3/26/2003 -- In my last column, I responded to a reader's e-mail asking about how to get an Oracle Certified Professional designation. This leads naturally to another question: How exactly does one go about getting an Oracle DBA job? Not surprisingly, the process requires some good old common sense, perseverance, and a little luck.

Hope Springs Eternal…
One of the most common mistakes that individuals make when pursuing a certification is what I call the hope scenario: "I hope I get a job after I get certified." Well, hoping for something to happen and pursuing a course of action based on hope is a very risky undertaking. Hope may spring eternal but planning goes a lot further.

It's Not Rocket Science
Getting a job as an Oracle DBA is no different than getting a job in any other area of the IT industry. Chances are that demand will usually be good since all organizations keep data and someone has to ensure that systems that store that data work efficiently and satisfy organizational objectives. For you to be successful in the role of Oracle DBA, you really need to understand the way companies use data and why. Knowing some database theory that goes beyond the certification exams helps here, as does enjoying the management of data.

The next step in getting a job is determining if the path you are pursuing (Oracle DBA) is something that could actually get you a job in the end. Do some research by checking job boards, asking colleagues, calling potential employers that you have identified. Determine what the market requirements are in the geographic area where you want to work - no point trying to be a DBA in rural Montana if there are no companies using Oracle there.

Plan to succeed at the outset by ensuring that you are not pursuing an avenue that will lead to disappointment. Only after you are fairly certain that you can get a job as a DBA (or Oracle developer) and that the certification path you are going to pursue is one that can land you a job within a reasonable time frame should you even bother signing up for the classes.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm….
After you have determined that there are Oracle-related jobs out there for you, pursue your job opportunities while still pursuing your Oracle certification. Many potential employers will look very favorably at the fact that you have taken the initiative and are in the process of bettering yourself and improving your skills. While still studying, start to approach those companies and individuals (whom you may have identified earlier when doing your research) to determine if jobs exist or if they will take you on while still going through the certification process. Hopefully you will have already figured out that there is a market for Oracle DBAs by doing the research before taking your first class. It's never too early to approach potential employers.

It's Not the Steak, It's the Sizzle….
One of the worst mistakes that people looking for a position in any organization make is to prepare a bad resume and/or a bad cover letter. I can tell you from personal experience that if a resume or cover letter lands on my desk that has spelling mistakes or poor grammar it gets tossed pretty quickly. In fact, I don't really care what the resume says because at this point I already know that the person who wrote it does not pay great attention to detail.

Don't get yours tossed in a similar fashion. Get someone to help you with your resume and/or cover letter. These are the very first things that potential employers will see about you so they need to be outstanding. Also, note that the meat of what you have done in the resume is only looked at after the cover letter and first page of the resume have been read, so the initial presentation must be strong.

When preparing the resume and cover letter make sure that the person reading it knows you are a database-oriented individual who thinks that their data is the most important thing in the world and needs to be managed well. You are pursuing your certifications in anticipation of being a part of the team that manages it well for them. In other words, tailor your resume to the person who will be reading it! Also, make sure you never lie!

Oh, one more thing. When sending a resume and/or cover letter to an employer by e-mail, always make sure it is virus-free. Nothing will turn off a potential employer more than your resume causing them to have to get rid of Nimda.

It's Not What You Know, It's Who You Know….
Having an Oracle certification and being technically proficient ensures that once you get the job you keep it. Knowing who to talk to initially may help you get the job. Now, this does not mean that you need an insider in an organization to get any job, but it does mean that you need to talk to the right people to help you land one. Friends, family, acquaintances, and others can all be helpful here.

If you are pursuing your Oracle certification at a training center or business college, it is more than likely that they have a placement officer whose job it is to help their students find work. Get to know this person and keep your face and name fresh in their minds. Talk to them periodically to see what new opportunities have been identified. They generally know who's hiring and the right contact, which can be a big help.

Clothes Make the Man….
The high tech field tends to be a rather causal one. However, technology is used is many fields and not just high tech - banking, insurance, manufacturing, legal, medical, etc. This means that the way you look does in fact matter. Nowhere is this more true than in the interview process. Presentation is crucial (and I don't just mean the way you dress).

A colleague told the story of a candidate that looked really good on a resume. After a couple of phone interviews it was decided that this individual should be flown down to their southern California office for a face-to-face interview. When arriving for the interview, the candidate was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. This was noticed but the interview progressed since the organization was a software company and casual dress was the norm. However, during the interview the candidate made statements how he's going to enjoy getting to improve his surfing and beach volleyball skills, how he won't be able to work weekends or more than 40 hours a week, how he'd need at least four weeks vacation and so on. In the end they decided to pass and hire someone else.

The above example is extreme but underlines key requirements in job hunting: be professional, be honest, be humble, and be consistent. Sloppiness in dress and demeanor, and arrogance in attitude are sure ways to not get the job.

Success Is 10% Inspiration and 90% Perspiration….
When you look at stats for a baseball player, a batting average of .300 is considered exceptional. This, in essence, means that of the ten times that this player went to bat, he hit the ball an average of 3 times. It is also important to remember that it also means he struck out or did not get on base 7 out of 10 times! Your job hunt will result in many rejection letters: get used to it. However, don't give up because of it. This is a normal part of the process. Instead, keep working to build a better resume and acquire more contacts. The job hunt is a long process.

One of the ways that you may enhance your appeal to a potential employer (and look good doing it) is by providing assistance to nonprofit or charitable organizations, including church groups. Many charities don't have the budget to hire full-time DBAs or sysadmins so they rely on volunteers. Volunteering your time will allow you to practice your learned (or learning) skills while also padding your resume. Furthermore, these groups are also a good source of contacts since prominent companies and individuals are often philanthropic.

But What About…?
After reading all this you may be asking some questions:

• What's different about pursuing a job as an Oracle DBA versus a Microsoft Visual Basic programmer? Not much. You have to feel comfortable being a DBA or VB programmer is something that you can do for a long time (not necessarily a lifetime) and you have to enjoy it. The process for getting either job is largely the same (see above).
• Are there entry-level DBA jobs? Yes, but they are harder to find as experienced people are available and cheaper than three to four years ago (see below). You have to bring something extra to the table, and this is where a current certification helps.
• Do most DBAs start out as something else? Doesn't everyone start out as something else? Seriously, DBAs often start out in another part of IT and either become DBAs by accident because nobody else was doing it, or gravitate that way because they find it interesting. This means that it may be easier to move from another IT position in an organization to become a DBA than to get in the door that way, but both have happened and will happen again.
• Do most DBA jobs require a college degree? I have not seen many IT job openings in the last few years that did not call for a college degree or diploma as a minimum requirement, so the answer here is "Yes." However, several years (at least three to five) of industry experience and an Oracle OCP DBA certification are also a good combination.
• Can one just get an Oracle OCP DBA and expect to get a related job, or do you have to have experience first? A certification by itself may not get you the job. It may get you in the door for the interview, but you have to back it up with what you can do. If it does get you a job it will be entry-level. A DBA certification coupled with either experience or a college degree/diploma is a better bet.

Reality Bites….
The fact is that the IT sector is in a slump these days and getting a job takes longer than it did two or three years ago. Many individuals were laid off during the .com bust and these folks have experience that you may not. Furthermore, salaries for almost all categories of jobs have dropped so you won't be able to make as much as a few years ago. All that notwithstanding, it is possible to land a job if you keep at it. Use all the available resources at your disposal and don't wait for a job to find you (it won't): go out there and hunt it down!

Good luck and good hunting!

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