October 23, 2013 at 3:05 am
I hope it's ok to ask this here. Tell me if it's the wrong board.
There are some really impressive people here, and every day I'm blown away by the stuff you know. Not just the depth, but the range of the knowledge here is terrifying. There is ALWAYS something else to learn. Most days I feel like I'll never do it. Did any of you become a DBA by accident, realise you loved it and end up doing a great job?
October 23, 2013 at 3:14 am
I'm not a DBA, so I can't really answer on the accidental part.
However, the amount of knowledge on this site is indeed amazing, but don't let that scare you.
Don't forget that this is a collective effort. There's no-one who knows everything there is to know about SQL Server.
Even hardcore DBAs like Gail, Jeff and others have gaps in their knowledge. Most of the time it's the BI features 😀
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
October 23, 2013 at 3:26 am
I am a DBA and yes it was accidental, I applied for an IT job not really knowing what I would be doing after college and 5 years later.. here I am still doing it.
Most of the time with being a DBA, you only really learn new things when a new requirement comes up and you have to learn it. If there is no real requirement, its hard to know what you should be looking to pick up, and even if you do have an idea, its hard to make it stick without actively working with the new functions.
Dont worry about learning everything in a short space of time. You will pick it up as and when required.
October 23, 2013 at 3:26 am
Koen Verbeeck (10/23/2013)
Even hardcore DBAs like Gail, Jeff and others have gaps in their knowledge.
I utterly refuse to believe this :-D.
October 23, 2013 at 3:37 am
Beatrix Kiddo (10/23/2013)
Koen Verbeeck (10/23/2013)
Even hardcore DBAs like Gail, Jeff and others have gaps in their knowledge.
I utterly refuse to believe this :-D.
Ask them about SSIS 🙂
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
October 23, 2013 at 4:35 am
I'm not a DBA! I never was but I did a lot of backups, recoverings, replications, tunnings, design, etc.
Early in my life I got a half period job in a GED company, just to create some web pages.
Their application was a big old and bugged one and the DB was messy and HUGE, the IT dept was just a lonely accidental DBA and me.
I started to help fix the bugs at that (damn) application (from hell) and at the time they arised at per hour rate (its was falling apart really bad).
At some point the DBA entered the room, give me that old hardcover MS SQL Manual and said "I'm out, this is all yours!".
Well I started to learn and to do (all night) DB fixes, that are crazy days (and nights).
With a lot of SSC help the DB started to run smoother.
Short history end: In four years the company grew a lot, we hired a bunch of IT pro and I finally started (and finished) college.
After writing it I can say thanks your all 🙂
October 23, 2013 at 5:46 am
Koen Verbeeck (10/23/2013)
Ask them about SSIS 🙂
You first. I have a healthy sense of self-preservation.
Sorry I missed your post earlier, SQLSteve. That's reassuring. I'm stressing myself out massively over trying to make the move over into a 'proper' (probably Junior) DBA job from the accidental one I have now. The job adverts all want absolutely everything, INCLUDING excellent T-SQL. I don't have a lot of my scripts memorised, but I know what they do and when to use them. Even so I'd probably fail a test because they seem to test extensively for that even for a Production DBA, which is what I want to be.
At some point the DBA entered the room, give me that old hardcover MS SQL Manual and said "I'm out, this is all yours!".
Wow, talk about a baptism of fire! Probably a great opportunity, though?
(What's SSC in this context? Wikipedia suggests So Solid Crew :cool:.)
October 23, 2013 at 5:49 am
Beatrix Kiddo (10/23/2013)
(What's SSC in this context? Wikipedia suggests So Solid Crew :cool:.)
SQLServerCentral 😉
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
October 23, 2013 at 5:52 am
Oh god, now I have to go and kill myself.
I can't stop laughing. I never call it that. I am not this stupid really.
October 23, 2013 at 6:08 am
Beatrix Kiddo (10/23/2013)
The job adverts all want absolutely everything, INCLUDING excellent T-SQL. I don't have a lot of my scripts memorised, but I know what they do and when to use them.
That's because with big companies the job spec is usually written by some guy in HR that has some buzzwords memorised so just adds them. Earlier this year, I had a recruitment agency send me a job spec that required a minimum of 5 years experience with SQL Server 2012.
It's my experience that once you get into the technical interview they aren't after finding out how much code you have memorised but are more interested in how your thought process works. You can always Google syntax.
October 23, 2013 at 6:15 am
Cadavre (10/23/2013)
Earlier this year, I had a recruitment agency send me a job spec that required a minimum of 5 years experience with SQL Server 2012.
I love it.
It's my experience that once you get into the technical interview they aren't after finding out how much code you have memorised but are more interested in how your thought process works. You can always Google syntax.
That's reassuring, thanks.
October 23, 2013 at 6:27 am
100% Accidental.
I mainly took the job because it paid more. Flat out. When I was offered the job, I said no... until I was told the raise that went with it. Then... I developed a love for it in order to keep that gravy train running.
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
- Theodore Roosevelt
Author of:
SQL Server Execution Plans
SQL Server Query Performance Tuning
October 23, 2013 at 6:35 am
Koen Verbeeck (10/23/2013)
Even hardcore DBAs like Gail, Jeff and others have gaps in their knowledge.
I am not a DBA. I have never once had a DBA job. I'm a developer, specialising in database development (and design, performance tuning)
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
October 23, 2013 at 6:51 am
GilaMonster (10/23/2013)
Koen Verbeeck (10/23/2013)
Even hardcore DBAs like Gail, Jeff and others have gaps in their knowledge.I am not a DBA. I have never once had a DBA job. I'm a developer, specialising in database development (and design, performance tuning)
Sorry to have offended you 🙂
Yet you have a session on PASS about database corruption, which seems like a DBA thing to me 😉
edit: saw some parts of the session on PASSTV today. Seemed like a nice session.
Need an answer? No, you need a question
My blog at https://sqlkover.com.
MCSE Business Intelligence - Microsoft Data Platform MVP
October 23, 2013 at 6:54 am
Grant Fritchey (10/23/2013)
I mainly took the job because it paid more. Flat out. When I was offered the job, I said no... until I was told the raise that went with it. Then... I developed a love for it in order to keep that gravy train running.
Good answer! Was there a stage you can pinpoint when you moved from accidental to 'real'? (Actually, I'll take a look at your blog.)
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