Oracle is a well-established technology company specializing in cloud computing and platform services. The company’s diverse portfolio of database management products and solutions provides job opportunities in various fields, including cloud infrastructure, application consulting, and national security. Understanding the interview questions you might face when applying for an Oracle position can aid in your career development. In this article, Pritish Kumar Halder explores possible Oracle interview questions with sample answers to help you develop your own answers and provide some tips on acing an interview.
Oracle interview questions with sample answers
The following Oracle interview questions include sample responses and advice on how to craft a successful response:
1. How do you stay current with industry- and Oracle-specific knowledge?
Interviewers may ask this question to ascertain your willingness to learn and your method of keeping your knowledge up to date. Maintaining current industry knowledge enables you to comprehend the latest advancements in Oracle technologies and work processes, resulting in accurate results. Consider your learning habits and work or personal techniques that assist you in gaining insight into industry updates when answering this question.
Example: ‘As a result of my experience working with Oracle technologies, I know that Oracle products receive patch updates every three months to resolve code or security vulnerabilities. As a result, I constantly check for security alerts and Oracle bulletins to make sure that I apply new updates as they become available. I can learn various techniques for automating my work processes and ensuring accurate and thorough work by consulting Oracle support resources.’
2. What is the purpose of password files?
Interviewers may ask this question to ascertain your understanding of the purpose and significance of password files. Password files contain information about Oracle database users and their access levels, giving users varying privileges and functions within the database. You can answer this question by defining password files and the purposes for which you may use them.
Example: ‘Password files securely store database user log-in credentials, access restrictions and authorise information, allowing authorised users to retrieve or store their data. These files track and verify log-in activity to safeguard sensitive data and avert potential data breaches. When necessary, I can use coding queries to search through the database password files to determine how many users have account access and their system privileges. These searches enable me to modify data for security reasons easily.’
3. How do you maintain Oracle indexes?
Interviewers ask this question to assess your knowledge of index usage and processes. Oracle indexes facilitate data retrieval, and you can configure them to update when data table information changes automatically. To demonstrate your grasp of Oracle indexes, you can explain how Oracle updates itself and why you may use one.
Example: ‘As Oracle indexes automatically distribute data from table inputs, I monitor data table changes to ensure that Oracle systems operate properly. I use redo log files to track changes and resolve any discrepancies. To avoid database instance failures, I create my database scripts with a minimum of three redo log groups.’
4. What is the Oracle database management system?
Interviewers may ask this question to ascertain your detailed response. Although an Oracle database is a management system for data storage and retrieval, it also contains many components that enable users to perform specific data access, modification or function tasks. You can answer this question briefly and leave room for follow-up questions. You can also demonstrate your expertise in Oracle databases by providing an in-depth definition of the components that make up an Oracle database and how they work.
Example: ‘Oracle databases store data that company personnel can manage and retrieve to perform their duties. These databases contain three primary files that enable users to manage their data. There are three types of files: data files that contain all the database’s existing data, control files that define the structure of data storage locations and redo log files that record changes in the event of potential errors.’
5. When do you use Oracle’s restricted session feature?
An interviewer can use this question to ascertain whether you can complete restricted sessions in Oracle and why you might do so. Restricting sessions in Oracle enables you to restrict other users’ access to the database to perform various maintenance or update tasks that external factors may harm. Provide an example of why you open restricted sessions in Oracle and how you close them.
Example: ‘I conduct routine database assessments to ensure that company system processes remain optimised and conduct restricted sessions to avoid interfering with any users currently using the database. This eliminates any potential errors on the part of those users and my own work tasks. To accomplish this, I execute a command in the programming language that modifies the system and enables a restricted session.’
Additional interview tips
The following are some additional interview tips to assist you in preparing quickly for an interview:
Examine the job description
Even if there are only a few minutes left before your interview, re-read the job description for the position to refresh your memory on the specific qualifications the employer is looking for in a candidate. Note the key experiences and skills the employer desires in a candidate. By keeping these in mind before your interview, it may be easier to refer to them during the interview.
Find something exceptional about yourself
Consider what might set you apart and make you unique as a candidate for the interviewer in terms of skills, qualifications or background that the rest of the candidates might not possess. Perhaps you might belong to a marketing background that can provide you with a unique perspective as a member of an IT team. Consider what makes you unique and the ideal candidate for the position.
Develop responses to essential questions
Prepare responses to some of the more common interview questions, such as ‘tell me about yourself?’ or ‘what makes you an ideal candidate?’ You might even want to jot down responses to one or two of these questions and practice delivering them so that you can confidently answer them during the interview. It’s a good idea to review some of employers’ most frequently asked interview questions during interviews for your particular role.
Create a favorable first impression
Make a favorable first impression on the interviewer by making eye contact. You can smile and greet everyone in the room with a firm handshake before sitting. These steps can instil confidence in you and instantly endear you to others, which are both excellent ways to begin an interview.
Reference: https://in.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/oracle-interview-questions
