Re: Outrage that OCP exams are now unproctored - Comments?

Frank,

WOW! You really took a lot from this first impression.

In my career, I have been a software developer, an end-user, a trainer, a team leader, a DBA, systems (IBM VM, Cray UNICOS, and IBM OS/2) administrator, planner, customer support, and many other positions. No, I don't change jobs often; I just have the ability to do more than one job.

I spent 10 years at Cray Research, where product development is like building a Royals Royce. A team takes a product/feature from requirements through product release. As the team leader, I had to be able to talk to end-users, managers, develop design documents, plan the project, keep track of the project, write the code, write the documentation (internal and external), unit test, integrate the code, work with system testers, go on alpha and beta tests, train the end-users, and finally support the code in the field. The product we were working at Cray on covered 8 manuals, dozens of design documents, well over 1.25 million lines of IBM 370/390 Assembler code, etc. Hell, my team even got a Shell Quality Award for our STK4400 to Cray feature.

Actually, I pride myself on being able to wear many hats at the same time.

But I'm sure you still see me missing the ability to shift hats and understand a developer or end-user's perspective. Sorry, but I feel you don't have the ability to judge people so completely from three paragraphs.

Bert.

"Frank" <fbortel_at_home.nl> wrote in message news:3E10BA14.3050801_at_home.nl...
> Bert Bear wrote:
> > Daniel,
> >
> > During a recent interview, I had a chance to ask questions. I always
ask
> > about continuing education (e.g. time to study areas not covered by the
job,
> > next release, Usenet newsgroup, Oracle classes, etc.), writing papers,
and
> > attending Oracle conferences.
> >
> > The manager looked at me and replied, "I've been doing databases for
over
> > 15 years, Oracle, MS-SQL Server, SAP, PeopleSoft, IBM DB2, etc., and I
> > learned one thing. Database don't change. There is nothing more than
four
> > things in a database, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, and" By this point, I was
> > tuning him out and making a not so positive opinion. It was obvious to
him
> > training and staying current is not important.
> >
> > I decided pass on this permanent opportunity.
> >
> > Bertram Moshier
> > Oracle Certified Professional 8i and 9i DBA
> >
> > http://www.bmoshier.net/bertram
> >
> >
>
> I wouldn't hire you... You seem to miss the ability to shift hats
> and be seated on a developers' or users' chair. I value that - the
> manager interviewing you was obviously looking at it from a developers'
> point of view, and he's is right... to some extent (or extend? initial
> extent... extend management... oh heck), of course there are beautiful
> things like the returning clause on in insert.
> Anyway - I would have applauded an effort to convince the hiring manager
> that database Administration (you were applying for a DBA's job, weren't
> you?) has changed massively the last 15 years. For Oracle, at least,
> can't comment on SQL Server (didn't exist 15 years back...).
> And yes the captial A on Administration is not a typo; is more a chapeau
> to all real DBA's out there.
>
> Grtz, Frank (who is sometimes regarded a DBA, but reading these ng's is
> always reminded he isn't - and I admit it)
>
Received on Mon Dec 30 2002 - 22:28:58 CST