May 20, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Hot DBA
May 20, 2008 at 10:52 pm
I agree, the demand for database administrators will increase good news for all of us :). The systems i developed 5 to 6 years ago for different companies are contacting again for issues like down time, performance issues, data security to basic consultancy just to create plans for managing database systems. The data keeps increasing with time and they need some one to manage it. Data security is becoming another headache for almost every company.
Large organizations who do have full time DBA's from first day need more people to manage growing databases and to speed up the never ending application development, almost all organizations run multiple applications to manage business activities and multiple databases to store data if not today tomorrow they will need some one to manage it properly. More data (large database) always results in more work for DBA and developers. This is all good news for us.
How far will it go? SQL Server is very stable database now, development and management is getting easier with each new release and third party softwares. You can perform basic administration tasks with point and click or can be automated. New features and automated administration might affect the job market for database administrators, features like configuration server in 2008, intellisense, LINQ may hurt the job market. SAP solution manager was supposed to help sap administrators but it also mean one admin can do the job of four. What is increasing the demand of DBA's ? more data ? new development ? security ? The place i work we hired another DBA for new development purpose.
May 21, 2008 at 7:32 am
I see the DBA job market as being great right now. I have recruiters calling all the time. I'm not looking to change jobs right now since I just started my current job less than a year ago. My question is, how ofter should one changes jobs. I don't want to be changing jobs every year or two, but there is always a new challenge when changing jobs and something else to learn, plus it seems to be the only way to get a decent pay raise.
May 21, 2008 at 7:43 am
I've actually started to notice this. I'm in the market right now, but having been a "jack of all trades" forever, I'm apparently a bit of a challenge for some HR people to figure out. It seems I tend to get a lot of calls based on my developer experience, and then about halfway into the conversation, I get the invariable "Wait - you do DATABASES?" and the conversation seems to shift to that and stay there.
I can't say I'm seeing a whole lot of outright DBA positions popping up, but there actually are some (which is more than I could say from 18 month ago) and DB developers/ Hybrid DBA/testers/modeler job descriptions seem to be coming up quite a bit more than last time around.
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Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part...unless you're my manager...or a director and above...or a really loud-spoken end-user..All right - what was my emergency again?
May 21, 2008 at 9:14 am
Yes DBA job is a good choice and the openings will increase in future. So I suggest lot of freshers to think of this career path .............:)
May 21, 2008 at 10:12 am
Ratpick (5/21/2008)
...My question is, how ofter should one changes jobs. I don't want to be changing jobs every year or two, but there is always a new challenge when changing jobs ...
I had an instructor back in the 80's who recommended changing jobs every 3-5 years for the first half of your career. It gives you tastes of different industries and different ways of doing things. During that time, you'll begin developing a feel for what industry/employer you want to spend the rest of your career in. Then you get that job, and spend the last 15-20 years of your career in it.
I think, overall, that it is pretty good advice. A lot depends on how old you are and how long until you retire. If you're 22ish, fresh out of college, you've got 43 or so years ahead of you. I'd look to settle down into one job probably before you turn 40 to reduce the risk that your age could be seen as a negative. Legally you can't be discriminated against (in the USA) on the basis of age, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
A plan like this also lets you narrow in on what you want to do: DBA, data architect, data warehousing, DR specialist, training. The broad experience will definitely help. I would also aim for 18 months to 2 years as a minimum to stay in any given position.
But these are just overall guidelines. I think it's a reasonable path, your mileage may vary. 😀
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[font="Arial"]Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves or we know where we can find information upon it. --Samuel Johnson[/font]
May 21, 2008 at 11:41 am
I just read the January issue of InformationWeek (ok I am a little behind). There is an article saying the there will be a shortage of IT workers in the next few years. The labor department estimated there would be a 29% increase demand in DBA in between 2006 and 2016. Of course the article featured two persons on the opposite side of the spectrum. Jerry Luftman, a professor of Stevens Institue of Technology and VP at Society for Information Management, said the shortage is already here. Company has a hard time to find the right candidate for the job. Students majoring in computer science in college has dropped because of the dot-com failures and media reports about all IT jobs going to India.
