How to Become a SQL Server DBA

82 Comments

1. Nate
   Jun 07, 2011 @ 03:17:58

   Hello! I’ve been working with Microsoft SQL while in a business analysis role for 2 years and have decided I want to become a DBA. I have a degree in information systems management and turn 30 next year. Someone told me I’m to old to want to change careers so drastically. Is that true? I was going to start studying for a Microsoft cert this summer. Any additional advice would be greatly appreciated.

   Reply

   • chrissie1
     Jun 07, 2011 @ 08:13:40

     I changed careers at 20 (gardener to something scientific with plants) at 30 (from the previous to forensics) and 40 (full-time developer). At 60 I will retire so I need to figure out something for when I’m 50, any suggestions?

     Reply

   • Thomas Rushton
     Jun 07, 2011 @ 08:32:55

     Hi Nate

     If it’s any help, I only became a full-time DBA last year, and I hit 40 earlier this year… OK, I had been working with SQL Server for 15 years before then, but it had only ever been a small part of my work as a programmer, consultant, workflow systems guru, IT manager etc! The thing I’ve been able to offer to potential clients / employers is the breadth of experiences that most younger people just cannot have had.

     As for certification, I’ve not yet done SQL2008 MS certifications either. But I am old enough to have had the MCSD and for it to have lapsed due to too many new versions of Visual Studio & SQL Server! I’m hoping to do them some time later this year.

     I keep reading blogs and books, and hang out in one of the brighter SQL Q&A forums – http://ask.sqlservercentral.com – where I learn an enormous amount from some of the other guys out there.

     Reply

2. Fatherjack
   Jun 07, 2011 @ 08:05:03

   I don’t know whether this is a warning or a recommendation but I became a DBA when I was 29 (near enough to 30 that I think it’s relevant!). I have spent the last few (12) years working as a DBA in a small team and have had some awesome experiences with other DBAs on various training and community events. I am now a SQL blogger, User Group leader and forum moderator. As John says, if you want to do it then your age is not a factor to consider. Personally, I am banking on the SQL events being the first ones to offer discounts to SAGA members.

   Reply

3. Heather Mounts
   Nov 09, 2011 @ 17:37:01

   I am in the process of migrating from the GIS Spatial Database world into becoming an IT DBA. I have worked with Oracle and MS SQL Server for around 10 years but never to the depth that I feel is needed to migrate over from the GIS world. It’s as if I am a mile wide and an inch deep and going no where.

   My thought process was that I should study and take the MCITP exams. This would allow me to gain tons of administration knowledge so that I would be able to compete with the true DBAs.

   Do you know of others that were able to migrate over to a DBA coming from another field by simply getting their certifications?

   Thanks and I love your blog,

   Heather

   Reply

   • John Sansom
     Jan 29, 2012 @ 20:11:00

     Hi Heather, I somehow managed to miss your comment so sorry about that!

     You can definitely move from a similar discipline such as GIS to Database Administration. You will certainly have a strong understanding of the value of data and its’ importance to the business. Interestingly enough I actually had some of my first experience as a Data Professional working with GIS technology, for a company called CACI.

     I think you should absolutely consider studying toward certification in order to increase your administration experience. Check out My Guide to Passing Exam 70-432 (http://www.johnsansom.com/my-guide-to-passing-mcts-exam-70-432/) for the right way to go about getting certifed. 

     Also, keep an eye out for a post this week that’s all about how to get started toward becoming a DBA.

     Thanks for your comments!

     Reply

     • Shrikant Khode
       Feb 26, 2013 @ 12:39:51

       how many years of experience is required for being junior DBA.
       Thanks

       Reply

       • John Sansom
         Feb 26, 2013 @ 13:46:07

         Hi Shrikant, I think that it depends on who you ask and what the specific role entails. I would say it could range anywhere from 0 to 5 years. Any cross transferable experience you have, such as working in a similar I.T. discipline, will also work strongly in your favor.

         Are you thinking about embarking on a career as a DBA/Data Professional?

