Staying marketable as a DBA

A SearchOracle.com member asks, "I do not use Oracle in my job as a Systems Support Specialist, so how can I continue my DBA career?"

Michael Hillenbrand, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Published: 04 Jan 2008

I am a certified Oracle 9i DBA, OCP; have a BS in information systems and have at least 2 years of direct Oracle administration. I am currently working as a Systems Support Specialist. The organization where I work uses Microsoft and not Oracle products. I really need to continue my DBA career.

What is the best way to find a DBA opportunity? Should I seek a contract position and leave this permanent position? I thought of learning SQL Server to improve my marketability and also upgrading to 10g to keep up with new features. Is what I am doing worth the time?

Another tough one. Let me start by answering your question on finding opportunities. There should be no reason to have to contract, as there are literally thousands of companies in need of DBAs. Just do a search for "Oracle DBA" on Dice or Monster and you will find literally hundreds every day. While most may look like 3rd party contract positions, some will, in fact, be willing to make permanent placements.

As for career choice, if you truly want to stay marketable as a DBA, you should not wait too long to get back to it. If your situation warrants it, SQL Server DBA is a better path for you to take than System Admin, as a lot of DBA jobs out there are actually looking for both Oracle and SQL Server abilities.

Hope this helps.

Dig Deeper on Oracle management

Related Q&A from Michael Hillenbrand

What is the difference between a database engineer, architect and administrator?

Expert Michael Hillenbrand explains the difference between a database engineer, a database architect and a database administrator. Continue Reading

Is Linux certification necessary for my job in Oracle?

Expert Michael Hillenbrand discusses whether Linux certification is necessary for a job in Oracle. Continue Reading

Business Analyst vs. Data Architect: Who should do the source-to-target mapping?

An Oracle user asks who should do the source-to-target mapping in a company--the Business Analyst or Data Architect. Continue Reading

Have a question for an expert?

Please add a title for your question

Get answers from a TechTarget expert on whatever's puzzling you.

Meet all of our Oracle Database / Applications experts

View all Oracle Database / Applications questions and answers

SearchDataManagement

Hitachi Vantara acquires data catalog vendor Waterline Data

With the acquisition of Waterline Data, Hitachi Vantara is bringing new data catalog capabilities that will expand the Lumada ...

New Confluent Platform release boosts event streaming quality

Based on the open-source Kafka event streaming platform, the Confluent Platform 5.4 update adds new capabilities to help meet ...

Where InfluxDB time series database is going

Users need more than SQL for querying databases, according to Paul Dix, co-founder and CTO of InfluxData. That's why the vendor ...

SearchBusinessAnalytics

ThoughtSpot IPO could be coming after vendor adds first CFO

Hiring of a CFO for the first time signals that ThoughtSpot may be positioning itself for an IPO and comes six months after what ...

5 ways enterprises adapt to the data scientist shortage

Where are all the data scientists? Coping with the data scientist shortage is a struggle for many enterprises. Here are five ways...

Storytelling using data makes information easy to digest

In a Q&A, Nate Nichols and Anna Schena Walsh of AI-based analytics vendor Narrative Science talk about how data storytelling can ...

SearchSAP

SAP S/4HANA migration: Critical advice for moving off ECC

With the end of SAP ECC support looming in 2025, organizations must make some tough decisions. Here's a look at your choices.

New SAP leadership faces big challenges in 2020

Industry analysts discuss SAP's biggest issues in 2020, including how the two new CEOs will guide the company deeper into the ...

SAP Data Hub opens predictive possibilities at Paul Hartmann

When medical supply firm Paul Hartmann AG tested a supply chain analysis system built on SAP Data Hub, it found that it could ...

SearchSQLServer

SQL Server database design best practices and tips for DBAs

Good database design is a must to meet processing needs in SQL Server systems. In a webinar, consultant Koen Verbeeck offered ...

SQL Server in Azure database choices and what they offer users

SQL Server databases can be moved to the Azure cloud in several different ways. Here's what you'll get from each of the options ...

Using a LEFT OUTER JOIN vs. RIGHT OUTER JOIN in SQL

In this book excerpt, you'll learn LEFT OUTER JOIN vs. RIGHT OUTER JOIN techniques and find various examples for creating SQL ...

TheServerSide.com

Don't ever put a non-Java LTS release into production

Development teams should avoid non-long-term support releases at all costs. Pay attention to the Java release cycle to make sure ...

Public API strategy considerations for enterprise adoption

As organizations look for more cost-effective ways to manage data, an evolving landscape with APIs has made the technology more ...

Ideas on how to hold a successful code hackathon

Want to host a hackathon? Here are some ideas on what a company can do to host an event that solves problems and reenergizes the ...

SearchDataCenter

Top data center skills admins can use in 2020

The 2019 tech job sector saw consistent growth and job availability. In 2020, admins should develop expertise on cloud ...

Organizations try to predict the effect of 5G infrastructure

With more 5G and IoT devices emerging, admins must prepare their data centers to support low-latency apps and edge computing with...

Top infrastructure and operations technology myths of 2019

Admins are consistently evaluating technology to improve I&O efficiency. Cost, integration and business goals are key components ...

SearchContentManagement

4 popular content collaboration platforms to consider

Companies need to be organized if they want to be efficient. Content collaboration platforms are useful, but first, ensure that ...

AI can enhance content security with a bit of planning

Microsoft and Box both use AI technologies to keep content secure in the cloud. But before using such tools, businesses first ...

Ex-SAP exec steers Episerver CMS toward digital experience market

Alex Atzberger discusses leaving the helm of SAP's CX platform to become Episerver CEO. Now, Episerver looks to reinvent itself ...

SearchHRSoftware

Critical tips for managing contingent workers

Contingent workers save companies both time and money, so it's important to manage them in a win-win way. Here is what HR teams ...

Impact of AI on jobs goes on the presidential campaign trail

The impact of AI on jobs is a major issue for employers, who are struggling with how to address it. Robots, automation and AI ...

Why mobile recruiting is the future

Recruiters can use text recruiting to connect with great candidates. Here's a look at how mobile recruiting works, why it's ...

Related Resources

Dig Deeper on Oracle management

Becoming a DBA with degree in engineering/computer science

How to add new storage for datafiles?

Find size occupied by millions of rows without VSIZE function

Connect to Oracle 9i through client

Related Q&A from Michael Hillenbrand

Have a question for an expert?

Start the conversation

0 comments

Register

Login

Forgot your password?

Your password has been sent to:

Please create a username to comment.