On the other hand, Ron Hira, an assistant professor of public policy at Rochester Institute of Technology, where he specialized in engineering workforce issues and high skill immigration, said everything was fine. Companies liked Microsoft, Intel, Oracle asked for more foreign worker visas because there was a shortage of talent developers. While Intel asked for more visas, it actually layoff 14% of its workforce. Oracle used the visa to get foreign workers in and out of US so they hired less US employees because US employees have higher pay.
Many people got layoff between 2000 and 2004 never got back to the professions. Look at it this way, companies these day want to hire people with latest skills, for DBA they are asking for SQL Server 2000 and 2005 experiences, plus BI, T-SQL, data modeling. The technology changes too fast. According to the statistics, there is only 2% unemployment rate in IT comparing to other profession. However once you are out of work for two years, you cannot make it back.
There may be a lot of DBA looking for a job that are good but lost their jobs during the dot-com bust, there is no training program (unless you are willing to pay a few thousands dollars, still you are not guarantee for a job) but most of those people cannot afford the training program.
Well maybe I am lucky I am still in this business, but the stress is tremendous.
I just get my feet wet with 2005 and I have to learn 2008. I just don't have a life !!!!
May 21, 2008 at 11:47 am
I just got a contracting job in Feb. Ever since then the recruiters from all over called me or emailed me everyday. I just land another job.
People changes job all the time. No one expects people staying at a job for 20 years anymore. I have over 10 jobs in last 20 years. I stopped counting after my 10th jobs.
The fact is even you are loyal to the company, does the company loyal to you? Every time the stock price drops, the company does not think twice to layoff people.
my 2 cents
May 21, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Loner,
I know you've had a bad experience, but not every company is like that. There are lots of good companies out there and many of them will hire DBAs, especially people that they perceive as good employees.
I've been out of the DBA world as a job for 5 years and don't worry about getting back in. If you show you are a good employee, the skills will come back. You might not get the senior, high end job right away, but there will be people that appreciate your DBA skills.
May 21, 2008 at 10:52 pm
I agree with Steve, not all cos are like that. My Co gave me a paid holiday trip (expenses taken care by Cos) for 4 days seeing my work. I am working here for 1.5 months. So all is not lost. 🙂
May 22, 2008 at 7:24 am
Anirban Paul (5/21/2008)
I agree with Steve, not all cos are like that. My Co gave me a paid holiday trip (expenses taken care by Cos) for 4 days seeing my work. I am working here for 1.5 months. So all is not lost. 🙂
hmm...If you're going on a 4 day trip to "see work" - isn't that a Business Trip?
Of course - it may be that you enjoy your work so much that it's all an adventure, but still....:P
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Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part...unless you're my manager...or a director and above...or a really loud-spoken end-user..All right - what was my emergency again?
May 22, 2008 at 7:41 am
Matt Miller (5/22/2008)
Anirban Paul (5/21/2008)
I agree with Steve, not all cos are like that. My Co gave me a paid holiday trip (expenses taken care by Cos) for 4 days seeing my work. I am working here for 1.5 months. So all is not lost. 🙂hmm...If you're going on a 4 day trip to "see work" - isn't that a Business Trip?
Of course - it may be that you enjoy your work so much that it's all an adventure, but still....:P
Basically I was sent there to just enjoy 😉
May 22, 2008 at 7:42 am
Anirban Paul (5/22/2008)
Matt Miller (5/22/2008)
Anirban Paul (5/21/2008)
I agree with Steve, not all cos are like that. My Co gave me a paid holiday trip (expenses taken care by Cos) for 4 days seeing my work. I am working here for 1.5 months. So all is not lost. 🙂hmm...If you're going on a 4 day trip to "see work" - isn't that a Business Trip?
Of course - it may be that you enjoy your work so much that it's all an adventure, but still....:P
Basically I was sent there to just enjoy 😉
Got it - yup - I like those kinds of business trips, too!
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Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part...unless you're my manager...or a director and above...or a really loud-spoken end-user..All right - what was my emergency again?
May 22, 2008 at 7:57 am
How timely, 10 worst jobs:
May 22, 2008 at 9:23 am
Anirban -
A business trip purely to enjoy!!!!!
what company do you work for? Where do I send my resume? 🙂
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