Education
In terms of education, SQL developers must have at least an associate degree in computer science, although most organizations prefer applicants with a bachelor’s degree. Professional certifications from reputable organizations such as Microsoft-Certified IT Professional (MCITP), Microsoft-Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), or Microsoft-Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) also help. Big corporations often require that applicants have 3–7 years of experience in actual SQL development.
Skills
When it comes to skills, SQL developer wannabes need to have a working knowledge of Transact-SQL (T-SQL) and .NET frameworks. Since their work involves migrating database details from old to new systems, they must be able to detect issues with conversion. SQL developers must thus be able to work with all versions of SQL programs.
Additional Skills
Additional good-to-have skills include familiarity with big data technologies, C#, SQL Server Integration and Reporting, JavaScript, PHP, and HTML. SQL developers often work with database administrators. As such, they should have excellent communication and time management skills as well.