Career Choice: Database Administrator

[ssampier]

It's the guy who calls the DBA at 3am because the Application/System can't run without a database. (If it is outsourced it is Tech Support, if it is inhouse it is Operations Support.)

That's kind of what I do now. I handle technical support for the company I work for, the difference is that it's not internal employees it's our customers. It's very extroverted work. I am good at my job, but it's very draining. After 6-7 hours of this, I want to shut the door to the world.

 

[der_kluge]

Good point. I am just trying to realistic. I know I can't just step out with a certification and make $60 k a year.

Here's a tip: Consultants will believe whatever you tell them. When they ask what you are currently making, there's nothing illegal about telling them that you make $5-$10k more than you actually do.

What is operations support?

Operations can be many things. UNIX operations are guys who make sure UNIX servers stay operational. System Operaters monitor jobs and production streams looking for jobs that crash and notifying oncall support. They might schedule reports to run, or any number of administrative type duties.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

I am an Oracle DBA.

Keep in mind, the life of the DBA is often one of constant phone calls, unreasonable deadlines, and management that doesn't know what you realy need to do your job.

Quoted for truth.

But, this I have to disagree with:

A much better option, is once you get the DBA skills, pick up some other programming, or learn applications that deal with the database, like Peoplesoft or some such. That is where a DBA can make money, supporting Database Interface programs.

Top-end Oracle DBAs can make a lot of money just doing database work. While that will involve some programming in Oracle's own special PL/SQL product, you wouldn't really need other programing languages. But, on the other hand, someone who knows PeopleSlop can rake in the bucks--but you have to deal with PeopleSlop (which Oracle bought and is currently phasing out, so don't spend money learning PeopleSlop unless you know it's the most current version or at least a version you will be working with. After we go to PeopleSlop 8.9, we're going to "Fusion" (the PeopleSlop / Oracle HR hybrid from hell) and after that who knows....).

To me DBA looks to be a "Mother Hen" job where you spend half of your time protecting the system from developers , and half your time dealing with crisis’s , and another half looking at what's needed down the line. :\

Quoted for truth.

Here's a tip: Consultants will believe whatever you tell them.

The corollary to this axiom is that "management believes whatever consultants tell them." So, once you're an Oracle DBA, don't be surprised when PHBs (that, "Pointy-Haired Bosses") never listen to you (despite your training, experience, and testing) and ask you to do totally stupid things that any competent DBA should never do.

No, I'm not bitter.


There is a lot of good information in this thread; the other piece of information I would stress is that DBA is pretty much a dead-end job (as der_kluge pointed out above). Unless you want to move into management. And by that, I mean general IT management, not just managing a DBA team. And none of the good DBAs want to do that (that's why they're good DBAs).

Good luck!

 

[ssampier]

I am an Oracle DBA.

Any specific reason I should choose Oracle over Microsoft SQL Server or any other server database?

The corollary to this axiom is that "management believes whatever consultants tell them." So, once you're an Oracle DBA, don't be surprised when PHBs (that, "Pointy-Haired Bosses") never listen to you (despite your training, experience, and testing) and ask you to do totally stupid things that any competent DBA should never do.

No, I'm not bitter.

No, of course, not. In any case, what's the best way to appease your P.H.B. (besides fake budget reports, of course)?

There is a lot of good information in this thread; the other piece of information I would stress is that DBA is pretty much a dead-end job (as der_kluge pointed out above). Unless you want to move into management. And by that, I mean general IT management, not just managing a DBA team. And none of the good DBAs want to do that (that's why they're good DBAs).

Good luck!

It think it depends on my relative skill. I'm really good, staying a DBA wouldn't be so bad. If I'm average to good, management may be an option. At least I wouldn't be a P.H.B.

Thanks!

 

[ssampier]

Here's a tip: Consultants will believe whatever you tell them. When they ask what you are currently making, there's nothing illegal about telling them that you make $5-$10k more than you actually do.

Good tip. But when I am dealing with consultants (possibly at salary negotiation)?

Operations can be many things. UNIX operations are guys who make sure UNIX servers stay operational. System Operaters monitor jobs and production streams looking for jobs that crash and notifying oncall support. They might schedule reports to run, or any number of administrative type duties.

