What's Your Title?

  • I'm not a DBA, but some job interviews I go on think I am - because I work in the Business Intelligence arena and they don't really see a difference between the two. But, for those who can see a difference between a DBA and someone who works in Business Intelligence I like to call my self a Business Intelligence Professional. i.e. I don't just do ETL, just cube work, just write reports or just do dashboards. I do all BI disciplines.

  • MSorteberg (11/18/2011)


    don't really see a difference between the two.

    Agreed. I have worked as both and they're very different 🙂

    Title is DBA now, have been BI Developer.

    Generally I'll say "I work in IT - Databases". Anyone technical I'll say DBA.

  • To some extent it does depend on who asks, but I generally start with:

    Server Admin / Network Admin / Database Admin / Senior Support / General Flunky / Slave...

    Sort of a "jack-of-all trades" at my employer, but that's the world of a small business.

    When I tell that to a non-technical person that, I generally follow it up with "I work with computers."

    Jason

  • My hiring director left my title up to me, but he suggested "Grand Poobah of Data" -- subtle, humble, yet descriptive. I settled for the traditional DBA. Less explaining.

    In non-IT crowds, I'm a "Computer Geek". And then I usually have to fix someone's PC.

    Maybe I should try using the GPD moniker... 😉

    Rich

  • Labels and buckets for people lead most of us to not really know a person, but rather knowing about a person. For that reason I never lead with "what kind of work do you do". I start with "What do you do for fun?". Their work sometimes comes up naturally, but I have friends whom I still do not know what they do for work. It is really sad when I say "What do you do for fun?" and the response is a blank look and silence. I always give them the benefit of the doubt in assuming they have fun, but never get asked about it and so are not used to talking about it. 🙂

    The upshot of what I am saying is while I understand labels and titles are important in business, they are not important in life. I live life, not work.

    <><
    Livin' down on the cube farm. Left, left, then a right.

  • When I'm working on SQL, usually I say that I'm a DBA, some people ask me what it means? Other ask if I not longer am a web developer.

    To both of them I give the same answer: DBA means Data Base Annihilator 😎

  • My current title is "Software Services-DBA". That works. I have been "Member of the Technical Staff" - very descriptive - NOT.

    A short story: when I was leaving college and signing over the phone bill to the roommate taking my place the lady at the phone company asked what my job was (who knows why she needed that piece of information). I answered "Software Engineer" which was a new title and I was proud of it. She gave us a blank look and my roommate who was an architecture major clarified for her: "she designs lingerie".

  • steven.girard (11/18/2011)


    It all depends who is asking.

    Technical person (mostly information sector): ETL Developer

    Semi-technical (people in the business): BI Guy

    Outside World: Programmer

    If I have questions regarding whats a programmer, "I work with computers".

    LOL, that's about how I handle it.

  • Grant Fritchey (11/18/2011)


    My title is Product Evangelist, but my job is Booth Babe.

    Babe, bouncer, or barbarian?

  • Steve Jones - SSC Editor (11/18/2011)


    Grant Fritchey (11/18/2011)


    My title is Product Evangelist, but my job is Booth Babe.

    Babe, bouncer, or barbarian?

    In that kilt?

    yes!

  • Ninja's_RGR'us (11/18/2011)


    Steve Jones - SSC Editor (11/18/2011)


    Grant Fritchey (11/18/2011)


    My title is Product Evangelist, but my job is Booth Babe.

    Babe, bouncer, or barbarian?

    In that kilt?

    yes!

    Exactly.

    "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
    - Theodore Roosevelt

    Author of:
    SQL Server Execution Plans
    SQL Server Query Performance Tuning

  • When talking to someone I don't believe is in technology, I use the term Computer Programmer. When talking to someone who is in the technology field, I use the term Senior Programmer Analyst, because that's the phrase I've seen in most places (Monster.com, etc). My official title is Analyst Programmer III; my employer prefers to emphasis the analysis part of what I do.

    Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.

  • Grant Fritchey (11/18/2011)


    Ninja's_RGR'us (11/18/2011)


    Steve Jones - SSC Editor (11/18/2011)


    Grant Fritchey (11/18/2011)


    My title is Product Evangelist, but my job is Booth Babe.

    Babe, bouncer, or barbarian?

    In that kilt?

    yes!

    Exactly.

    We should stop arguing like that :-D.

  • My business card says : Manager - Business Applications

    When asked by IT pros: DBA and BI developer

    When asked by others: programmer

    When asked by "Deer in the headlights" others: computer guy

    When asked by RedGate: DBA/Astronaut

    Cheers,

    Steve

  • sscreptock (11/18/2011)


    When asked by RedGate: DBA/Astronaut

    Best of luck on that!

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