Please help a complete noob get started...

Question

Hi all, new here. I have decided that I would like to be an Oracle DBA. I have always wanted to learn some type of networking, however I admit to being a complete noob to the subject. However, I do have a few really basic questions that I hope I can find some answers to. It may be best if I just number them. (I am in the Dallas/Fort worth Area) Here we go..
1. What kind of place might a typical oracle DBA work at? A hospital? Or is it more like those giant skyscrapers you see in the city?
2. How long does it typically take to get certified? This is granted, of course, that you don't fail your classes and have to retake them.
3. Is there a way I can take the "classes" for the certification online, and possibly test online?
4. We all get jobs to make money. Being a dad with a family, I have to say that I can't really afford to aim low. What kind of salary might an oracle dba earn?
5. Is and oracle job something that can be found in some of the smaller towns/suburbs? Or is this something that is kind of scarce?

Answer 1

user8772743 wrote:
Well thanks for all the replies guys. Although being such a noob, I have to admit that I did not understand a good portion of them lol. Im pretty computer savvy, but so far I have really been more into hardware. I guess you could call me a hardware enthusiast. I love overclocking and bios modding and gaming.
But on to my next question. I have noticed, after some searching and looking at some of the links you guys provided, that people in oracle seem to be paid pretty well as a general rule. Just a quick search revealed a few oracle DBA jobs that the starting pay was anywhere from $90k-110K. My question is this: Why does the pay seem to be so much higher than some of the other certifications, such as CCNA? (a cisco cert) Is it because the job is currently in high demand? Just curious I guess. Of course it's part of the reason I want to get into oracle, but i guess im just new... but it still strikes me as strange that there is such a drastic difference between it and some of the other certifications.
Edited by: user8772743 on Aug 28, 2009 9:14 PMAn employer looking for a DBA will usually be looking for far more than the certification, they'll be looking for evidence of experience, judgement, rigour, responsibility knowledge and a host of other characteristics and an ability to take on new challenges.
Also a CCNA is an entry level cicso certification, though they do have CCENT which is a little lower. You need to be getting to CCIE to be a little higher.
From where you are at the moment you might consider a self taught microlight pilot wanting to become an airline pilot on 737s. Would he, after all the training, find that the rigourous and sometimes monotonous drag of a luton to Glasgow shuttle is not really what one wanted.
I usually like to see little steps first. But you want the big step to the big pay league for iminimum effort ... I guess its possilble ... but ......
I think because of your current love of hardware you might be better suited to study one the following certifications first
You may wish to remain with microsoft or whether to get linux experience. I would start with Fedora or Ubuntu, I actually find Ubuntu more fun but less mainstream.
MSCT
CCENT (or CCNA)
LINUX+ or something from CompTIA
If you want to get into databases and an entry level database certification then a Sun MYSQL CMA is a consideration as an entry level study. Its disdvantages are its unlikely to help you get a job and the SQL syntax is different to Oracle.
If you can complete before 30th september then a Sun Openoffice Writer Certification is a cheap option (if you can pass it).
Sometimes looking for evening classes close to where you are might be a better option to channel your efforts on a whats available rather than what I want basis.
If you are really looking for an online course then try something like: [http://www.ed2go.com/cgi-bin/ed2go/newofferings.cgi?dept=CP] I cannot personnally verify if this particular vendor is useless, bad, cheap or whatever. Some online courses are certainly not to be recomended. Anyway [www.certguard.com] knows about this and while not within certguard remit does not say anything bad about it.
Quality is probably not great and possibly not up to date but wider width and quite cheap are from [http://www.vtc.com/] .. this is positively cleared at about time of this post by [www.certguard.com] as certification safe. You can look at some lessons here perhaps to decide what you want to get into. If seriously getting into a certification you've be better get something to supplement; but for learning proably okay.
You can actually do the oracle courses from Oracle online ... but they are quite expensive : [www.oracle.com/education]
Rgds - bigdelboy.