RE: Oracle 8i or 9i ?

Les - Oh you wanted the hard questions answered as well. Given that you mentioned you were a MS sys admin, I'd say that would give you a leg up. A lot of shops have combined DBA/Sys admins for MS. That might be your easiest transition. I hate to say this, especially on this list, but you may want to look at adding MS SQL certification just to give you more options, like the target employer might have Oracle and MS SQL. Depending on your salary demands, your chances of getting on as a newbie DBA are probably okay. A lot depends on your networking ability, good resume, no criminal record that can be easily traced ;-), good personal hygiene, charm in interviews, persistence, and just plain luck.

   The ecommerce side has had a real dose of reality in the last couple of years, but is still there. Consider just getting some Oracle experience and then moving over to ecommerce. Most companies still have some type of ecommerce area. Otherwise, in your spare time, learn everything you can about ecommerce from the marketing drivel down to HTML.

   These are obviously not well-informed opinions, but worth every penny you paid ;-)

Dennis Williams
DBA, 40%OCP, 100% DBA
Lifetouch, Inc.
dwilliams_at_lifetouch.com

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 3:19 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

Thanks for the replies guys, I really appreciate it. Can i get some input on these 2 questions:

What chances am I looking at to
> getting hired as a newbie DBA once I graduate?
>
> I want to get into the Ecommerce side of Oracle (connecting DBs to
> websites/portals?). Which certification/path should I be
> following? Thanks in advance!!

THANKS, I'M STARTING TO LIKE THIS LIST ALREADY!!!!!

• Original Message ----- To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com> Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 12:35 PM

> Les - Here is an idea for you. Think up a trivial application for a
> database. Maybe your home albums or DVDs. Try to make it a little
> relational, like have an "artist" table. Force yourself to work with it.
At
> the right time I was secretary of a bowling league, so each year I rewrote
a
> league management program in a different language, whatever I needed to
> learn. I went through Oracle, COBOL, Perl, C, all in different years. The
> point is that by playing "user" you get a good feel for why the heck
> somebody would use a database to begin with.
>
>
>
> Dennis Williams
> DBA, 40%OCP, 100% DBA
> Lifetouch, Inc.
> dwilliams_at_lifetouch.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 2:00 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
>
>
>
>
>
> I'm more of a windoz SA and have been working with a little Unix here &
> there for hte past 2yrs.... (RH, Mandrake, Solaris). What I really want
to
> accomplish is to switch to Unix and Databases. My goal is to use my
> certifcation as a way to get my foot in the door of the DB world and after
a
> couple of years, do some consulting. I downloaded oracle 9i for Solaris
and
> have yet to install it because I wanted to read up on Oracle 1st. Will
> install it this weekend ;)
>
> I want to work with DBs because I think it's always going to be about
> managing information and the need is never going to die. I don't know of
> any midsize companies who would survive w/o some type of DB and after
being
> laid off twice, I'm reconsidering going into a different IT career.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> To: Multiple <mailto:ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com> recipients of list ORACLE-L
> Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 8:34 AM
>
>
> The $3000 is true if he takes them through 'oracle' university but not if
> the local community college offers the classes.
>
> What I did (and it seemed to work fine) for my 8i certification is to go
to
> the community college bookstore and just buy the 'official' manuals and
> never signed up for the classes. I was lucky enough to already have a jr
> dba position so I was getting the real-world experience and I had a fairly
> decent idea of how oracle worked at a very basic level. (although I will
> say that my confidence in what I know has dropped dramatically in the last
> several months since I joined this list and began reading book's such as
> steve adams' 'oracle internals' and jonathan lewis's 'oracle 8i building
> efficient databases'...which has spawned an enormous interest in
continuing
> to improve my knowledge of all things oracle)
>
> What really, really erks me is the fact that these certifications have
been
> cheapened by people who relay specific test questions and even entire
exams
> over the internet. People should be in it for the knowledge....not just to
> get that certificate. I'd be scared sh#tless if I found a job where I
> pretended to be a dba and justified it by my certification only to be
given
> actual dba responsibilities. ...i'd rather work at a coffee shop and not
> have to deal with the stress (but that's just me)
>
> Anyways, I'm rambling now.
>
> Chris
>
> Oh yeah....a BIG OL THANKS to the pros on this list that put up with
> questions from people like me! Your knowledge is GREATLY appreciated.
>
> Have a good one.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 9:49 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
>
> 9i will cost you more in the long run because you have to take 4 exams
> at $150 each plus a $3000 course to get OCP.
>
> 8i then upgrade to 9i will cost you less but requires you to take up
> to 6 exams at $150 each but no more $3000 course.
>
> --
> Lyndon Tiu
>
>
> Quoting Les Ayudo <info_at_lesayudo.com>:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm thinking of going to school to get Oracle certified. There are
> > 2 schools in my area that are offering Oracle certs but one offers
> > Oracle 8i courses w/ an upgrade to 9i, while the other offers all
> > 9i courses. If i go to the schools who offers 9i courses, would I
> > miss out on valuable 8i knowledge? Which school should I attend?
> > The courses will last about 7 or 8 months. Also, is this a good
> > "in demand" field to get into? What chances am I looking at to
> > getting hired as a newbie DBA once I graduate?
> >
> > I want to get into the Ecommerce side of Oracle (connecting DBs to
> > websites/portals?). Which certification/path should I be
> > following? Thanks in advance!!
> >
>
>
> --
> Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
> <http://www.orafaq.net>
> --
> Author: Lyndon Tiu
> INET: ltiu_at_alumni.sfu.ca
>
> Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com
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> Author: DENNIS WILLIAMS
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-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
-- 
Author: Les Ayudo
  INET: info_at_lesayudo.com

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-- 
Author: DENNIS WILLIAMS
  INET: DWILLIAMS_at_LIFETOUCH.COM

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