[NTLUG:Discuss] Oracle DBA

[Leroy Tennison]

Bob Netherton wrote:
> On Thu, 2008-03-20 at 13:09 -0700, Dennis Kaptain wrote:
>> I have been given a wonderful opportunity to change my career path and 
>> get a new position with a growing and dynamic company. Yes, I was laid off.
> 
> Sorry to hear that.  Happens to a lot of good folks.  There is life
> after redeployment though.
> 
>> My question to y'all is, Do you think this will work out for me? Are there
>>  Oracle DBA jobs out there? It seems to make sense to me since databases 
>> are everywhere and Linux is the most stable, secure OS available. 
> 
> To gain some credibility you might want to rethink the last part of that
> statement.   There are many that would argue with that, and you don't
> want to start your interview from the other side of that chasm.   If I
> was interviewing you, that would have gotten you a quick invitation to
> your next interview :-)
> 
> That said, there is absolutely no question that Oracle is pushing Linux
> everywhere they can.  That means that jobs will be available.
> 
> In the US, Red Hat certifications are ones to get.   RHCE is table
> stakes, RHCA is a good one to open doors.  I don't see much of the
> others - maybe Thomas can offer some insight into the demand for them.
> 
>> I may be able to get other certifications too, in addition to Linux A+ and 
>> Oracle DBA, what would you suggest as the most helpful areas to impress a 
>> prospective employer and land a job?
> 
> To broaden your chances, get Microsoft and Solaris certifications.   The
> Solaris tickets may get you into larger opportunities with better pay or
> some room for advancement.
> 
> 
> Bob
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> 

I'm certainly no expert on the "getting a job after being laid off" 
issue but before you spend a chunk of money on M$, take a close look at 
which certifications are in demand.  Microsoft has so over-sold (what 
they're best at on anything) their certifications that some are a dime a 
dozen.  The MCSE might be one of the worst to get just because of this.

Another thing to consider is where your experience lies.  A common issue 
  with certifications is the "paper <pick your certification>" problem. 
  The person got the certification because they were good at studying 
and taking tests but they have no experience and thus no understanding 
or wisdom in the field.  When Novell (NetWare) was big it was the "paper 
CNE".  As Microsoft rose it became the "paper MCSE", it's probably 
something else now.  Cisco is combating this with a tough, hands-on, 
troubleshooting CCIE and Red Hat is basically following in their steps 
(another reason to consider an RHCE).  If you can get a Certification in 
a skill set you already have it will probably not only be easier to get 
but you will have some experience to go with it.

A second issue with certification is keeping current.  With Novell it 
wasn't so bad but with Microsoft you had to in effect re-certify about 
every 18 month to two years.  I know, I held both, this gets to be quite 
a treadmill of constant learning, cramming and taking tests.  Cisco is 
this way but some CCIEs don't bother because they feel that, once you've 
earned it, you've proven yourself.  The RHCE also has this issue. 
Unfortunately any vendor has some motivation to require this: it's a 
source of revenue and it forces acquiring knowledge of their latest 
offerings.  Life is too short...

A big issue to consider is whether a skill requires significant 
expertise PLUS physical presence to perform - if it does that's a good 
thing.  I used to do Windows server support before they sent it to 
India.  The problem is that, with the remote administration hardware 
currently available, a lightly-trained person does the physical install 
(including connecting a network cable and configuring an IP address). 
After that someone anywhere in the world can connect and do the rest.  I 
saw this coming when a fellow employee installed a Windows server in the 
Philippines from his cubicle in Irving.

Finally, how old are you?  It's a sad reality that you:

	might be able to walk on water
	but be 50 years old

and companies would pass you by.  I'm seeing and hearing of younger and 
middle-aged technicians say "I'm getting as far away from computers as 
possible" because of the future (none) they see in technology.