“In my past job I’ve configured SQL Trace and Autotrace in our Oracle production environment with both SQLPlus and Toad for Oracle tools. I used both SQL Trace and Autotrace almost daily for SQL query analysis and performance tuning. I created explain plan tables for all users who might use Autotrace in SQLPlus. For users who use Toad, I only needed to create one set of explain plan tables under Toad schema and the plan tables can be shared by multiple Toad users. To configure SQL Trace, I need to alter session to set it up. Then I turn the trace on before query execution and turn it off after the SQL run. If I run it in SQLPlus, I would need to use the database utility TKPROF to convert the trace output into readable file with formatted data. In Toad I could the GUI interface to go through the SQL trace process.”

The follow-up question could ask you what is the difference between SQL Trace and Autotrace, and how you determine which one to use first. So your answer can further explain the knowledge like:

“Autotrace provides us with explain plan and performance statistics on the actual execution of the SQL run. SQL Trace provides performance statistics on the SQL run. It must be used in conjunction with the Database utility TKPROF in order to provide meaningful information. The performance statistics for the SQL Trace our more configurable and provide more information; however, Autotrace is easier to get feedback immediately. Often, Autotrace is used first then SQL Trace when more information is needed.”

But, can we? should we? at work? Yes, we should, we could, we might, we may, we can, and we must. Here are the top 10 reasons for being lazy at work.

1. Simple Math Says You Should

The CEO, CIO, CFO, etc. get paid 10 times or more than you do, but they only work at most twice as you work daily, assuming you work for 8 hours and they work 16 hours per day. With a simple math, you can determine that you should only work for 1/5 of what you normally do. So it’s fair to be lazy.

2. Your True Value Says You Could

Although you boss and senior managers constantly remind you that they are much, much more valuable than you, therefore they are much, much more expensive, but this is a unproven claim. From time to time they may come out a few good plans and ideas, but they are nothing without you. You don’t make less contribution to their company but they take your credits to add to their value. Working for a company, you are only an undervalued dog, so be a lazy dog.

3. You Body Says You Have to

In workplace I noticed that lazy people are always relaxed and worry free, but hardworking people often feel stressful and frustrated. Stress and frustration would hurt your health badly, high blood pressure, high blood suger, chronic fatigues, all bad things will come to you. Listen to your body and make the right choice, – relax, don’t work too hard, by all means, be lazy.

4. Your Co-workers Say Please

When you work hard, you put great pressure on your coworkers, because they have to try to work as hard as you, but they may not be as smart as you, they may not have as much ability as you, then they feel stressful, that’s bad to their health. Your co-workers are your friends, they are just like you, they need to make living and they have families to take care of. Why do you hurt their emotions and their health when you don’t have to? Be nice to them, be lazy yourself so you don’t give your co-workers hard time.

5. You Boss Says No Way

Your greedy boss wants to squeeze you as much as he can for never satisfied profitibility. You want to be lazy? No way! But don’t listen to the blood-sucking capitalist. When you hear No Way, say Yes Way, not by word, but by unnoticeable actions. You must take care of yourself, also you don’t want to be fired.

6. You Are Not Owner

Although you often refer the company where you work as “my company”, you don’t really own the company (in most cases). Corporations do good brain-wash job to educate you of imaginary corporate ownership so that you are highly motivated to work hard and make more profit for them. But in fact you have no control and no power over the company. In bad time you cannot save the company, in good time you don’t get your fair share. Than why care? Let the owner worry about it. You just take it easy.

7. Loyalty Is Gone

In the good old time, employees were loyal to the company and the company was loyal to employees. But the loyalty no longer exists nowadays. Corporations must aim to profitibility of the owner and share holders. They don’t care about you. Have you seen every time a company announced lay-off the stock price went up? Don’t feel guilty for been lazy, because when you have to be kicked out, no one feels guilty too.

8. Don’t Burn Your Bridge

The easiest way for a company to boost profitibility to to cut labor cost, that’s why many of us are working on projects that build automatic systems to replace human beings. For example,when HP finishes the IT consolidation project, many IT workers will be let go because they are no longer needed. Should we work hard to burn down our own bridge? If we have no choice, we may at least slow down and win some time. So, be lazy.

9. Work is Not Fun

Have you seen the sticker on the back of pickup truck says “The worst day in fishing is better than the best day in working.” ? Work is not fun, even though we all want it to be. Don’t be a workaholic, your life out of work is much more colorful.

10. Earth Says You Must

We are working in a faster and faster paced world. Everyday we work more, produce more, consume more, waste more, and indeed, destroy more. Natural resources are over used, environments are damaged, global warning becomes real. How to fix the problems? Slow down development and conserve. How to achieve this? Easy, if everyone is a little bit more lazy, the world will slow down, and our mother earth will be saved. Therefore, be lazy at work, Earth says thank you kid.

Alright, 10 reasons for been lazy and still feel good, no guilty, no worry, no fear. Do you agree? Are you convinced? Or are they nonsense?

Even if you think most of them don’t make sense, I still want you to recheck the last one. Over development and fast-paced life are not good for us.

Do you want to have healthier life? Do you care about the future of our world? If so, please don’t work too hard, take it easy, don’t worry, relax, slow down, and feel good.

Don’ let stressfulness and frustration block your path. You come to work everyday, make it a great day or not, the choice is yours. Enjoy life!

In general, database development experience is focused on programming on the database server, – writing store procedures, triggers, and packages.  In Oracle, you use PL/SQL; in Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase, you use T-SQL.  If you can find out what database server they are using, we then can emphases your skill set on the corresponding SQL language.  The following sample answer is to target Oracle database development:

Sample answer:

“I have over 5 years of experience in SQL and PL/SQL programming on Oracle server.  In my last project I was the lead developer for database programming.  This project is a client/server application for inventory tracking.  All business rules were processed on the backend database server.  I developed more than 50 Oracle stored procedures and triggers.  Many stored procedures were organized into packages.  Those procedures were used to process complicated rules and automate inventory tracking in our asset management system.  In previous projects I also worked on Microsoft SQL Server database and coded many stored procedures and functions in T-SQL.”