Database Administrator (DBA): Evolution In IT Jobs

Earlier, in late 2000, DBA was a hectic job not because of the work culture but the environment setup like SQL DB and windows server and so on. Consider here SQL server 2000 and SQL server 2014 -- now just think why I am referring to a hectic job.

I am just referring to SQL Server, there may be changes in Oracle,PLSQL,Mongo DB and so On. SQL Server is just an example.

Today when you have time you just observe SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2014 you will see a drastic change in both the management tools. Today in SQL Server 2014 there are many things which are added which you just can’t think of like ColmnStore indexing, Encryption of database, Memory OLTP and so on . Below screenshot will help you to compare. Believe me more features are coming in 2016 version. Again, the same scenario might exist in Oracle and various databases.





I had seen many DBAs in my previous firm and current firm they just come, do their daily tasks like monitoring and solving queries and go home, just like picking up your boss and driving and dropping him off at the office. But there’s more to it when you do get selected as a DBA -- understand the environment and first understand their activities and their culture.

Don’t feel demotivated by my previous paragraph. In previous firms we used to call Microsoft Support usually for financials at year end and so on. There was a person in Microsoft who was working with Microsoft for eight years. I interacted with him and you wouldn't believe he stared his journey as an accountant ( Commerce background ) and he worked with Access. He did some certification and became a certified SQL DBA and look now where he is -- Microsoft SQL DBA (Certified Engineer )

Personal experience

In my previous firm I was working as a pure .NET developer or you could say programmer, and I developed quit a few applications and as there was no new work in development I said to my managers: I am getting bored . What the managers suggested was, why you don’t sit with DBA team as work is plentiful there and you will learn new things and once new development comes you can come back to development. Initially I didn’t like the offer but when I started I wasn’t open to learning new things; I was typecast to one domain you could say. But as days passed by I started liking SQL and I learned a hell of a lot of things and developed a .NET application on Primary and Standby Database, an automated tool which I wouldn't have learned if I had been just a coder. Today the current situation is I just love SQL .I thanked my manager for that opportunity because I realized the knowledge that I had gained was priceless. If you want to do SQL certification and get certified there are many courses available if you want to be SQL certified just apply for the exam and there are plenty of resources or Dumps available on internet. Here's a useful link that might help you.

Make a difference

Here I am referring to trying to make a difference in your organization and trying to implement new things which you have learned, like it might be replication, mirroring automated backup in multiple servers and so on. Command your authority to your managers that you are here to stay not to just come to do activities and go home -- trust me it will help you in longer run. Buy some books read them online sources are plenty read blogs on new technologies try to implement them.

Show me the money honey

As in the earlier overview section I just gave you an idea or you can say summary of what exactly the DBA Team is doing. And there is just more to it, not just monitoring. I will show you some data which I collected from online multiple sources.

I had gathered data from lower to higher (The data or you can say salary may vary from country to country)

Designation	Average Salary (Per Year)	Relevant Experience	Country
Database Administrator	Rs 417,492	2 +	India
Senior Database Administrator	Rs 876,084	5 +	India
Database Administrator(Manager)	Rs 1600000	10 + Or More	India
Database Administrator	$69,733	Depends on Requirement	US
Database Administrator	C$65,407	Depends on Requirement	Canada

(Source: Paysacle.com and glassdoor.com)

As these are just numbers even that may vary when you move from one company to another company that depends on your knowledge, skillset and relevant experience you have.

Why DBA

Why Not DBA? Today if you do a survey quick survey you will figure out each and every company/Organization has a Database and you need a team to monitor that Database, it may be a small or big Organization. Today with new things getting introduced in DB Section SQL, Oracle, Mongo DB the demand of DBA is significant whether in India or elsewhere.Today the demand is huge with SQL server are on SAN and many companies are higring people who have SAN experience with Mirroring,Clustering and replication coming in picture SQL have bright scope with new versions coming like SQL 2016 with a added feature added POLYBASE. Again I will refer to one of my closest friends, who is an Oracle DBA with five years of experience and he is going to Germany for his new job as an Oracle DBA . Hooolaalalaa !!

Scope

When you talk about scope there is equal scope for everyone whether with DBA/Programmer/Server admin, provided you just make a difference and don’t just sit and pass time.

Resources