Oracle is a multinational corporation of computer technologies with soaring popularity in the IT industry. Among its several services, Oracle is best known for its database software and technology. However, its operations expand to building database software and hardware that provides solutions across industries.
The never-ending list of Oracle’s accomplishments explains why it is one of the desirable companies for both freshers and experienced professionals in the field. Almost every person who aims to make it big in the IT industry has Oracle on their list. However, securing a position in the third-largest software company in the world is no mean feat.
Therefore, freshers, as well as experienced professionals, should prepare for Oracle interview questions beforehand. In addition, the Professional Certificate in Global Business Management from GGU (Golden Gate University) can also be quite fruitful. With sound technical knowledge, a deep understanding of business operations on a global scale will benefit you in multiple ways.
Interview Process of Oracle
Before applying to a company, all professionals look for the best work culture. And Oracle checks that box, too, as it is well-known for the same. All of these combined make Oracle a preferable choice for professionals.
Let us dive more into the interview process of Oracle.
Similar to other multinational companies, Oracle prioritises team building. The selection process is elaborate and thorough, ensuring that the most suitable candidate makes it to the organisation. For this, they have a set pattern they sincerely follow to hire a perfect professional for the team.
1. Online Round
In this first round, candidates face multiple-choice questions ranging from logical reasoning to core subjects like database management systems, OOPS, networking, etc. It also includes quantitative questions specific to the industry.
2. Technical Interview (Round 1)
Unlike the previous round, this round of interviews will be scheduled either as a phone or a video call. In this one-on-one session, the interviewer assesses the candidate’s coding skills. Candidates with a good grasp of data structures and algorithms will have an added advantage in this round.
3. Technical Interview (Round 2)
Once the candidate clears the first two rounds, they enter the most tricky round. Here, complex questions revolving around data structures are asked. Also, the company aims to understand the candidate’s critical thinking skills in this round. Thus, puzzle-based questions are frequently asked in this round. This round also focuses on the skills mentioned in the prospective candidate’s CV.
4. Human Resource Round
The final round with HR is more informal. This round of interviews is dedicated to getting a good idea of candidates’ previous work experiences and if they are culturally fit for the company.
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Frequently Asked Oracle Interview Questions
Even though companies evaluate candidates individually, several questions are common. Among them are the top five questions listed below, including Oracle SQL interview questions, that you must prepare before applying for a job in the company.
- Describe the Oracle database, along with its main components.
- How does one retrieve data from a database using SQL?
- What are indices in Oracle, and how do they enhance query performance?
- Explain the difference between SQL and PL/SQL.
- How does Oracle maintain data integrity through ACID properties?
All the questions mentioned above require one to have an in-depth knowledge of the subjects. Thus, to crack an oracle interview, one should properly understand the core topics and practice them regularly to maintain a grasp of them.
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Top Oracle Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers
In almost every interview, the interviewers tend to customise the questions according to the candidates to understand them deeply. This is more prominently used when the interviewee is a fresher. Here are some commonly asked Oracle DBA interview questions for freshers.
1. Explain the relationship between tablespace, database, and data file.
An Oracle database is the collection of logically organised data, and the storage units contained within it are called a tablespace. Within the tablespace are data files that store the actual data. Thus, these physical structures confirm the operating system the Oracle is running. This organisation also allows Oracle to manage access data efficiently.
2. What do the numbers reflect in the Oracle version 9.3.0.5.0?
In this Oracle version, the numbers refer to:
9 – Major version representing the release of the software. Here, it refers to the Oracle 9i family.
3 – Database maintenance release number discusses minor updates and bugs within the major version.
0 – Application server release number
5 – Component specific release number indicates the release of a specific component within the Oracle.
0 – Platform specific release number or patch set update
3. Tabulate the difference between hot and cold backup and their benefits.
| Topic | Hot Backup | Cold Backup |
| Definition | This form of backup happens while the Oracle database is operational. It uses Oracle’s online backup functionality. Hot Backup also allows users to access and modify data during the ongoing process. |
Cold backup occurs after the Oracle database is shut down, making user activity impossible. Also, this is an offline process, preventing any changes from occurring. |
| Benefits | Among its several benefits, one major advantage of hot backup is its suitability for 24/7 operations.
The environments that cannot afford an extended period of downtime should go for this. |
Cold backup’s simplicity is one of its most beneficial aspects.
This form of offline backup is quite simple to implement as they just involve copying files. |
4. Explain the use of ANALYZE command in Oracle.
The ANALYZE command in Oracle is used to gather database objects like indices, clusters, and tables. These collected statistics are crucial for generating effective execution plans for SQL queries.
However, it is essential to note that starting from Oracle Database 10g, the ANALYZE command is deprecated, and using ‘DBMS_STATS’ is recommended.
