Re: How Does One Become a DBA?

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 Well, I got here through 10 or so years of RDBMS experience (I started with Informix long before Turbo came out) as developer. I sugest that you find a low-cost, but real RDBMS (like Sybase SQL Enywhere, or even Informix Workgroup Server) and play around. And, of course, read a lot. Designing a database is a high-demand, low-stress job. Administering a production environment, however, tend to be very high-stress occasionally. Regards, Dragi "Bonzi" Raos +--------------------------------------------------------+ | 4-MATE Information Engineering Inc. | +--------------------------+-----------------------------+ | 4-MATE | Tel: +385 (1) 242-116 | | Kosa bb | +385 (1) 242-126 | | 10000 Zagreb | Fax: +385 (1) 242-121 | | Hrvatska (Croatia) | e-mail: bonzi@4mate.hr | | | URL: http://www.4mate.hr | +--------------------------+-----------------------------+