Top 5 reasons for being a better employee

Being a better employee is important for various reasons.

1. For keeping the job (obvious reason)
2. Job satisfaction and for being happy
3. Help the team, Help the company, Help the society
4. Get lucky
5. Financial security

Each of you would have your own explanation for each of the reasons mentioned above.  Please comment if you have more reasons of your own for being a better employee.

Will publish HOW to be a better employee post soon.

Links for the Week- Friday, May 1 2009

Brent Ozar – How to get a Jr. DBA job:  Brent Ozar provides very useful guidance on getting a Jr. DBA job in this three part series.

Part-1,Part-2,Part-3

Mitch Haile’s Geek Home Office: A photo trip to Mitch Haile’s home office.  Its a dream set-up that can be a source of inspiration to million things.

SQL Server Pedia: SQL Server Pedia is a collaborative wiki about SQL Server.  It is a very useful resource on almost all SQL Server technologies and the wiki is wonderfully put together by prominent SQL Server users.

SQL Server Architecture

I consider it very important to understand the overall architecture and framework of SQL Server for effective planning, development and implementation. Advancements in the following areas is the key to improve smooth and effective performance of an advanced DBMS like SQL Server.   Also, these topics can be good candidates for potential research areas for new Computer Science graduate/PhD students.  I suppose companies like Microsoft and Oracle invest vast resources for improvements in these areas.

1. External Protocols (for connectivity and shared memory)
2. Database Engine (Self-explanatory) includes [Storage Engine (Self-explanatory), -Query Processor (Self-explanatory)]
3. SQLOS ( An abstraction layer between the hardware/OS and SQL Server)

The following picture illustrates the generic architecture of SQL Server.

SQL Server Generic Architecture

Pre-Reqs for learning SQL Server

I write this post keeping many brand new and budding SQL Server enthusiasts on my mind.  Even though there are no hard and fast pre-reqs as such to learn SQL Server I have come up with a small list of concepts that makes learning/using SQL Server much more meaningful.

The following concepts would lay down a strong foundation where one can build upon strong SQL Server skills.

• DBMS Concepts (Wikipedia, Audilab)
• SQL (W3Schools)
• Data Modeling (Agile Data, U of Texas Austin)

Why Microsoft SQL Server?

Leaving aside the crazy corporate number crunching (TCO, Licensing, Support, etc) the following question is ever intriguing at personal front.

Why did you choose to work with Microsoft SQL Server?

My answer:

I sometimes really wonder what made me choose and stick to SQL Server though I came across Oracle much earlier in my life and other DBMS at various points in time.  Its probably that I followed the pattern like many others did.  I took the path of Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 toWindows 98 to Windows XP (not yet to Vista though).  While I did this I was compelled (both out of love and frustration) to use many Microsoft’s applications.  My personal favorites are Windows XP,  Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, IE 5 and later.

Coming straight to the point,  I chose to work with Microsoft SQL Server probably because of the following factors.

• Microsoft (the brand itself is a biggest factor)
• MSDN
• GUI interface
• Awesome and easy to use tools (esp SSMS, BIDS, DTS and SSIS)  &
• Probably the courses I took during school, college and university which compelled me work on projects based on Microsoft technologies,  which I would never regret!

What are the factors for your decision?  I would be glad to know more reasons to love what I (we) do!