Database administrators are the individuals who ensure that data networks and system performances of internet and technology networks are up to standards; they'll troubleshoot problems, transfer from old systems to new, and coordinate safety and security techniques in conjunction with network administrators. There are several ways to get started in DBA jobs if you're interested in working in this type of career that focuses on whole computer networks and database technologies.
Starting with an Associate's Degree
The first major starting point if you would like to qualify for database jobs is the associate's degree. These types of programs are typically 2-years in length and focus on the practical application and duties of database administration; classes in basic computer science, planning and maintaining a network infrastructure, as well as data and network security are common. With an associate's degree in this field, you may be able to get started in database jobs by working as an assistant or support person to a network administrator or as a full-capacity database administrator for a smaller company. As you work your way up and your experience increases then you can fill other roles that require more responsibility.
Bachelor Degree for Database Administration
A 4-year bachelor degree in database administration is the more typical entry-level requirement for most employers. Bachelor degrees qualify individuals for DBA jobs as these educational paths focus not only on basic computer science topics but also on computer engineering and statistics, network and systems design, database management as well as system security. In addition to a bachelor degree, some employers require that an MBA in information systems be obtained.
Some of the skills that you'll learn during your bachelor degree education and which will be required in order to work in database jobs include working with specialty database software such as Oracle Recovery, Oracle Enterprise as well as Microsoft Access. To qualify yourself even further for a position as a database administrator, you'll needs hands-on experience and/or skills in UNIX systems administration, Windows server administration as well as proficiency in Cisco products.
After graduating with a bachelor or master's degree, however, database jobs can be found working for entire companies and corporations maintaining the security and performance of database management systems. Oftentimes people who fill these roles work in comfortable offices or computer laboratories on-site where the hardware and software systems are located.
As you can see, there are a couple routes to take if you'd like to get started as a database administrator. Obtaining a bachelor degree is most common and perhaps the best choice to qualify for DBA jobs and seeking an advanced master's degree may increase you work opportunities. Overall, however, the time spent in education is valuable as career opportunities will only continue to increase because of advances in computer and information systems technology.
