Landing My First Job

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Landing My First Job

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SqlNewJack

Posted Friday, April 22, 2011 2:19 PM

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I'm currently a student finishing up my CS degree and making a major career change from a completely different field. What skill set would you recommend (languages, vendors, soft skills, type of experience) for landing my first sql developer/junior dba/sql programmer position? Any and all advice is appreciated. Thank you!

Post #1097629

GilaMonster

Posted Friday, April 22, 2011 2:24 PM

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With no IT experience, it's not likely you'll be able to land a DBA job. Developer, maybe.
http://www.brentozar.com/becoming-a-dba/how-to-get-a-junior-dba-job/

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 #1097634

SQLRNNR

Posted Friday, April 22, 2011 5:09 PM

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If you have the opportunity to take on some community projects or an internship - do it. It could help build up some experience.

Jason AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
I have given a name to my pain...
MCM SQL Server 2008

SQL RNNR

Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw
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Post #1097669

Grant Fritchey

Posted Monday, April 25, 2011 5:14 AM

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I only know of one person who went straight from college to a full-time DBA and he spent about 18 months as an unpaid intern first. Since you have zero experience, the best place to start is at the help-desk at a large organization. Other than that... look around, talk to people, network like mad. You might find someone willing to take a chance.

Get a copy of Tom LaRock's book DBA Survivor. It might help some.

----------------------------------------------------
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood..." Theodore Roosevelt
The Scary DBA
Author of: SQL Server 2012 Query Performance Tuning
SQL Server 2008 Query Performance Tuning Distilled
and
SQL Server Execution Plans

Product Evangelist for Red Gate Software

Post #1098043

David Burrows

Posted Monday, April 25, 2011 5:41 AM

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GilaMonster (4/22/2011)

With no IT experience, it's not likely you'll be able to land a DBA job. Developer, maybe.

Wow Gail! Not sure whether, as a developer, I should feel insulted by that statement. Wink

You mean I could never be a DBA Crying

Only kidding really Kiss

Far away is close at hand in the images of elsewhere.

Anon.

Post #1098049

Ninja's_RGR'us

Posted Monday, April 25, 2011 5:52 AM

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David Burrows (4/25/2011)

GilaMonster (4/22/2011)

With no IT experience, it's not likely you'll be able to land a DBA job. Developer, maybe.

Wow Gail! Not sure whether, as a developer, I should feel insulted by that statement. Wink

You mean I could never be a DBA Crying

Only kidding really Kiss

In her world, DBA means last line of defense. You can't put someone there with no experience. If you are willing to start as dev, then the DBA can spot your problem areas and help you improve there. So her statement makes complete sense.

And yes you should be insulted Hehe

Post #1098054

David Burrows

Posted Monday, April 25, 2011 5:59 AM

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Ninja's_RGR'us (4/25/2011)[hrAnd yes you should be insulted Hehe

Bummer. Now I'll have to go and sit on the naughty chair Blush

Far away is close at hand in the images of elsewhere.

Anon.

Post #1098056

David Burrows

Posted Monday, April 25, 2011 6:03 AM

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Oh! And BTW I have seen some DBAs I would not like as my last line of defence w00t

Far away is close at hand in the images of elsewhere.

Anon.

Post #1098057

Ninja's_RGR'us

Posted Monday, April 25, 2011 6:27 AM

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David Burrows (4/25/2011)

Oh! And BTW I have seen some DBAs I would not like as my last line of defence w00t

I've seen 300+ employees companies with a network admin I wouldn't trust my calculator to for security nor data integrity!

Good thing I have many clients... they can't guess who I'm talking about. w00t

Post #1098065

GilaMonster

Posted Monday, April 25, 2011 6:38 AM

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Ninja's_RGR'us (4/25/2011)

David Burrows (4/25/2011)

GilaMonster (4/22/2011)

With no IT experience, it's not likely you'll be able to land a DBA job. Developer, maybe.

Wow Gail! Not sure whether, as a developer, I should feel insulted by that statement. Wink

You mean I could never be a DBA Crying

Only kidding really Kiss

In that case I insulted myself. I am a developer.

Seriously, few companies are going to give the keys to the data that runs their business, the responsibility for securing and guarding that data, for ensuring the reliability and integrity of data that literally runs the business to someone straight out of school.
Those that do are companies that you probably want to stay away from.

A developer makes a mistake, someone files a bug report (assuming that it's not caught in testing). A DBA makes a mistake, it could result in major data loss, major downtime, major financial impact, even closing of the business.

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 #1098068

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