Are you Looking for a Career in Database Administration?
As more and more functions in today’s lives go online, the need for reliable and secure databases grows more than ever. Shopping carts, dating sites, social networking sites, gaming sites; just about anything that keeps user data needs a database. The need for highly skilled database administrators can never be adequately met. As an aspiring or an established database administrator, it does not imply getting complacent. On the contrary, you will find that you may even struggle to meet the skills needed. So, what skills do you need to survive in 2016 and beyond?
The basics
Every job needs some kind of formal education or training. Database administration will require a background in computing and the IT world. A four year IT degree is the best foundation for your career in databases. It is not a compulsory requirement, as there are some good DB administrators who went to college for a first degree then decided to switch careers to DB management.
You could start at the IT helpdesk and develop an interest in DB administration and learn on the job. This route gives you hands-on skills quicker but it will be hard to convince anyone outside of your organization that you are a qualified DB administrator without the papers.
Whatever training you undergo, there are the essential or must have technical skills that a database administrator must possess;
* Get certified- Having some certificate to show qualification is a requirement by many organizations. Even if you are self-trained, take the time to get certification, for example, from Oracle or Microsoft on their database systems.
* Know hardware- Databases rely on servers. As an administrator, you should be self-sufficient in configuring your server and the network infrastructure it exists on.
* Know software – Structured Query Languages (SQL) are the heart of database servers. You must be competent in SQL operations in its various forms e.g. MySQL, MSSQL, and others.
* Know the tools – There are various tools that exist for manipulating databases. Get to know them and keep up with their new versions. There are numerous free downloadable tools, which you can play around with and decide which works the best for you.
As a professional in database administration services, updating your technical skills should be a regular task. There are several ways in which you can continually improve your skills;
* Self-teaching – There are many eBooks, guides, and tutorials on the net especially on forums to do with DBA. Many will rehash what you already know while some especially those released by the DB companies like Oracle will have useful information on new products.
* Read Online – You could enroll online for short courses. While many will ask for a fee, there are some good sites that offer free courses for example the Open University.
* Go back to class – This is especially if you have no formal college degree. Enrolling for full time or part time classes is one of the quickest routes to getting new skills and having the papers to show for it.
* On the job training – Organizations will regularly arrange for staff trainings on new technology in data base administration services, for example, a system upgrade. Ensure you do not miss out on these opportunities.
* Workshops, seminars and conferences – There are frequent forums that are organized by professionals in the same field. Look out for gatherings by DB professionals. Whitepapers, new tips and tricks are often discussed at the forums. You can exchange contacts with more experienced professionals who can be used later for troubleshooting.
* Websites and blogs – There are hundreds of websites and blogs that dwell on DBA. Check these regularly for news on tools, tips and tricks in your field.
Developing the experience
So you are fresh from college, have the papers but no experience? DBA is a sensitive task and many organizations will not let a rookie within a mile of their servers. Worry not however, DB admins with good papers are a rare commodity and many organizations will hire you. Do not feel belittled starting under a more experienced admin. This is the quickest way to learn.
If you cannot get a DBA position, look for an opportunity related to Databases. This will also expose you to environments in which Databases operate. Taking a job at a help desk in an organization that promises good opportunities in DB management should not be undermined.
Developing soft skills
As a DB admin and an IT person in general, expect to come into contact with many people within and outside your organization. You should be comfortable around them and know how to handle them. Some of the soft skills that can help you to function around people are;
* Legal skills – Databases will often handle personal data. Get some legal facts on data handling. Regulations on release, access and manipulation of data should be at your fingertips to avoid getting yourself in tricky situations.
* Writing skills – You will often be required to communicate in writing. This could be emails, reports or whitepapers. Practice your writing skills and see your assessment reviews get better each year.
* Teamwork skills – Organizations are people based where objectives and goals are shared. Ensure you are onboard and moving along with your partners in achieving these shared goals and objectives.
* Communication skills – Speaking is the most common form of communication. Practice your speaking skills to ensure what you want heard gets across in the correct form.
* Project management skills – As a DB admin, you will handle many tasks in your day to day work. You must learn to breakdown these tasks from beginning to end while managing resources and time. Grasping the essentials of project management will help you achieve objectives in a timely manner with the minimal resources.
Being a successful DB administrator is a mix of having the right technical skills, experience and soft skills. Get the right mix of the three and you will be on your way to success in a database administration career.
About the Author: Connor O’Reilly is a certified Oracle DBA. He enjoys writing on database administration services and other topics in the IT field.