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Where are the good Senior Level DBA's?
187 posts, Page 2 of 19
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Where are the good Senior Level DBA's?
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Tim Parker
Tim Parker
Posted Friday, October 15, 2010 11:04 AM
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Last Login: Friday, May 10, 2013 8:23 PM
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Kettle drums are cool, they can be tuned to pitch.
Post #1005381
Lonewolf DBA
Lonewolf DBA
Posted Friday, October 15, 2010 11:32 AM
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If a DBA works for a single organization for many years and never works outside that organization then they will only have the tools that are required by that job. So a DBA can conceivably work for 15 years and not know all the ins and outs of being a senior DBA, though they are titled a Senior DBA. If a DBA works a few years here and a few years there, acquiring the skills each unique experience affords then, as well as working with various other database professional, they learn to use a wider variety of SQL tools and master more of the techniques required to perform at a senior level.
Post #1005408
GilaMonster
GilaMonster
Posted Friday, October 15, 2010 11:39 AM
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GSquared (10/15/2010)
On the other hand, someone can be a very skilled DBA without being a skiller performance tuning expert. "DBA" covers WAY too much scope these days.
That's why I used to check CV for responsibilities before interview. If your CV states that you are a performance tuning specialist and don't know what an execution plan is or where to find it and have never heard of Profiler, there's a problem...
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008, MVP
SQL In The Wild
: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
Post #1005419
GSquared
GSquared
Posted Friday, October 15, 2010 11:42 AM
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GilaMonster (10/15/2010)
GSquared (10/15/2010)
On the other hand, someone can be a very skilled DBA without being a skiller performance tuning expert. "DBA" covers WAY too much scope these days.
That's why I used to check CV for responsibilities before interview. If your CV states that you are a performance tuning specialist and don't know what an execution plan is or where to find it and have never heard of Profiler, there's a problem...
But Gail, I'm a performance tuning expert, and last I heard, profiling is politically incorrect....
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon
Post #1005423
Tim Parker
Tim Parker
Posted Friday, October 15, 2010 11:42 AM
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That hits the nail on the head. I agree with you 100%.
I personally feel that I get discriminated against because of my time in grade as a SQL Server DBA. I have been exposed to a lot of facets in the world of SQL Server, and feel like I have a decent skill set. I've had a recruiter tell me that due to my 4 years experience, I did not posses the edge that the more seasoned (aka. 7+ years experience) SQL Server DBA's had. I told him to put me up against one of your seniors and I will show you what I can do.
I believe the industry as a whole may place too much emphasis on the years of experience, versus the actual aptitude of the individual they are interviewing. By putting the scenario exercise in place during the interview process, this bias can be erased from the industry.
In my little corner of the world, this has atleast been my experience.
Post #1005424
Steve Jones - SSC Editor
Steve Jones - SSC Editor
Posted Friday, October 15, 2010 11:56 AM
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Tim Parker (10/15/2010)
I believe the industry as a whole may place too much emphasis on the years of experience, versus the actual aptitude of the individual they are interviewing. By putting the scenario exercise in place during the interview process, this bias can be erased from the industry.
Bingo, this and certs are an issue.
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Post #1005435
GSquared
GSquared
Posted Friday, October 15, 2010 12:06 PM
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Tim Parker (10/15/2010)
That hits the nail on the head. I agree with you 100%.
I personally feel that I get discriminated against because of my time in grade as a SQL Server DBA. I have been exposed to a lot of facets in the world of SQL Server, and feel like I have a decent skill set. I've had a recruiter tell me that due to my 4 years experience, I did not posses the edge that the more seasoned (aka. 7+ years experience) SQL Server DBA's had. I told him to put me up against one of your seniors and I will show you what I can do.
I believe the industry as a whole may place too much emphasis on the years of experience, versus the actual aptitude of the individual they are interviewing. By putting the scenario exercise in place during the interview process, this bias can be erased from the industry.
In my little corner of the world, this has atleast been my experience.
Write articles for sites like this one. Once published, put it on your resume. You may be surprised how big an edge "being published" can give you, even with a dearth of years. Then prepare to dazzle with tech screening answers.
