Top 20 Database Administrator Interview Questions & Answers (2025)

Preparing for a Database Administrator (DBA) interview in 2025 means staying current with the latest database technologies, best practices, and security protocols. This curated list includes a wide range of behavioral, situational, technical, and cultural fit questions. Each answer is tailored to show strong understanding, professionalism, and practical knowledge required for today’s DBA roles.

Behavioral Questions

• 1. Tell me about a time you had to recover data after a system crash.
  I restored the backup using scheduled scripts and logs. I verified data integrity afterward to ensure no loss.
• 2. Describe a situation where you handled a high-pressure database issue.
  During peak hours, a query locked multiple tables. I quickly identified the issue and killed the blocking process, restoring performance.
• 3. Have you ever had a disagreement with a developer over database design?
  Yes, we disagreed on normalization vs. performance. We resolved it through a compromise, applying partial denormalization with indexing.
• 4. Tell me about a successful database migration you led.
  I planned and executed an Oracle to PostgreSQL migration, minimizing downtime by using logical replication tools.
• 5. How do you prioritize your daily DBA tasks?
  I start with monitoring alerts and resolving issues, then move on to maintenance, backups, and project-based tasks.

Situational Questions

• 6. What would you do if a database was growing too fast?
  I’d analyze growth trends, clean up unused data, archive old records, and consider partitioning large tables.
• 7. How would you handle an unexpected spike in database latency?
  I'd identify long-running queries, check CPU/memory, and analyze execution plans to find and fix bottlenecks.
• 8. How would you approach database optimization for a legacy system?
  I’d review indexing, analyze query performance, and gradually refactor high-cost queries with minimal impact.
• 9. If a backup failed overnight, what would be your next steps?
  I’d immediately re-run the backup, analyze logs, identify the failure reason, and resolve it to prevent recurrence.
• 10. You discover a critical vulnerability in your database system. What do you do?
  I’d assess exposure, inform stakeholders, patch the system immediately, and monitor for any suspicious activity.

Technical Questions

• 11. What’s the difference between clustered and non-clustered indexes?
  Clustered indexes sort the actual data rows, while non-clustered indexes use pointers to locate the data.
• 12. How do you ensure database security?
  I apply least privilege access, use encryption (TDE), audit logs, and patch regularly to mitigate vulnerabilities.
• 13. What tools do you use for monitoring database performance?
  I use tools like SQL Profiler, SolarWinds DPA, and native monitoring dashboards in MySQL, SQL Server, and Oracle.
• 14. What is normalization? Why is it important?
  Normalization structures data to reduce redundancy and improve integrity. It enhances storage efficiency and consistency.
• 15. How do you handle replication in databases?
  I configure replication (transactional/mirroring) based on need, and monitor sync regularly using health checks and alerts.

Cultural Fit Questions

• 16. How do you keep your technical skills up to date?
  I take part in webinars, follow database blogs, take online courses, and experiment with new DBMS features in test environments.
• 17. How do you ensure collaboration with cross-functional teams?
  I attend stand-ups, keep documentation updated, and communicate effectively to align database strategy with business needs.
• 18. Describe your work style when managing multiple database systems.
  I work methodically, automate repetitive tasks, and use ticketing systems to track priorities efficiently.
• 19. What do you value most in a company’s culture?
  I value transparency, innovation, and teamwork, where learning and growth are encouraged across departments.
• 20. How do you handle criticism or feedback?
  I welcome constructive feedback and use it as an opportunity to improve my skills and service quality.