Certified DBA and So What?

I've been working as Oracle DBA for many years, and I still think the OCP is important. OCP is not just a certificate, is a real skill. That's why I spent some time to study and prepare the test, and I passed and got certified. I like to encourage those people who are preparing OCP, whatever your level is, take your OCP, guarantee you will benefit from it.

I have been an Oracle DBA for five years and found that there when I came into the consulting biz, people just wanted buzz words and I used the certification books as the fastest way to get up to date with the latest.

Experience is important, but a person can be at one company for a while and learn very little new. Experience is good but based on the quality, not quantity of it. The OCP helps fill in gaps that even someone with varied experience can do with.

Granted the amount of cheet questions I see here do prove that some with their OCP don't deserve it. OCP or non OCPs have no right looking down each other. We all know how difficult it is to be a DBA (and those without experience will soon find out). I do plead though that those rattling of cheat questions should stop. It is because of those of you that do, that the OCP will lose it's credit worthiness. OCP should complement not replace experience.

I am just begining mine and the reason for it is to be a better DBA AND to be more marketable. What's wrong with more money? I think with the erratic lives DBAs live they bloody deserve it.

Wish me luck,
Nirasha

sigh.... experience comes from time. Every experienced person had the time when he/she did not have any experince.

I cleared my OCP ORACLE8 dba 2 days back. And I feel that the point of discussion here is baseless.
I think we all are mercineries and we all have to fight it out there. A person who has no interest in Oracle and has passed OCP just to earn $s will ultimatlely end nowhere.
So cool it off guys and help me find a job.

I've been and working with Oracle for 8 years. 2 years as a developer. I have never gone for my OPC because I been to busy to find the time. I think that's the primary reason for people not getting certified. With my experience I know I can find another job if I choose but I'm studing for my OPC. The reason is that it's an accomplishment that I want to obtain personally. I don't think it will have any bearing on me getting my next job.

I guess what I'm trying to say to everyone is that it shouldn't be a controversial matter but a matter of ones own preference. I know that obtaining my OPC will only be an advantage to my career and not detrimental to it. So go for it if you can find the time but don't feel as though it's a must have.

Dennis

I agree with the last post. Each to their own. When going for a job you are going to be asked practical questions - not just theory. I'm new to Oracle having only 5 months experience and I find the OCP exams invaluable with helping me with my day to day duties and keeping my learning curve steep. Sure I want to pass them to increase the chance of more $'s, but whats the point in taking short cuts and passing the exams only to be tripped up further down the line when the lack of deep understanding becomes apparent.
Theory is only any good if you can practically apply it

Hi, 10th May 2001 16:13 hrs chennai

As Nirasha has told The OCP helps to fill the gaps in our exp.

I am also an OCP DBA.So i dont deny exp doesnt count.

Its better you have both.A fresh DBA can gain exp only over years.So we cannot quantify his exp or neglect but over the years he becomes the GURU.

But while this process goes on if he takes OCP it motivates him to achieve more and fill the gaps what he would have missed during real time scenarios.DBA is a Ocean.

Since IT a process of continued learning and real time exp
DBA=OCP+EXP is true.

Cheers

Padmam

Good DBA = Experience + Certification

When you prepare your Resume and if you are OCP certified, it is like Icing on the cake. U get logo and your resume looks more graceful.

I don't need all the knowledge that OCP is asking for my day-to-day Administration activities. I prefer spending my time on the stuff I needed( new release feature implementation, automation of dba activities etc) rather the stuff in $99 book for OCP. I stay at work 10-12 hours a day spending my time scheduling my maintenance work off biz hours (You know, I don't wanna go thru stupid e-mail chain for getting authorization to bring database down for maintenance during biz hours), in writing standards for new features implementation, in reading some docs to implement new features or in exchanging knowledge here at dbasupport.com etc., Weekends I travel home. Tell me whats the possibility for me to go thru each and every page of that $99 books. Here I didn't mean to say I don't find time to prepare, all I am saying is I can spend that time towards the ground work for tomorrows tasks to be done in better/efficient way.

Of course! I do want to be an OCP. Neither for money nor for to be a better DBA( I can be better DBA with no OCP. My Manager, My Director and My team knows that and they could say the same even to new firm Manager who wants to hire me) Just for HR who wants to see OCP in my resume cuz, he has been asked to look for that kay word 'OCP' while sorting out resumes. I miss sometimes the right oppurtunity for one and only reason that they couldn't find OCP key word in my resume.

I had debate with my manager and team on this topic couple of months ago. My Manager says exactly what Jeff said. If there are two dba's sorted in final list for recruitement (one with ocp, one without ocp) Preference will be given to the one with OCP. A OCP Certified is considered as DBA if he/she could interpret what they read in book practically and answer practical interview Qs. No matter you have experience or not you will be hired, if you can answer the Qs. All a Manager look forward to have from dba`s is how practical they are in performing database administration activities.

I do undertand(now I can feel it as started preparation) its not that easy to be Real OCP Certified ('Real' means what 'nirasha' says, not just getting chit sheets, STS s/w Qs etc). Its much more difficult to be on the system and bring up the database, when the database is down with some problem and 200 users including Directors or CEO are waiting for you to bring up the database. Beleive me! Tthe kinda situation a DBA/Sysadmin will be in sometimes... days, nights will pass -everybody will be coming in and going out but, dba stays assuming 24 hours is his/her daytime(No EST,PST :)).

So, If you are not OCP and look forward to have career in that Path, the first step towards your new career path is get certified. If you have experience, expertise and time Get Certified with which you can add little weight to your resume.

Thats all I wanted to say. Your Comments are Welcome !

Hi, 12th May 2001 14:45 hrs Madras

I am very neutral and honest on this issue .Its not me in Favour or Against any party.

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Benefits to the IT Employer

The Oracle Certified Professional Program is valuable to hiring managers who want to distinguish among candidates for critical IT positions. For companies that send employees through annual IT training, certification ensures a return on the training investment by validating the knowledge and understanding gained in training sessions. Companies can also combine certification with an employee development program to enhance employee loyalty and performance on the job.

Hiring certified professionals has a direct impact on a company's bottom line, as these conclusions from a research study by International Data Corporation** suggest:
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Certified professionals handled 40% more support calls per person, per day, than uncertified staff.
Companies that advocated certification reported 49% less downtime than those that did not.
For the majority of companies surveyed, the savings from increased effectiveness paid the costs of certification in fewer than nine months

http://www.oracle.com/education/cert...ycert_roi.html

http://www.oracle.com/education/cert...rt_become.html
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I dont deny a 10 year exp as waste but at the same a 10year plus a certified professional stand out distinclty when a opportunity comes for both for a position considering both are equally good in DBA over the years.The company will naturally go for certified person.

If a fresher at entry level without certification and a fresher with a certification who stands chance ?

there are severall combinations where exp DBA can chance better than fresh certified etc.

But as per the trend and market or by analyzed survey companies prefer to train there staff and get them certified.

Even in SEI CMM level or ISO 9001 companies are proud to assess there knowledge base for annual review to the above bodies how many certified professionals they have.

I wont say certificate is not needed but its a added VALUE or ADVANTAGE.

Mere bookies cookies getting certification is of no use too.

Cheers

Padmam