System Operators sounds like an interesting "trench" job.

Speaking of which, any specific advice how to obtain these trench jobs?

 

[nerfherder]

So, once you're an Oracle DBA, don't be surprised when PHBs (that, "Pointy-Haired Bosses") never listen to you (despite your training, experience, and testing) and ask you to do totally stupid things that any competent DBA should never do.

True example from my work a couple of months ago. Six experienced DBAs/data analysts/developers that have done years of database design and implementation are having a quick discussion on the best way to integrate with some 3rd party software to be written by a supplier. We decide on using views, and specifying them in an interface spec for use by our supplier, because some of the details of the underlying tables (that aren't needed by the 3rd party software) aren't yet finalised. PHB project manager wanders past, overhears us and says in a loud, booming voice that carries right across the open-plan office "No, you should use tables, views are rubbish". We quickly explained to him in no uncertain terms that this was a technical decision that was going to be taken by the experienced database technical team - or did he want us to manage the project while he did the technical work...

Cheers,
Liam

 

[MonsterMash]

If you want to learn either Oracle or SQL Server there are now somewhat cutdown versions being made available for free by Oracle and M$, the open source systems like postgres and MySQL are free as well.

I've generally been an analyst/programmer for most of my career in IT, usually on Oracle/Unix platforms, though I've also been exposed to MS and currently working on implementing a version control product (think an inhouse SourceForge) using GForge with a platform of PHP, postgresql and subversion on Linux. Luckily this is an R&D system so no out of hours support. Personally I've steered clear of the DBA and systems admin career paths in favour of developing systems as I prefer the project based situations, trying to define the paths the business should take, etc.

 

[Bront]

What is operations support?

We're the people that call you when things go wrong.

It can vary from simple hardware/software issues (usually more of a help desk), to things like what I do, which is Batch Monitoring (Watching the job stream, troubleshooting and ticketing issues, working with support to resolve failed jobs, scheduling and calling in jobs).

If you go the path of the DBA, be friendly with Operations Support. Some guy calls you at 3 AM, it's usually some guy who's been working all night. And grumpy support people tend to get less than plesant responces from Operations Support, particularly when it's an issue that fails regularly.

Honestly, it's probably a good way to get into a company. The pay can be fairly decient, you get to learn how people interact with applications or how the system handles the use of databases, and it should give you an appreciation for the support guys on the phone who call you asking you to fix things. I've been at my current position for almost a year, and it has been a lot of fun, as well as a learning experience in IT Infrastructure. On an average night, I get to watch at least fifty thousand jobs, many of which run multiple times throughout the night, as well as play with the infrastructure that keeps them going.

 

[Bront]

System Operators sounds like an interesting "trench" job.

Speaking of which, any specific advice how to obtain these trench jobs?

Schooling can help, so can certifications, but generaly employers are begining to look for experience as well. Simple tech work can lead to bigger and better things if you are constantly striving to learn them.

A big thing is to keep yourself out there. Working tech support? Start looking for that next step after you've settiled in for a little bit. It may take a while, but keeping a look out is good, and doing it while you have a job is not only better for you and your finances, it looks good to an employer to see that you're driven to move beyond your current position.

Simple Certifications that help: A+, Network+, MCSA and MCSE (and even the tests heading into them).

A+ is fairly easy to get with some study (It's mostly hardware, with a little OS support), Network+ is a bit more complex (Hardware and Software of networking), and the MCSA and MCSE are made up of several different parts.

 

[der_kluge]

Good tip. But when I am dealing with consultants (possibly at salary negotiation)?

I think you mean recruiters. Yes. A large part of how they gauge how talented you are is by how much you are currently making. If there are two candidates, one of whom makes $30k more than the other is going to be assumed to be the more qualified or experienced. If you talk to a recruiter, it's always one of the first questions they'll ask.

Speaking of which, any specific advice how to obtain these trench jobs?

No specific advice. Most larger companies will have data centers that house all their hardware. Someone has to monitor all that hardware in 24x7 support. So, they usually have 3 shifts of people on a rotating schedule. It takes a lot of people to monitor a bunch of hardware 24x7. As with any job, it's often a matter of who you know.