company or a development team of 2, you need to find ways to work together.

    That means compromise, and that means that you have to make an effort to find some common ground, to really examine your position and see if there is a way you can make changes that are acceptable to the other side.

    I see my kids sometimes unable to do this, neither side willing to budge or consider any position other than their own. I’m amazed at how often this also occurs in business as well. There is always a way to work together and modify our position or argument. Often it comes down to just communicating with the other side. You might be amazed at how often you find out that that thing each of you cares about the most is not only different for each of you, but it’s something the other side doesn’t even worry about.

    The next time you find yourself locked in a battle at work, think about me out there jockeying the manure spreader. Even if you can’t find a way to work together, you’ll probably end up smiling.

    Steve Jones

    If you want to see the process, check out the video podcast.

    The Voice of the DBA Podcasts

    Everyday Jones

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  • Impressive Accomplishments

    What things make you think a candidate is a superstar?
    What things make you think a candidate is a superstar?

    Most of us have had an interview or two in our lives. We’ve had to assemble a resume or CV, create cover letters, and practice answering questions in preparation for an interview. In all of these things, we are looking for ways to market our past work and present it in the best light as evidence that we will make a good employee in our next position.

    We each have our own experiences, successes, and failures, but we aren’t bound by what’s happened in our career so far. We have the ability to shape our brand for the future by making changes in the way we approach our career from this day forward. I have a talk and blog on this subject, but I certainly don’t have all the answers. I’m always looking for more ideas and suggestions to help people and wanted to ask for your ideas this week.

    What would impress you most about a job candidate?

    Is there something that you’ve seen or heard about in the past that impressed you? If a candidate had written a book, or created some software, would that make you look upon them favorably? I know that a candidate needs to present themselves well in an interview and be able to write SQL, or manage an instance, but when you are examining dozens of resumes, is there something that stands out?

    Take a moment and tell us what has impressed you in the past, and whether it was an indicator of a good employee or not.

    Steve Jones

    The Voice of the DBA Podcasts

    We publish three versions of the podcast each day for you to enjoy.