I just finished job hunting a few weeks ago. I got 6 interviews in one week, and every single manager mentioned that having published articles mentioned right near the top of my resume was one of the key reasons they wanted to interview me. Got me past a lot of people who would otherwise have rejected my resume because I don't have a degree.
And in every interview, I made sure I didn't give "stock" answers to the technical questions. Give memorable answers. (This works best if your memorable answers are accurate, of course.) Never brush off a question. Even the standard "what's the difference between table variables and temp tables" can make you memorable if you can quote some data about "there are DBA urban legends that table variables are faster because they're stored in RAM, but Microsoft says...". The other twenty people who interview will give the stock answers, half of them will give the wrong data. You say something accurate, memorable, and that shows a deep understanding of the subject, and you'll stick out in the interviewer's mind.
You don't have to be memorable on every answer you give. You just have to be memorable at least once. Marketing research shows that most people can only keep the top three brands in mind when asked about any given product, and it'll be based on "flash", not "substance". You are the product that you're selling, and your answers and conversation are your "flash". People will even misattribute positive qualities to the most recognizable/memorable brand name, even when clearly advertised about a less well-known brand. (Works conversely too. People will read a news article about a problem with an Apple product, and will answer that it was about Microsoft if asked about it the next day.) This doesn't work as well with people who are themselves experts on the subject, but still applies.
Engage the interviewer in a conversation, and not a dull, routine one. Nobody will remember the DBA interviewee who says that "there are three types of backups: Full, Diff, and Log", they will more likely remember the guy who says, "there are three main types of backups: Full, Diff, and Log. Did you know that SQL 2008 can natively compress backups, and that it's actually faster when they do that on most servers? I/O is more of a bottleneck than CPU, so the extra work the CPU has to do to compress the backup is more than made up for by the reduction in I/O bottleneck because you're writing less to the disk. Kind of cool, isn't it?" Even better yet, "Full, Diff and Log. Have you had a chance to try out the new backup compression in SQL 2008?" That lets the interviewer engage, instead of just listening to you ramble.
When they ask if you have any questions, at the end of the interview, ask "Am I leaving you with any questions or concerns about my ability to do the duties of the job?" Clear anything up at that point.
I followed those rules, and I got offers from all 6 companies I interviewed at. Your milleage will vary. But do try it.
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
Property of The Thread
"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon
Post #1005450
PaulB-TheOneAndOnly
PaulB-TheOneAndOnly
Posted Friday, October 15, 2010 12:58 PM
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GSquared (10/15/2010)
I'm a performance tuning expert, and last I heard, profiling is politically incorrect.
You made my day
_____________________________________
Pablo (Paul) Berzukov
Author of
Understanding Database Administration
available at Amazon and other bookstores.
Disclaimer: Advice is provided to the best of my knowledge but no implicit or explicit warranties are provided. Since the advisor explicitly encourages testing any and all suggestions on a test non-production environment advisor should not held liable or responsible for any actions taken based on the given advice.
Post #1005507
SQLBill
SQLBill
Posted Friday, October 15, 2010 4:32 PM
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Senior DBA is a title. That's all it is. Companies have job titles for each position. Regardless of whether it is called Senior DBA, Lead DBA, or Super DBA...it usually just means the one who's been at the job longest or the most knowledgeable. It only relates to that company and the co-employees.
However, it can give a starting place in an interview. I worked for a company where my job title was Senior DBA. Was I the senior DBA - yes - I was the ONLY DBA. Was I an experienced DBA, no way, it was my first job after I got the training. But I was a Senior DBA.
Just because someone's resume says their job title is Senior DBA doesn't mean their experience matches.
But another thing to consider, someone who has 7 years of experience could be a 'senior' DBA - it just might be in SS2000. So saying a person isn't a 'senior' DBA because they aren't a guru in SS2008 really isn't fair. Not every company upgrades to the greatest and latest.
Anyways....names can mean anything - that's why interviews are done.
-SQLBill
Post #1005629
GSquared
GSquared
Posted Monday, October 18, 2010 11:07 AM
SSCoach
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Last Login: 2 days ago @ 1:45 PM
Points: 15,442,
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To add to SQL Bill's point, nobody is going to put "Junior DBA, 10 years" on their resume, even if that was their job title that whole time.
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
Property of The Thread
"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon
Post #1006400
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