Re: So difficult, so painfull

Daniel Morgan <damorgan_at_exxesolutions.com> wrote in message news:<3ED7E249.418C566E_at_exxesolutions.com>...
> Joel Garry wrote:
>
> > "Tariq" <taariqq_at_yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<b90mce027v6_at_enews2.newsguy.com>...
> > > LOL
> > >
> > > Most of the time you hear people arguing about this technology being better,
> > > or that being more prevalent, but it is hard to go through all the
> > > information out there, and decide on what to pursue. Your frank advice is
> > > much appreciated ... in both rooms ...
> > >
> > > I come from a background in Biology, and am trying to get a door into this
> > > database field. I know bioinformatics is a good combination of Biology and
> > > Databases, but that requires a higher degree in atleast one of the two
> > > fields, and I only have a Bachelors in Biology. That is why I am exploring
> > > the possibility of simply switching the field completely, if I have to ...
> > > and it seems like a good idea to learn to program databases first ... then
> > > worry about the administration aspects of it.
> >
> > I also came from a bio background, and 23 years ago went through some
> > lame-o (well, it wasn't that bad compared to the others) technical
> > program to get a programming job. I still haven't been able to crack
> > bioinformatics yet (I've come close because of my strong db
> > background, but no cigar, there's a lot of more-closely-qualified
> > competition in the San Diego area).
> >
> > I think the modern equivalent foot-in-the-door toward DBA work would
> > be as Daniel says, toward general business programming work maybe VB
> > or the various report front-ends. Wish I knew a secret for
> > bioinformatics.
> >
> > >
> > > Much appreciated,
> > > Tariq
> > >
> > > "Daniel Morgan" <damorgan_at_exxesolutions.com> wrote in message
> > > news:3EB3D3BC.1A8CF4E3_at_exxesolutions.com...
> > > > Tariq wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > So I guess one has to get a job as PL/SQL developer first, before trying
> for
> > > > > a DBA position? Or before one is qualified as for a DBA position?
> > > > >
> > > > > Tariq
> > > > >
> > > > > "Daniel Morgan" <damorgan_at_exxesolutions.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:3EB29BF3.B7CC6D7_at_exxesolutions.com...
> > > > > > 5. Some may, but I would never hire a DBA that wasn't first a
> developer
> > > > > > for 5 years or more. BTW I like Forms.
> > > >
> > > > Look at it this way. You can't become a judge without first becoming a
> > > > lawyer.You can't become a surgeon without first becoming a physician. And
> you
> > > > can't become President without first selling your soul to the highest
> bidders.
> > > >
> > > > We're sort of like that only we don't have to wear a tie to work.
> > > > --
> > > > Daniel Morgan
> > > > http://www.outreach.washington.edu/extinfo/certprog/oad/oad_crs.asp
> > > > damorgan_at_x.washington.edu
> > > > (replace 'x' with a 'u' to reply)
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> > jg
> > --
> > @home.com is bogus.
> > Wrong results possible from correlated EXISTS subquery.
>
> The secret is the foot-in-the-door approach. Find the company, get onto their IT team any
> way you can. Maneuver your way to where you want to be.
>
> Also, never underestimate the power of volunteering. I have placed a number of students
> into biotech firms as unpaid interns (they worked their regular job 4x10 and spent one
> day a week volunteering) only to have them hired as FTE when an opening became available.
> Companies won't go outside and hire strangers when someone they know can do the job.

Agreed. I got at least one DBA job from usenet helping, and an unknown but certainly > 1 number of interviews. The straight volunteer approach for high level DBA? Haven't heard of that one, but I guess I could envision it (especially someone who teaches classes or is published). But then again, would you let some unpaid stranger come in and start deleting Oracle supplied roles from your production db? :-O

jg

--
@home.com is bogus.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/mon/business/news_mz1b2sitesee.html