SQL - any and all

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Are there patterns one learns to solve SQL interview questions (or tasks in general)? (self.sql)

submitted 1 year ago by biofaust to c/sql

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I recently tried my hand at an advanced online SQL test for a io position. Time-trial, non-autocompleting IDE, no human interaction. I failed miserably (0%) and I am fine with it. I have prepared myself with StrataScratch and the Mode tutorial, on top of my experience in querying GA4 data in BQ and other data for finance, sales and operations. . Although the resources are good to familiarize with SQL functions and structuring queries, I still feel that I am missing some kind of mindset that would enable me to tackle SQL questions irrespective of complexity. I don't want to know necessarily the details, if it is hard for you to explain, but I would like to know if there is such a state of mind to achieve. Of course, any description and resource is welcome.

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[–] biofaust -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I am familiar with the syntax and the differences from other languages. What I have been presented are problems challenging at a higher level of abstraction, in which for example a combinatorial problem needs to be solved in SQL. Just to be clear, I only barely code in Python and JS. I never solved such problems in those languages either.

[–] Redacted 2 points 1 year ago

I'm not sure what you mean by combinatorial problems?

I know you mentioned you didn't want to get into specifics, but it's really difficult to comprehend what you're struggling with without examples. Is there any reason you can just state a question you find difficult?

Presumably you understand basic SELECT statements? Is it JOINs or maybe group functions you are stuck on or something more advanced?