5. How would you store pictures in a database?
Storing pictures in a database requires using the BLOB data type, designed to handle large binary objects. Apart from images, other extensive binary data, like audio, video, or any other multimedia files, can be stored directly using BLOB in the database.
Additionally, one should avoid the Long Raw data type as it is deprecated.
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Advance Oracle Interview Questions and Answers for Experienced Professionals
When it comes to interviewing an experienced professional in the field, the scenario changes, as the interviewee, in this case, already has the practical know-how of the industry. Hence, more challenging and complex questions come their way. Below are some Oracle PL/SQL interview questions, along with others that experienced professionals can expect.
1. Explain autonomous Oracle PL/SQL transactions and when to use them.
An autonomous transaction can be understood as an independent transaction within the major transaction that rolls back separately. It can be used when performing an isolated transaction without impacting the main transaction’s outcome, such as logging or auditing.
2. How does the database performance improve with Oracle’s real application clusters (RAC)?
The Oracle RAC enables the database to operate on multiple servers simultaneously. This, in return, distributes workload and improves performance with seamless failover and reduced redundancy.
Its parallel processing also supports large-scale data processing across multiple nodes, significantly reducing query execution time.
3. What are the benefits of using Oracle advanced queuing for message processing in a database environment?
Along with improving the scalability and performance of the database, Oracle advanced queuing offers asynchronous messages and decoupling applications. It also supports multi-customer communication patterns, ensuring reliable message delivery.
4. What is the purpose of the Oracle data pump utility?
The Oracle data pump utility facilitates fast and efficient data movement, supporting parallel processing for improved performance. Its advanced features provide filtering and transformation capabilities, making it a versatile tool for data movement.
5. How does the Oracle data in-memory performance option enhance query performance?
Storing data in a columnar format in the database’s memory allows faster data access and improves compression efficiency.
In-memory also uses advanced algorithms and optimizations to speed up analytical queries. And the dual-format architecture makes it ideal for mixed workloads.
How Should I Prepare for the Oracle Interview Questions?
Now that we are familiar with the Oracle interview questions and answers along with its process, it will be helpful for the candidates to learn some tips that can help them clinch their dream job. Below are some points you must know before going for the Oracle interview.
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Using the STAR method
The STAR method refers to the situation, task, action, and result a candidate should follow to answer a question. Describe the situation at hand and the task followed by your action toward it and the result of the entire experience.
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Good Java understanding
It is advisable to have a deep knowledge of Java as it is among Oracle’s most used products.
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Detailed knowledge of data structure and algorithms
Another crucial element before appearing for the Oracle interview is being well-versed in data structures and algorithms. The practical know-how of the subject will always earn you some brown points.
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Leave a lasting impression
Just answering the question won’t leave a good impression in the interviewer’s eye. The candidate should also focus on asking back questions, turning the interview into a conversation, and becoming an active participant.
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Exhibit your strengths
Interviews are scary, often leading to interviewees failing to describe their strengths as and when required. Such candidates might lose the opportunity to those confident about their strengths and prior accomplishments and can readily illustrate them when asked.
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Conclusion
Preparation is the key to success in any interview. Learning about Oracle’s interview process beforehand can significantly add an edge to a candidate’s chances of success. Networking with employees of the organisation, visiting websites, going through tutorials and taking relevant courses can help make the Oracle interview experience smoother.
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Explain autonomous Oracle PL/SQL transactions and when to use them.
An autonomous transaction can be understood as an independent transaction within the major transaction that rolls back separately. It can be used when performing an isolated transaction without impacting the main transaction’s outcome, such as logging or auditing.
How does the database performance improve with Oracle’s real application clusters (RAC)?
The Oracle RAC enables the database to operate on multiple servers simultaneously. This, in return, distributes workload and improves performance with seamless failover and reduced redundancy. Its parallel processing also supports large-scale data processing across multiple nodes, significantly reducing query execution time
What are the benefits of using Oracle advanced queuing for message processing in a database environment?
Along with improving the scalability and performance of the database, Oracle advanced queuing offers asynchronous messages and decoupling applications. It also supports multi-customer communication patterns, ensuring reliable message delivery.
What is the purpose of the Oracle data pump utility?
The Oracle data pump utility facilitates fast and efficient data movement, supporting parallel processing for improved performance. Its advanced features provide filtering and transformation capabilities, making it a versatile tool for data movement.
How does the Oracle data in-memory performance option enhance query performance?
Storing data in a columnar format in the database’s memory allows faster data access and improves compression efficiency. In-memory also uses advanced algorithms and optimisations to speed up analytical queries. And the dual-format architecture makes it ideal for mixed workloads.