         Reply

         • Shrikant Khode
           Mar 18, 2013 @ 08:28:18

           Hi john,
           I am working on sql server and I have 1+ working experience on it.Mainly dealing with performance tunning. So I hope you will guid more in details.

           Thanks .

           Reply

4. BrownDezBar
   Feb 08, 2012 @ 01:27:00

   Hello John,
   Thank you for your advice and posts.  It’s great to know that there are others striving to become a DBA. 

   My question: I just purchased coursework to take classes for the first 2 Microsoft certifications (70-432/450}.  It is advisable to load Microsoft SQL Server 2008 on my computer and spend 2-3 hours a night getting ready for the exam?

   Reply

   • John Sansom
     Feb 25, 2012 @ 16:53:00

     Absolutely! You definitely want to set up an environment which you can use to practice and experiment with what you are learning.

     Best of luck with your studies and the exam! Let us all know how you get on.

     Reply

5. Ali Shaik63
   Mar 12, 2012 @ 10:54:00

   hello john,
     i joined in a company as a dba ,,,we are having 15 to 20 employees,,they told me that we are not having not much more work in database administration so they suggested me that u have to work as a sql developer,,,,,,then tell me how can i reach my goal as a DBA?? give me suggestions  that i could follow 

   Reply

   • John Sansom
     Mar 13, 2012 @ 14:39:00

     Hi Ali, that’s a great question and one that I think needs a post of it’s own to answer! I’ll post the link here once published.

     Reply

6. TW
   Apr 06, 2012 @ 18:14:00

   Thank you for the road map! I am new to the field and desperately looking for ways to gain my knowledge and experience. I just came across one of your post. I am surprised that I found the guide for my career development. Thank you very much!

   Reply

   • John Sansom
     Apr 15, 2012 @ 12:29:00

     You’re welcome! Thanks for your comments

     Reply

7. Aitchy2110
   Apr 19, 2012 @ 09:33:00

   Hi John,

   Just wanted to say thanks for this website, its by far the best resource i have found on becomming a DBA. Im an accidental DBA and have been for the past year, i wizzed off ahead, learnt the language and can prouduce some wondefully complex reports using SSRS, however i kind of skipped out all the basics and now need to play catch up!

   Hopefully with the help of your website i will be able to become a good DBA by choice!

   Thanks again!

   Reply

   • John Sansom
     Apr 19, 2012 @ 11:40:00

     Hi, thank you for your kind words and welcome to the accidental DBA club! You’re in great company

     It’s sounds to me like you are off to a fantastic start on your own journey to becoming a DBA.
     The first step to becoming an Oustanding DBA is choosing to be one, so well done.

     Thanks for your comments.

     Reply

8. Lee-hardman
   May 10, 2012 @ 09:15:00

   Hi,

   I am really interested in starting a career in SQL.

   Basically i never went to university and started up as an admin in a big company. I have now worked my way up to a business analyst role and i am looking to progress further in my career.

   Recently we have implimented a new software for the business ‘Lagan Frontline’ which requires SQL knowledge to be able to create reports and maintain the program.

   What path can i take to begin SQL as a first time learner?

   Your information and guidance would be great!

   I tried to email using the contact me feature, which seems to not be working.

   Email: Lee-Hardman@hotmail.co.uk

   Thanks

   Reply

   • John Sansom
     May 13, 2012 @ 15:46:00

     Hi Lee, thanks for your comments.

     Are you wanting to learn SQL in general or do you need to learn a specific flavour of SQL specifically for your software solution? For example T-SQL is the implementation of the language that SQL Server uses.

     Thanks for pointing out the issue with the contact form, it’s now fixed.

     Reply

9. Sameer chavan
   May 11, 2012 @ 20:22:00

    Is there any coding skill required to become an DBA proffesional………..bcoz im very poor in coding….

   Reply

   • John Sansom
     May 11, 2012 @ 23:02:00

     Hi Sameer, personally I consider it to be a very important skill for a versatile DBA to develop.

     We all have to start learning from the very begging at some point and even though it may seem like an impossible task now, even the tallest mountain can be conquered by taking one step at a time.

     Thanks for your comments!

