Testing my Access skills

Today I went to the second job interview for a post that requires query skills in Access.

I did not know what to expect, so I practised writing queries as sql statements, instead of using Access' query generator.

In FoxPro 2.6 Developer's Guide I found 24 query questions with solutions. Already the second question stumped my Access skills:

'Determine how many states have at least one customer residing in them.'

The FoxPro solution is:
SELECT Count(distinct state) FROM CUSTOMER,
but that does not flush with Access.

I didn't find a solution before the interview, but I should not have worried. I was given three queries to do and the last one gave me some problems as I haven't done too many crosstab queries in my life. I got the columns and rows right looking, but the numbers were not correct.

'We are looking at the way you approach problem solving,' was the interviewer's comment, 'not that you get everything right.'

Personally I would hire me, not for what I know, but for my hunger and ability to get to know what I don't know.

We'll see if this firm sees it the same way. The verdict falls in a week's time.

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When I find an Access solution to the problem mentioned in the beginning, I will post it here as a comment. If you beat me to it, shame on me!