Successful DBA
-
... and one more take ... not only do companies 'love' well qualified DBAs ... well qualified DBAs 'love' companies that hire them to fix what unqualified DBAs have done ! 😛
RegardsRudy KomacsarSenior Database Administrator"Ave Caesar! - Morituri te salutamus."
-
Hmmm... Nobody here suggested getting certified. I will leave that for another debate, but if you ask DBAs how they became one, they will respond that they fell into the job. Most came from being a system admin or a developer.
How many people go to school or take classes to be a DBA? Very few... How many people take classes to become a developer or admin? Lots....
Are there other DBAs there? What is your attitude? Are you the type of person who will help out even if it infringes on personal time or other things important to you? Have you developed a network of DBAs (perhaps at the local SQL Server User Group)? Can you demonstrate that you know your limits? Can you demonstrate that you know the resources to go to for tough questions?
-
how can be a lawyer be Perfect?
-
You never said what your job title is or what the job description is, so your comment about "proving yourself as a good DBA" is a little vague.
Post some details about the job you have and we can give you more specific advice, but if you're trying to prove yourself a good DBA and you don't even have access to do proper DBA work, it's going to be a long, uphill battle.
-
unfortunately; by the time you feel like you are getting a successful or near proficient
grasp on the current sql envrironment or material... it will be time for the next release,
and you start all over again.
this is what makes some of the IT industry frustrating, and by that point after spending all
that time in the trenches getting to know this stuff; you are about ready to do something
else.
the caveat is that your so vested in databases that it's easier to drudge through it again
meanwhile griping all the way on how you would like to do something else. possibly not in IT.
catch 22
_________________________
-
just to clear something up... i'm not saying it's a bad life. only that the frustrations
can bring you to that point.
i suppose i'm done with the rant.
_________________________
-
If you enjoy it, love it and breath it, then sky's the limit!
Good luck!
-
Here's my story - hopefully it helps:
I had several years of experience working as a technical consultant for a company selling a CRM/SFA database program. That was my introduction to databases.
From there, I did a lot of experimenting with Access, and got some small contracts to develop small dbs.
From there, I wanted to make the jump to SQL Server.
So, I decided to study for the Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist: SQL Server 2005 exam. I studied my rear-end off for about 5 months, and passed on the first shot. That certification definitely helped to get me some interviews, but my confidence really came from the fact that I've got several "workshop" databases that I am constantly work and experiment with, on my own time, that I started during my study phase.
So, while I was looking for jobs, I was keeping my knowledge active. In interviews, when employers would ask me questions, and have me take their own SQL tests, I felt confident and did well, because I had experience with SQL Server 2005, without having "professional work experience".
From that point, you just need to get lucky and find an employer who's not looking for a candidate with 5-7 years of experience. That took me a couple of months of searching, but am happy to report that I've found a great job now.
Best of luck with your search.
-
Well welcome to the crazy world of the DBA or as we say at my place Welcome to 7734.
Anyhow, I like Rudy's rule do no harm and make sure you can recover from or undo it and as my grandfather always said, be ready to put on your overalls and shovel lots of cr@p! Basically don't be afraid to work hard and learn.
As for me I started with small things and made sure the were rock solid...like backups and transaction logs were always successful...the log shipping was always completed. Security was another fundamental that I made sure to completely understand. The go after Performance Tuning.
Take any free moment and read something about SQL. There are so many good books and white papers that can be read in a short setting. I read so many of the SQL books my wife laughed at me. During her pregnancy, she read books on babies and I read on SQL. I don't know much about birthing no babies but I sure know my way around SQL.
I don't believe much in certifications but prefer the school of experience and the only way to do that is to be like Nike--just do it! I was fortunate enough to have test boxes that I could break and try and fix. So I would install SQL and then make backups and then blow away the master DB and see if I could restore the system. Wasn't always successful and didn't always do it right the first time, but when it was important I was able to shine and make serious bonus points with management!
So good luck and hang tough!
-
Day by Day is a learning day for a DBA
-
swjohnson (11/8/2007)
I don't believe much in certifications but prefer the school of experience and the only way to do that is to be like Nike--just do it! I was fortunate enough to have test boxes that I could break and try and fix. So I would install SQL and then make backups and then blow away the master DB and see if I could restore the system. Wasn't always successful and didn't always do it right the first time, but when it was important I was able to shine and make serious bonus points with management!I believe in certifications to a point. If you're looking for a job, they can get you in the door because they pass an HR screen of resumes. For self improvement, it depends on how you use them. If you're certifying just to pass the test and get the piece of paper, they are basically worthless. If, however, you treat certifications as a measure level of competence you hope to achieve and then ensure you know the key areas well as outlined by the certification goals, that's a different story. Unfortunately, in the industry we've all seen too much of the former, which is why I think we've become so jaded towards certification.
K. Brian Kelley
@kbriankelley -
Its Quite Interesting to Answer this
well you see
you are not interested to do certification
you have very good experience
but doing certified
You surely still learn more and will get more experience.
so you Gain Experience Through your work and Gain experience through
certification.
-
vinuraj (11/12/2007)
Its Quite Interesting to Answer thiswell you see
you are not interested to do certification
you have very good experience
but doing certified
You surely still learn more and will get more experience.
so you Gain Experience Through your work and Gain experience through
certification.
This is a good approach to certification. You are looking at certification as a means to gain more experience. Unfortunately, some people just want the certification and they don't get the experience because they're doing just enough to pass the test.
K. Brian Kelley
@kbriankelley -
Hi Nisha,
I have around 7 yrs of exp as a DBA earlier I was developer for 2 years then I read some books about basic administration then Advance concepts. The main thing you can go for any platform for database like MS SQL, Oracle, Sybase,DB2 etc but you should know the SQL part of the related platform for administration coz' some companies are not using GUI interface for administration and as per my experience in interviews people use to ask sql part more.
Regards,
Austin
-
so You Mean to tell that certification is all waste.....
Accepting all invitesViewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 32 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply