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Database Administrator (DBA) interview questionsProblem-solving Test round

A 60 min interview plan with a time-boxed script, what each question is for, and the signals to score against. Key skills: Problem Solving, Analytical Thinking, Troubleshooting, Performance Tuning, Deadlock Resolution.

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Introduction

5 min
•

Hi, I’m [YOUR_NAME], and I’m a [YOUR_TITLE] at [COMPANY_NAME]. I’m excited to learn more about your experience today.

•

Could you briefly introduce yourself and share what attracted you to apply for this position?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess communication skills, alignment with the role, and initial confidence.

Signals to score

  • Clear introduction provided
  • Relevant experience mentioned
  • Motivations for applying explained
  • Alignment with team values
  • Specific skills highlighted
  • Response is concise and organized
  • Understanding of role requirements

Follow-up questions

  • What excites you most about this position?
  • How does your background align with our team’s work?
•

Great, thank you for sharing! In the next 50 minutes, we’ll focus on a problem-solving challenge related to database administration.

Problem-Solving Challenge

50 min
•

Challenge: You are tasked with optimizing a slow-running query in a production database. The query involves multiple joins and aggregations on large tables. How would you approach diagnosing and resolving the performance issue?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess problem-solving, analytical thinking, troubleshooting, and performance tuning skills.

Signals to score

  • Identifies potential bottlenecks
  • Considers query execution plan
  • Suggests indexing strategies
  • Evaluates query structure
  • Considers database configuration
  • Proposes monitoring tools
  • Tests changes effectively
  • Communicates thought process clearly

Follow-up questions

  • What tools would you use to analyze the query performance?
  • How would you determine if indexing could help?
  • Can you explain how you would test your optimizations?
•

If you had more time, what additional steps would you take to ensure the query remains optimized over time?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Assess the candidate's ability to reflect on their work, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Signals to score

  • Recognizes limits in their original answer.
  • Points out clear areas to improve.
  • Suggests specific changes.
  • Talks about how changes could help performance.
  • Shares ideas clearly and logically.
  • Shows a desire to learn and improve.

Follow-up questions

  • How would you ensure the query remains efficient as data grows?
  • What strategies would you use for ongoing performance monitoring?
  • Can you discuss any automation tools you might use?
•

Great job on the problem-solving challenge!

Closing

5 min
•

Do you have any questions for me about the team or the company?

What this question is for, and what to listen for

Purpose

Gauge the candidate’s curiosity and interest in the role.

Signals to score

  • Thoughtful questions asked
  • Interest in company culture
  • Curiosity about growth expressed
  • Questions about role raised
  • Inquiries about team challenges
  • Engagement with responses shown
  • Desire to learn next steps
  • Focus on company values expressed

Follow-up questions

  • What interests you most about this team?
  • Are there any areas of the role you’d like to explore further?
•

Thank you for your time today. We’ll be in touch soon regarding the next steps.

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Interview Template
Position
Database Administrator (DBA)
Round
Problem-solving Test for 60 min
Key skills
Problem Solving, Analytical Thinking, Troubleshooting, Performance Tuning, Deadlock Resolution

Database Administrator (DBA) interviews — common questions

Who is this Database Administrator (DBA) interview plan for?
It is written for the interviewer, not the candidate: the hiring manager, engineer or panel member running the Problem-solving Test round for a Database Administrator (DBA) role. It gives you a 60 min script to follow in the conversation — 4 questions with what each one is for and the signals to score against — so you are not writing the round from scratch the night before.
What does the Problem-solving Test round assess?
This round is focused on: Problem Solving, Analytical Thinking, Troubleshooting, Performance Tuning, Deadlock Resolution. It works through Introduction, Problem-Solving Challenge and Closing, scoring against 29 observable signals, with follow-up prompts on all 4 questions for going deeper where an answer is thin.
How is the 60 min split up?
Introduction (5 min), Problem-Solving Challenge (50 min), Closing (5 min). The timings are there so the round stays on schedule and every candidate gets the same shape of interview — which is what makes two candidates comparable afterwards.
What other rounds should I run for a Database Administrator (DBA)?

A single round does not cover a whole role. The other rounds in this library for a Database Administrator (DBA):