To mark my 31st Birthday today(gifts are of course most welcome) here’s a SQL Server Crossword for you to enjoy. You can also find the previous crosswords here(#3), here(#2) and here(#1). Same as before, the answers are all SQL Server words that you will be familiar with from your experience of working with SQL Server. It’s not easy and […]
What SQL2012 Feature Are You Excited About the Most?
Last week the internet went crazy with the news of super cool new stuff for techies to play with. If you’re having trouble viewing this post click here to see it in all it’s intended glory. I’m currently experimenting with some snazzy blog authoring widgets that may not port nicely to RSS/Email. We had the Apple Fanboys getting all […]
What Does a Database Administrator Actually Do?
Most people in your organisation, never mind everyone else, have no real clue as to what it is you do. It’s not because you don’t actually do anything, at least I hope not, it’s because the domain of responsibility for a DBA is both vast and varied. Ask any two DBAs what it is they […]
How To Write an Interview Winning CV
Writing a CV that rocks is not an art. It just requires some planning and an understanding of what you want your CV to achieve for you. Of course therein also lies the problem because of lot folks are not exactly sure what they want their CV to do for them. This is why you […]
Your Road to Becoming a DBA: Getting Organised
Knowing precisely how to start on your next adventure is tricky. With so many options and decisions in front of you, identifying what is the best way to move forward for you is vital.
In this third instalment I’m going to be talking about everything else that I wanted to cover in reply to the readers email, which is kind of ironic really because the first point I want to make next is about being organised.
Why Every DBA is a Clown
It’s late, really late and you’ve got a mountain of work to get through to meet the deadline. To add to it, you also have numerous other urgent items and they’re all high priority of course. You feel panicked because you cannot possibly get it all done, you know that you are going to fail. […]
Your Road to Becoming a DBA: Acquiring Experience is Key
Knowing precisely how to start on your next adventure is tricky. With so many options and decisions in front of you, identifying what is the best way to move forward for you is vital. This post is part two of the series Your Road to Becoming a DBA, where I talk about how you can […]
Your Road to Becoming a DBA: Laying a Strong Foundation
Knowing precisely how to start on your next adventure is tricky. With so many options and decisions in front of you, identifying what is the best way to move forward for you is vital. Last week I received an email from a reader who was looking for some advice on how to start their own […]
What I Will Do For You in 2012
Many of you have first hand experience of our phenomenal sql community (affectionately labelled the #sqlfamily). Your first encounter with it may have been quite subtle. Perhaps you were surprised by the generosity and willingness with which help can be found? Maybe it was that first SQL Saturday you attended? However you first experienced the […]
Start 2012 with Your Best of 2011
The first week following on from the Christmas break is a very hectic one for us Data Professionals. Your customers are keen to get straight back to business immediately and get the year off to the best possible start, meaning your skills and services will be in high demand. To help ensure you get your […]
Why Did You Start Blogging?
That’s easy, because Brent Ozar (Blog|Twitter) challenged me to…… It all started back in the good ole days. A time when there was a Blogging revolution brewing within the SQL community. Tired of the dry and dull technical content that was being shared at the time, a few brave bloggers were daring to do things […]
SQL Server MVP Deep Dives Volume 2 – My Review
Volume 1 was packed full of knowledge and a very welcome edition to my bookshelf! With the bar already set high, how then would SQL Server MVP Deep Dives Volume 2 fair? Finding time to keep up with awesome blog content can be tough. Let me make it easy for you! Join over 400 SQL […]
What Makes The Perfect DBA Role?
What is it that makes the perfect role for a Database Administrator? Well I can’t tell you that because you and I may not be looking for the same things in a role. What I can tell you though is what I look for, what it is that makes my ideal DBA role. Last week […]
What Every DBA Should Get For Christmas
What is a brilliant gift at Christmas for a DBA? I mean apart from having the day off….. For those new to the event, #mememonday is the community creation of Thomas LaRock (Blog|Twitter), the driving force of which is to encourage the SQL community to put virtual pen to paper. This months theme “What gift […]
New Year New Job?
Are you 100% satisfied with your current job? Of course not! When given serious consideration most people will agree that there are some things that they would like to be different or change in their current role. The Christmas holiday season is a popular time for self reflection. The gift of time away from the […]
Being an Effective DBA Remotely
Do not let the phrase “out of sight, out of mind” apply to you. As Data Professionals a lot of us either have or will have the opportunity to work remotely. It’s a trend that I am convinced is set to increase as technology continues to integrate our working world, making us more accessible and […]
SQLRelay Just Got Bigger Folks – The King is Back
As if the original week of action planned was not enough SQLRelay just got Bigger! Three brand new User Groups have been added to the lineup and are highlighted below in red for your viewing pleasure. Wait there’s still more. The King will be returning to British soil. No my US chums I’m not talking […]
Exam 70-432 – My Guide to Passing First Time
A reader wrote in to me last weekend regarding the MCTS Exam 70-432 (SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance). Hi John, I hope you are well. I am planning to take exam 70-432 and I could really use some guidance on how to go about my studies. I would really appreciate your thoughts. Thank you. Certainly […]
SQLRelay UK
[Update: Additional events added. See SQLRelay Just Got Bigger Folks – The King is Back] With the Olympics coming to the UK next year what better way to get into the spirit of things than with a good old fashioned race, a SQLRelay race! That’s right, in October the UK SQL Server community is going to […]
Outstanding DBAs Make Relationships a Priority
In our open all hours global working world, do you ever wonder if perhaps the technology that is supposed to be bringing us closer together is inadvertently creating a world that is instead becoming more isolated? As Database Administrators (DBAs) technology enables us to work and meet our responsibilities effectively from almost any location in […]