Started of ok

Talked a bit about my most recent experience, 3 years Oracle financial analyser 11i, Hyperion essbase 6.x. trainer and 2nd line support for large pharma comp. Good OLAP and multi-dimensional skills.

He asks me what a cartesien join is ?

I guessed it was to do with access but I didn't have a feckin' clue !

I got my coat :(

Bah - 1st interview in over 3 years - crashed and burned

Not necessarily mate.
They'll assess you on your overall performance at the interview, your personality and skillset(s). One question alone won't fail you.
Have you heard yet or asked for feedback ?

Chin up, and keep searching Jobserve in the meantime.
I'm trying to get an IT Job Forum going here on Scoobynet for any peeps to pass on info/job opps etc.

:)

a cartesian join is where you join 2+ tables, but don't specify the join clause.

I imagine all 1st time SQLers are cartesian programmers ;). I didn't find out that little phrase until recently, so don't beat yourself up about it.

Jods i wouldn't get too downbeat about it.
I obviously dont know your background, ie wether your permie or
contractor. Looks like your a permie if you havent been for an interview for 3 years.
There are loads of factors involved in getting a job, a lot of which are out of your control anyway.
Agencies arranging interviews where the client is unsure even if they require to outsource or not.
(happened to me twice)
The interviewer may have already made up their mind b4 you get there.

The only thing you can do is have a good cv but be truthful in it.
If you get picked for interview, you know you can do the job.

If you are asked stuff that wasnt included in job spec ask why.

Inform the agent if they didnt get the job spec right
(its annoying when they get it wrong)

At present employers seem pi$$ about, cagey when taking ppl on.
Asking for mutliple skills that would take 30 years to learn them all.
You know, "Suit Young person, with 5 years 2000 server experience, 3 yrs SQL. 4 yrs Win XP.Cisco certified. 2nd jobber "
Ok 30 yrs is an exageration, you get the drift.

The only trouble right now is, with the current downturn in IT, there are hunners of guys and gals out there chasing the one job, so an employer can afford to be picky and wait for the right mix (and for the poor sap to take the p*ss poor salary offer because they have no choice other than unemployment)

Hard times just now.

For the job I just got, I needed at least 3 years (and current too) sql svr 7/2000, oracle 8+, vb 6, cics, cobol, db2 and crystal reports as well as leadership experience too.

it's getting tricky out there for IT peeps!

I want to be a freelance plumber.

Fcuks sake, not wanting much then !

Tradesmen get paid a whack right now.
There's not enough of them out there since everyone moved to IT, so good plumbers, joiners, electricians etc are being screamed for.

1 question should not wreck things for you. Once again i will say it, if you are care free and single, you could always try moving to the Isle of Man, we have 0% unemployment here and a variety of positions available in the financial sector.

If you fancy a rough browse, maybe look at these jobs still not filled.

http://www.miracles.co.im

http://www.hamblin.co.im

The isle of man is not everyones cup of tea but it is a nice place to live, very pieceful and NO car crime which helps with insurance.