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All right! Got your point! Actually, another member recommeded me to be a programmer first and then work on being a DBA. Since you are the pro, I'm not going to argue with you. Just begging for one more question, they also offer an Oracle programmer/developer track which include pl/sql, DEVELOPER2000, and DESIGNER2000, do you think this path would be a more realistic alternative for me getting an entry level position? Many BIG thanks in advance.
I agree with many of the experienced members that one should, in the normal scheme of things, be experienced first then get certififed. However there are many like myself, THEGUY, nikki, and others who don't have the experience yet still aspire to the position. In my situation there are only a few options that fit the part time work schedule I'll need to maintain while training and the best of these options offers solely the 8i DBA course (not developer, etc.)
Let me say this to those similar to me that getting an entry level DBA with certification alone is not unheard of in this day and age. Many companies are looking to cut costs wherever they can and have been looking hard at "lower cost" less professionally experienced database employees to work with their established guru. The corporate belief is that 6 months to a year later they have an employee experienced in their way of thinking, doing, etc. and are paying them half of what they would have for guru #2. This reality is evident more places than others based upon Oracle users demographics - parts of the Midwest versus California or Texas.
And finally on a more passionate level why not?!?! Being an Oracle DBA is what I want to do. Yes no professional experience will be a hindrance but if you have the confidence and tenacity to go for it then do it full bore. Working on the certification is only half of the battle. The second will be to network, market oneself, make contacts, and project an aura of control over all things that come in contact with you.
In essence, turn the intangible responsibilities of a DBA (see second part above) into an attitude of being!!
Some may see this as BS, others as a confidence booster, others that I have no idea what I am talking about and are calling guys with white coats to come to my house. Doesn't matter - I believe it and have had it validated many times over. So anyway, I'll be around to ask questions and get advice for the next year or so and then we'll all see :)
Thanks for letting me plunk my $0.02 into the forum fountain.
L-Carvone
[Edited by L-Carvone on 08-16-2001 at 01:24 PM]
LETS HAVE THINGS STRAIGHT....
1)OCP IS A AN OBJECTIVE EXAM.......IF A PERSON EVEN WITHOUT EXP GETS THE OCP......IT IS IMPLIED THAT HE KNOWS MOST OF THE ORACLE FUNCTIONALITY THAT THE EXAMS INTENDS HIM TO KNOW.
YOU CANNOT BE OCP AND KNOW NOUGHT ABOUT ORACLE. THAT POSSIBILITY IS AS BLEAK AS EXPECTING TO FIND AN EMPTY HIVE WITH HONEY.
2 MANY PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO UNDERMINE THE IMP OF OCP TO THAT OF EXP. THAT MAY BE TRUE IN SOME CASES .BUT PL CONSIDER THE OTHER CASE ....ALL AN "EXP" MUST HAVE DONE THROUGH HIS SO CALLED LONG "EXP" MUST BE BACK UPS, ASSIGN USERS AND RIGHTS,TUNE APPLICATIONS IF REQD.THESE MUST ALL BE THE SAME REPITITVE TASKS..ALTHOUGH HE CAN CLAIM A LOT THROUGH THIS "EXP"
ASK A ORACLE 7.3/8 ABOUT TRANSPORTABLE TS, NEWER FEATURES OF RMAN ......
TRUE DBA REQUIRES A LOT OF EXP......BUT EXP CAN ONLY BE GAINED BY WORKING.!!!
OCP DBA HAD CIRCUMVENTED MOST OF THE FUNCTIONALITY OF ORACLE .GIVEN A SITUATION WHERE AN EXP DBA AND OCP(NO EXP) ARE WORKING PAR LEVEL.THE OCP MAY MESS UP & LAG FOR FEW MONTHS...BUT HE'LL CATCH UP SOON...AND MORE THAN THAT MAY SUGGEST MODIFICATIONS TO PRESENT INFRASTR BASED ON NEWER FEATURES OF ORACLE.
3)SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED ..SPEND TIME (YRS) AS PROGRAMMER/DEVELOPER THEN TRY FOR DBA EXP.
CAN THEY PL SITE WHY..?WHAT ASPECT OF PROGRAMMING IS DIRECTLY REQUIRED IN DBA.?
[Edited by varchar2 on 08-18-2001 at 04:42 PM]
I agree with you on (1) and (2). Now about (3):Quote:
Originally posted by varchar2
LETS HAVE THINGS STRAIGHT....
3)SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED ..SPEND TIME (YRS) AS PROGRAMMER/DEVELOPER THEN TRY FOR DBA EXP.
CAN THEY PL SITE WHY..?WHAT ASPECT OF PROGRAMMING IS DIRECTLY REQUIRED IN DBA.?
[Edited by varchar2 on 08-18-2001 at 04:42 PM]
Spend it but only if this is possible. If you are so eager to launch an Oracle career as a DBA, OK, go ahead. You wanna know what aspects of programming are directly required in a DBA's job: Tuning SQL statements, PL/SQL blocks, whole packages are good examples. If you spend some time tuning your DBs, you will find out (as I have) that you may tune very well all memory structures, I/Os, etc. but still applications are slow due to sloppy PL/SQL blocks. And here comes the good DBA: helping developers! It's harder to learn to make efficient applications that to create tablespaces, indexes or take backups with RMAN.
(I agree that the last statement of mine is questionable.)