Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) Skill Overview

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    Category: Technical > Database management system

Description

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system developed by Microsoft. It's used to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, either on the same computer or on another across a network. Skills in SQL Server range from understanding basic concepts and writing simple queries, to designing complex databases and optimizing performance. Advanced skills include managing security permissions, handling errors, and using SQL Server Integration Services. At the expert level, users can design high availability solutions, manage large databases, and master SQL Server Reporting and Analysis Services. These skills are essential for database administrators, developers, and data analysts.

Stack

.NET,

Expected Behaviors

  • Fundamental Awareness

    At this level, individuals have a basic understanding of SQL Server and its components. They are familiar with the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and can understand T-SQL syntax. They also have an understanding of data types in SQL Server and are aware of basic database concepts.

  • Novice

    Novices can create and manage databases and write simple SELECT queries. They understand JOINs and can insert, update, and delete data. They also have an understanding of basic stored procedures.

  • Intermediate

    Intermediate users can write complex queries and understand indexes and their importance. They can design and implement a database schema and know about normalization and denormalization techniques. They can use transactions and understand their importance.

  • Advanced

    Advanced users can tune performance and optimize SQL Server. They understand advanced stored procedures and triggers and know about SQL Server security and permissions. They can handle errors and exceptions in T-SQL and understand SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).

  • Expert

    Experts have mastered SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS). They can design and implement high availability and disaster recovery solutions. They have a deep understanding of SQL Server internals and can manage large databases. They are experts in SQL Server replication and partitioning.

Micro Skills

Familiarity with the purpose and use of SQL Server

Knowledge of different versions and editions of SQL Server

Awareness of the basic architecture of SQL Server

Ability to navigate through SSMS interface

Understanding of how to connect to a SQL Server instance using SSMS

Basic knowledge of executing queries in SSMS

Understanding of SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE statements

Familiarity with WHERE clause and ORDER BY clause

Basic knowledge of functions like COUNT(), SUM(), AVG()

Knowledge of numeric data types like INT, DECIMAL

Understanding of string data types like CHAR, VARCHAR

Familiarity with date and time data types like DATE, TIME, DATETIME

Understanding of what a database is

Familiarity with tables and columns

Basic knowledge of primary keys and foreign keys

Understanding of the CREATE DATABASE syntax

Knowledge of ALTER DATABASE for modifying database properties

Familiarity with DROP DATABASE for deleting databases

Understanding of how to use SSMS for database management

Understanding of the SELECT statement syntax

Knowledge of WHERE clause for filtering data

Familiarity with ORDER BY clause for sorting results

Understanding of GROUP BY clause for grouping data

Knowledge of INNER JOIN for combining rows from two or more tables

Understanding of LEFT JOIN, RIGHT JOIN, and FULL JOIN

Familiarity with the ON keyword for specifying join conditions

Understanding of the INSERT INTO statement for adding new records

Knowledge of UPDATE statement for modifying existing records

Familiarity with DELETE statement for removing records

Knowledge of CREATE PROCEDURE syntax

Understanding of how to execute a stored procedure using EXECUTE or EXEC

Familiarity with parameterized stored procedures

Understanding of control-of-flow language (IF...ELSE, WHILE)

Understanding of correlated and uncorrelated subqueries

Ability to use subqueries in the WHERE clause

Understanding of subqueries in the SELECT clause

Ability to use subqueries in the FROM clause

Knowledge of COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX functions

Understanding of GROUP BY clause

Ability to use HAVING clause

Understanding of RANK, DENSE_RANK, ROW_NUMBER functions

Ability to use PARTITION BY clause

Understanding of ORDER BY clause in window functions

Understanding of CASE statement

Ability to use IIF function

Knowledge of UNION and UNION ALL

Understanding of INTERSECT and EXCEPT

Ability to read and interpret execution plans

Understanding of statistics and their role in execution plans

Understanding of input and output parameters

Knowledge of dynamic SQL within stored procedures

Knowledge of Windows authentication

Understanding of SQL Server authentication

Ability to use TRY/CATCH for error handling

Understanding of nested TRY/CATCH blocks

Understanding of the SSIS package designer

Knowledge of SSIS package deployment

Understanding of report lifecycle

Proficiency in Report Builder

Knowledge of expressions in SSRS

Understanding of subreports and drilldown reports

Proficiency in managing report subscriptions

Understanding of AlwaysOn architecture

Ability to configure AlwaysOn

Knowledge of failover process

Proficiency in monitoring AlwaysOn

Understanding of backup strategies with AlwaysOn

Knowledge of query optimization process

Ability to read execution plans

Understanding of statistics

Proficiency in managing query performance

Knowledge of query store

Understanding of partitioned tables and indexes

Proficiency in managing partitions

Knowledge of distributed partitioned views

Understanding of data compression

Proficiency in large table operations

Knowledge of replication components

Ability to set up and manage replication

Understanding of replication agents

Proficiency in managing replicated data

Understanding of replication monitoring

Tech Experts

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  • Expert
    5 years work experience
  • Achievement Ownership
    Yes
  • Micro-skills
    82
  • Roles requiring skill
    5
  • Customizable
    Yes
  • Last Update
    Thu Oct 10 2024
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