Starting a Career as a DBA

Question

Hello,
I'm new to the DBA community and I've always wanted to learn more about DBA and what DBA's do. I have a few questions to ask and hopefully some of you who are familiar with this field can enlighten me on this subject.
1. Is there a major difference between learning the basic's of 8i/9i though a classroom than going to the book store and getting a book on the subject? Are there things in the classroom that they don't teach you in the book.
My dilema is that I don't want to spend $2000 for a 5-day class if I can learn the same from $450 CD-ROM or $150 from a module from Amazon.com
2. In researching current job openings for DBA's and Oracle Certified Professionals, how does one aquire an entry level position as a DBA? Most job openings list that they want someone with 5+ years experience?
If I were to start a career today where would I need to go to get that experience is my question.
Thanks in advance for your answers I really appreciate it.
Michael Walker

Answer 1

I agree with what Mark and Bill have said. I would like to add the following:
1. Is there a major difference between learning the basic's of 8i/9i though a classroom than going to the book store and getting a book on the subject? Are there things in the classroom that they don't teach you in the book.
If you do decide to go to a class I'd recommend setting up your own database and familiarizing yourself with how it works before you
go. You'll be able to understand what's being discussed in class better and may have questions to ask the instructor that you weren't
able to answer yourself. This way after class when you're working with a database you don't say to yourself "I wish I would've asked
the instructor..."
2. In researching current job openings for DBA's and Oracle Certified Professionals, how does one aquire an entry level position as a DBA? Most job openings list that they want someone with 5+ years experience? If I were to start a career today where would I need to
go to get that experience is my question.
Where I work all of the DBA's have come up through the development ranks first. I worked for 3 years as a developer before becoming
a member of our DBA staff. During my time as a developer I let the DBA's and managers know that becoming a DBA was a goal of mine.
I think it also helps if you can demonstrate you have good knowledge of database concepts and have some knowledge of the operating
system the database runs on. From talking to other's I think it's a fairly common practice to select beginning DBA's from in-house staff.
Most other DBA's I know outside of where I work started as developers. Some have started as System Administrators but in those cases
they have maintained a dual role as SA and DBA.
Good luck!