Re: How Does One Become a DBA?

22-SEPT-1997 AL,
I had no programming background, and very little experience with working with databases (about one year). I enrolled myself in the Oracle's Masters Program (taught and held by Oracle), and after a month of completeing the required classes, I aquired a position as an Oracle DBA. W/o having any experience in Unix/databases/Sun/ect I make 30k a year. An entry level Oracle should be makeing 45k, but I lack the experience. Next year I'll be looking to make 65k a year.

Satar Naghshineh
SatarNag_at_worldsite.com
Al Johnson wrote:
>
> I'm new to database programming (about 10 months experience with
> Access and FoxPro), so please excuse me if I ask any dumb questions.
>
> My goal is to develop the skills that could eventually lead to a
> position as a DBA using a high-powered DBMS such as Oracle, Sybase or
> Informix. I'll have my B.S.C.S. in May '98 and am working on my 3rd
> Coop term now where I have been programming in Visual FoxPro 5.0 and
> Access. What kind of jobs should I look for that will expose me to
> more sophisticated databases and tools? Will companies hire someone
> without any experience with Oracle, etc? I would assume not. So, am
> I stuck accepting only jobs for FoxPro programming? I don't mind if
> it pays big. I just don't want to get trapped.
>
> What about Powerbuilder, or RAD tools in general? Do I need to master
> any of these? Or can I skip learning them? I'm not trying to cut
> corners, or cheat myself of necessary knowledge, but I don't want to
> waste any time either.
>
> I'm also interested in OLAP. Does/Will a DBA need to know anything
> about OLAP? I like programming, but is having coding skills *usually*
> necessary to make DBA, or is it optional?
>
> Also, I'm not ashamed to say that I'm somewhat money-driven. I want
> to live comfortably but not by subjecting myself to a high-stress job,
> but a high-demand job instead. No brainer?
>
> Unfortunately, I don't have a mentor. So, if any of you nice people
> could describe to me some example scenarios of how to work my way into
> a DBA position, I would greatly appreciate it. Or, perhaps if you
> could tell me how you did it. Anything that would help enlighten the
> road ahead would be great.
>
> Thanks and have a great day,
>
> Al Johnson
Received on Mon Sep 22 1997 - 00:00:00 CDT