RE: Definition of Top Class DBA

Although I was tempted to reply “someone who could work 96 hours without sleep but never had to on her or his own stuff because proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance.” (6P in the milspec, and that is not a counting mistake. Who wants to explain why?  

A good ad would be: Wanted: a DBA who is good enough to plan to be lazy. You keep it running all the time and we won’t ask many questions except what you need to keep it that way.  

mwf  

From: oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org [mailto:oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org] On Behalf Of Tim Gorman Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2014 6:12 PM To: oracle-l_at_freelists.org
Subject: Re: Definition of Top Class DBA  

"I do not think it means what you think it means."

On 9/4/14, 15:51, Thomas Roach wrote:

I always thought World Class DBA meant someone who could work 96 hours without sleep and live on Nachos, Pizza, and Mountain Dew.  

On Thu, Sep 4, 2014 at 1:10 PM, John Piwowar <jpiwowar_at_gmail.com> wrote:

Agreed that you need to look at the position description and research the organization. No one posts a job ad for "Pretty Good DBA" or "World-class aspirant DBA."  

Best conversation about titles I ever had was during a team meeting with my CTO. We had 4 people on the team. It went like this:
"I don't care too much about titles. As far as I'm concerned, the only title that matters is 'Guy who gets sh*t done.' I'm the guy who gets sh*t done. *You're* the guy that gets sh*t done. You're the gal who gets sh*t done; You're the gal who gets sh*t done; and you're the guy who gets sh*t done."

We got a lot done. ;-)      

On Thu, Sep 4, 2014 at 9:33 AM, Bobby Curtis <curtisbl_at_gmail.com> wrote:

Everyone has good points on this topic, I’ll just add my 2 cents...  

I don’t think titles amount to a hill-of-beans at times; many people chase titles trying to get a head, I’ll admit I was one until a few years ago when I met some really cool people in the Oracle community. A title like “World-class DBA” is just someone in management or HR trying to find a resource. I see it all the time in emails from recruiters. Additionally, I have this discussion with my mother, of all people, who is an Senior HR Specialist. She has no clue what I do for a living or what the technology is; absolutely clueless at times. Management and HR just want to fill a seat to keep the business going. Using catchy position titles is one way they do that.  

If you find the position interesting from looking at the details and it seems like something you want to do, then apply and go after it. If you don’t live up to the standards outlined for the job announcement set forth by management or HR then you at least, as Seth points out, have a networking opportunity. If you make it into the position, you at least have a chance to prove yourself. Don’t let meaningless titles from people who don’t know our industry stop you from moving forward. In the end, what I think a lot of people define as “Top Class DBA” or “World Class DBA” is derived from their perception of the person they are talking to. Don’t let someone’s perception of you keep you for achieving your goals!  

Just my 2 cents..  

Bobby Curtis
curtisbl_at_gmail.com
http://about.me/dbasolved  

On Sep 4, 2014, at 11:20, Andrew Kerber <andrew.kerber_at_gmail.com> wrote:

When I see that kind of description (as opposed to senior DBA or just specifying years of experience), I immediately suspect that the job requirements were written by HR rather than the manager who is looking for the DBA.  

On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 11:19 PM, Dimensional DBA <dimensional.dba_at_comcast.net> wrote:

I would agree with Seth as in not worrying so much about the management fluff or extra phrasology when you go to apply for a job, but you should be ready to answer that question if they listed it as a requirement of what makes you think you are a “World Class DBA?”  

I have had some interviewers actually go down the list of skills on the sheet they published and went through every point including those added management phrases…    

Matthew Parker

Chief Technologist

425-891-7934 (cell)

Dimensional.dba_at_comcast.net

 <http://www.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-parker/6/51b/944/> View Matthew Parker's profile on LinkedIn  

From: oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org [mailto:oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org] On Behalf Of Seth Miller Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2014 8:59 PM To: Kumar Madduri
Cc: oracle Freelists
Subject: Re: Definition of Top Class DBA  

Kumar,  

Those terms are written by management, HR or more likely, whomever they hired (that wouldn't know a database if it slapped them in the face) to find candidates. Don't let meaningless nomenclature influence your opinion and most importantly, don't let anything about a job posting prevent you from applying. If you are way under-qualified for a position and you manage to get an interview, the very worst thing that could happen is you get an hour of networking, invaluable interviewing practice and finding out exactly what that company is really looking for.  

Seth Miller    

On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 10:41 PM, Kumar Madduri <ksmadduri_at_gmail.com> wrote:

Hello:

In several job postings, key words like 'Top Class DBA', 'World Class DBA' and other such adjectives are used. While every organization wants those kind of DBAs, how do you define it or measure it.

I may be a 'Top Class DBA' at my place but 'Lowly DBA' for some other org or some other DBAs and vice versa (I could be lowly dba where I am but could be top class where I would get a job).

I think words like 'Top Class DBA' intimidates me (personally)..  

I am probably opening a pandora's box here but wanted to get the opinion of elite members of this group.  

Thank you

Kumar  

-- 
Andrew W. Kerber

'If at first you dont succeed, dont take up skydiving.' 

 

 





 

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Thomas Roach
813-404-6066
troach_at_gmail.com 

 







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