Career as a Database Admin

[jwdcfdeveloper]

I am curious about a career as a DBA/db architect. The interesting thing I am finding is that most database jobs these days also require strong skills in Java (I see C++ alot and I am starting to see C# some too here in Chicago). I have noticed this shift in past 1-2 years. Are employers requiring more of database people? Is anyone else noticing the line between db developer/admin and developer blurring more and more?

 

[JRBeltman]

Oh my!

My understanding (but I could be sooooo wrong) of database admin means having the word QUERTY (us keyboard required) printed on your forehead. In other words boring!!

Programming is much more fun (so I think) and you can use databases a lot these days in programming!

Maybe it even pays better?

JR
As a wise man once said: To build the house you need the stone.
Back to the Basics!

 

[JRBeltman]

Sorry, I misspelled your new tatoo:

QWERTY it is

JR
As a wise man once said: To build the house you need the stone.
Back to the Basics!

 

[Corran007]

Yes Some. And ill tell you why. its many reasons from what ive seen. the first is that the systems are getting easier to take care of. acutally alot of them say upgrade cause there is less maintencance to do. This means less time required to do maintenance and more time for other things. For oracle, its because you can write code in oracle stored procedures. the same with vb/c# in the next version of sql server. The third is that alot of companys want thier dbas to write special tools and applications. Fourth dbas are become more well rounded. you dont typically have a prod or devl dba anymore. now they are expecting you to do both. to be a good devl dba, i really think you need to know the enviornment they are working in to be truely effetive. these are just some things ive noticed.

 

[Onyxpurr]

I think it also has to do a lot with the size of the company. I had a friend that was hired only to do COBOL compiling for a very large company. However for your small to middle sized companies they can't afford or have the applications large enough to hire specialized areas. Instead they need someone who can do everything needed associated with the database, documentation, questioning the customer, create the database, build the front-end, roll-out and support.

To tell you the truth this is what I prefer. However eveyone is different. Also, don't be afraid to apply for these jobs. The may be interested in someone who has a strong background in one are but also able to learn new technologies easily.

 

[screwloose]

Onyxpurr is correct that large companies hire people for specific jobs. I worked for a Fortune 400 company as a Unix admin. They also had networking, IS security, who did nothing but that; and sometimes even that was pared down, such as, IS security was broken down to a compliance team and there was an intrusion detection team. Networking was broken down too.

But as noted above, a small company cannot afford to pay 4 people $80,000/yr to perform a specific job, so they hire generalists who can do many tasks, but probably none of them expertly.

At times I am glad that I am specialized (because I get to know my skill in-depth) and have a secondary skill that I am fairly strong in. It is common that specialists have 1 or 2 secondary skills they are fairly strong in. Other times, I remember back to my first job and I did OCL, some RPG, networking, Unix, PC repair, tech support over the phone, installed machines for customers at remote locations, NT, relational databases, ISAM databases; you name it, I did it. Sometimes I really miss that job because I was constantly busy and always had something new to learn. It didn’t become so much of a “rut” that my job seems to be as a Unix Sys Admin (and only that).

 

[JRBeltman]

Hi Screwloose,
does this

I worked for a Fortune 400 company as a Unix admin

That you are no longer working with that woman you oh so liked?

JR
As a wise man once said: To build the house you need the stone.
Back to the Basics!

 

[screwloose]

Oh heaven’s no! That was my former company. I now work somewhere else with Wonder Woman.