Reading a Schema Under Pressure
How to quickly parse an unfamiliar table diagram and ask the right clarifying questions in a live interview.
The Live-Interview Skill
In a real interview you're handed an unfamiliar schema and asked to query it on the spot. This lesson is a calm, repeatable way to read one under time pressure.
Step 1: Inventory the Tables
Step 1: inventory the tables. Read just the names and guess each entity. A name joining two entities, like order_items, is usually a junction table.
All lessons in this course
- What Is SQL and Why Interviewers Ask It
- Logical Query Execution Order
- Primary Keys, Foreign Keys and Constraints
- Reading a Schema Under Pressure