From: "Van Messner" Newsgroups: comp.databases.oracle.misc References: <92lmnc$7j4i$1@newssvr06-en0.news.prodigy.com> Subject: Re: Becoming an Oracle DBA? Lines: 44 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Message-ID: Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2001 17:26:58 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 216.179.16.46 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 978370018 216.179.16.46 (Mon, 01 Jan 2001 12:26:58 EST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2001 12:26:58 EST Organization: BestWeb (bestweb.net) It will be easier to take the courses one at a time than all at once. Since you have no job I'd suggest installing NT on your home computer, then buying the Oracle enterprise edition CD-pack from Oracle ($49.95) and installing it at home. Then set up a project to create a small useful database, perhaps a contacts database. Working through all this will give you more knowledge then you'll receive in your coursework. A number of people wanting to break in to Oracle cold, have signed on as unpaid or low-paid "interns", usually through a friend or acquaintance for six months or so. After that, you can get a job. Van "Karen A McGaskey" wrote in message news:92lmnc$7j4i$1@newssvr06-en0.news.prodigy.com... > I am thinking about becoming an Oracle DBA. I don't have a job or any > experience in the IT field. I am currently taking Access courses, then I > will take SQL courses, after that I plan to take the Oracle 8i training > offered by DB Domain (which offers hands-on exercises practice w/ the Oracle > Server). My 1st question is w/o a college degree if I pass all the exams and > become a certified Oracle DBA would I be able to obtain an entry-level > position? If not please let me know if I should not consider this profession > w/o any experience? I don't want to waste my time and money if that is in > fact what it would be. I would also like to know if I do pursue this, should > I take my exams after completing the training and exercises for that exam or > should I take all the exams at once? Another thing I'd like to know is if > and where could I find an Oracle DBA mentor? I also heard that if one wants > a life they shouldn't consider this as a career choice. But I also know that > if you want the money that DBAs are paid you have to make sacrifices > somewhere and that is one of them i think. Well, if anyone could please be > of any assistance I would greatly appreciate it. > Thanks, > Karen > >