**Architectural Logic:** Same pattern as ID 116—window + filter. DENSE_RANK for 'include ties'; ROW_NUMBER for exactly 3. **Query:** WITH ranked AS (SELECT employee_id, name, department, salary, DENSE_RANK() OVER (PARTITION BY department ORDER BY salary DESC) AS rn FROM...
This medium-level SQL question appears frequently in data engineering interviews at companies like Bristol Myers Squibb, Wipro. While less common, it tests deeper understanding that distinguishes strong candidates. Mastering the underlying concepts (partition, window) will help you answer variations of this question confidently.
Break this problem into components. Identify the core trade-offs involved, then walk the interviewer through your reasoning step by step. Demonstrate awareness of edge cases and production considerations - this is what separates good answers from great ones.
Architectural Logic: Same pattern as ID 116—window + filter. DENSE_RANK for 'include ties'; ROW_NUMBER for exactly 3. Query: WITH ranked AS (SELECT employee_id, name, department, salary, DENSE_RANK() OVER (PARTITION BY department ORDER BY salary DESC) AS rn FROM employees) SELECT employee_id, name, department, salary FROM ranked WHERE rn <= 3 ORDER BY department, salary DESC. Business nuance: DENSE_RANK: if 2 people tie for 1st, both appear and you get 4 rows (2 at rank 1, 2 at rank 2). ROW_NUMBER: strictly 3 rows; define tiebreaker (e.g., employee_id) for determinism.
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Analyze My Answer — FreeAccording to DataEngPrep.tech, this is one of the most frequently asked SQL interview questions, reported at 2 companies. DataEngPrep.tech maintains a curated database of 1,863+ real data engineering interview questions across 7 categories, verified by industry professionals.