Re: Career questions: databases
From: Bruce C. Baker <bcb_at_undisclosedlocation.net>
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 14:00:45 -0500
Message-ID: <fRShi.18$Zt6.5_at_newsfe19.lga>
> I'd disagree here in that there are a small percentage of people doing
> anything that are incompetent. But not being proficient does not make
> one incompetent. Perhaps a bit more granularity would help.
> incompetent < mediocre < average < good < proficient < expert
> Most people, in any field of endeavor are average. That is the meaning
> of the word.
> See above.
> The incompetent DBA is not doing backups or not verifying that their
> backups can be used to restore and recover. The mediocre DBA is writing
> shell scripts to do backup and tested it once. The average DBA is using
> RMAN but doesn't really know the tool except to repeat, day after day,
> what they did the day before. The proficient DBA, like Sybrand for
> example, has knowledge of the underlying built-in packages and the
> tables storing metadata in the repository. The expert writes RMAN
> scripts, without the aide of websites or books, capable of making
> the tool sing and dance.
> --
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 14:00:45 -0500
Message-ID: <fRShi.18$Zt6.5_at_newsfe19.lga>
"DA Morgan" <damorgan_at_psoug.org> wrote in message
news:1183316066.496682_at_bubbleator.drizzle.com...
> Bruce C. Baker wrote:
>> "DA Morgan" <damorgan_at_psoug.org> wrote in message >> news:1183301545.936378_at_bubbleator.drizzle.com... >>> Neil wrote: >>>> While agreeing with your point about resume fluff, in all fairness, the >>>> person claimed he was "proficient" in those technologies, not "expert" >>>> in them. At what point does one become "proficient"? That's a good >>>> question. But I don't think one needs to be able to field live >>>> questions from an audience of developers in order to call oneself >>>> "proficient." >>>> >>>> Neil >>> I appreciate that but to me proficiency has a higher standard than, >>> perhaps, for you. Would you call a DBA that writes shell scripts to >>> back up 10g database proficient? I wouldn't. >>> >>> To quote: >>> http://www.thefreedictionary.com/proficient >>> >>> pro·ficient·ly adv. >>> Synonyms: proficient, adept, skilled, skillful, expert >>> These adjectives mean having or showing knowledge, ability, or skill, as >>> in a profession or field of study. Proficient implies an advanced degree >>> of competence acquired through training: >>> >>> Note: "advanced degree of competence acquired through training" >> >> In the course of this thread we seem to have established at least two >> levels of DBA ability, i.e., "expert" and proficient", with proficient < >> expert. I'm sure there are all sorts of colorful names for those >> practitioners at the low end of the scale, but let's just call then >> "incompetent" for now. So we have >> >> incompetent < proficient < expert >
> I'd disagree here in that there are a small percentage of people doing
> anything that are incompetent. But not being proficient does not make
> one incompetent. Perhaps a bit more granularity would help.
>
> incompetent < mediocre < average < good < proficient < expert
>
> Most people, in any field of endeavor are average. That is the meaning
> of the word.
> >> What do we call DBAs who are somewhere between incompetent and >> proficient, >
> See above.
> >> and what would their qualifications be? In general, how many levels of >> DBA ability are there, and what does one have to know/be able to do to >> qualify for each of them? >
> The incompetent DBA is not doing backups or not verifying that their
> backups can be used to restore and recover. The mediocre DBA is writing
> shell scripts to do backup and tested it once. The average DBA is using
> RMAN but doesn't really know the tool except to repeat, day after day,
> what they did the day before. The proficient DBA, like Sybrand for
> example, has knowledge of the underlying built-in packages and the
> tables storing metadata in the repository. The expert writes RMAN
> scripts, without the aide of websites or books, capable of making
> the tool sing and dance.
> --
/Exactly/ the sort of breakdown I was looking for! Thanks. Received on Sun Jul 01 2007 - 21:00:45 CEST