     Reply

10. Gga Ganesh
    May 24, 2012 @ 16:10:00

    Hi John sansom,

              i am Ganesh.G ,presently i m working as a junior SQL DBA ,  but here no that much of work related to dba positions,40% i have to work in Excel n exce VAB and remaining in MS SQL , hence i planned to move in ‘.net’ side ,Because the job have to give and have to teach new things , but i m not learned any new things.
    i dont know whether i m goin in correct path or not .
    i m very interested in MS SQL DBA ,and is there any way to become a  DBA ,after getiing 1-2 year experience in .Net side.
    What i have to do please help me..

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Jun 03, 2012 @ 14:34:00

      Hi Ganesh,

      In my opinion there is no such thing as the correct path. It’s about finding out and doing what is right for you, so that you may build your own path forward to your ideal career. I talk about this a lot more in my post series Your Road to Becoming a DBA, where I outline how you can go about creating your own career path to becoming the Data Professional that you want to be.

      You ask “Can I study complimenty technology such as .Net whilst still walking the DBA path”, absolutely you can! No two DBA roles are the same after all and in my opinion it’s important to be a dynamic and versatile Data Professional in the current job market.

      The classic DBA role is dissapearting fast and is instead being replaced with hybrid skill sets. Even Microsoft are recognising this, as seen in the recent changes to their certification roadmaps for SQL Server professionals which I talked about in my post Where Have All the DBAs and DB Devs Gone.

      Thanks for your comments!

      Reply

11. Hotshibuya109
    May 31, 2012 @ 17:18:00

    Hi John,

    I graduated with BS on Mechanical Engineering. Right now I’m in Japan and got myself a job. The company told me that I’ll be part of a team that is going to build a database system (SQL & Oracle) linking all their companies overseas with their headquarter in Japan. I told them during interview that I have zero knowledge about database and they said that they have specialist to do the job. Seems like I’m the only person in the department that speaks English, so they want me to be like an interpreter or something so that the company can get feedback from their overseas branches while building the system. Therefore I am hoping that you could recommend a book or two for me to read so I can have a better understand on what’s going on. And by the way you have a really nice website, keep it up. And thank you in advance.

    Terry

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Jun 03, 2012 @ 14:48:00

      Hi Terry,

      Congratulations on your new job. It sounds as though you have a challenging and interesting project on your hands!

      From what you describe of your role communication will be your most vital skill to success, with you potentially being the middle man between the business folks and the technologists. 

      With this in mind I would suggest that your primary goal for your research and study should be to empower your communication. Rather than looking to focus on a specific database product (such as SQL Server or Oracle) I think you will see the most benefit, and in the shortest time, from looking to study database technology in general, specifically by focusing on design areas, such as Relational Theory and in particular Data Modelling. 

      If you did decide to pursue this route, a text written for a University course might prove ideal. Something like Database Systems by Thomas Connolly is considered a classic. This could be used as a reference, by no means am I suggesting you read it cover to cover, it’s about 5 inches thick!

      Thanks for your comments and best of luck in your new role. I’d love to hear how you get on.

      Reply

12. Bouke Bruinsma
    Jun 11, 2012 @ 21:43:00

    Hi John,

    I work for a software development company. We do not have a separate dba role but I think there should be one. Plenty of our employees know there way around SQL Server but I have seen multiple examples where we have not achieved maximum results in terms of performance tuning, deployment advice to our customers and a whole range of other issues. Moreover we are moving to SAAS more and more and we are hosting the architecture ourselves. I am thinking of drawing up a business case for a DBA. Do you have any advice?

    Thanks,
    Bouke

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Jun 13, 2012 @ 22:54:00

      Bouke, from what you describe of your company and circumstances I believe that you would absolutely benefit from having a dedicated DBA on the payroll.

      Having developers on the team that are skilled with SQL Server is most certainly an excellent asset however their potential to deliver the most value is maximised by focussing on their strengths, which is of course development. With a dedicated DBA on the team, knowledge workers can focus on where they can deliver the most value.

      That said, depending on the size of your infrastructure you may not have the need for a DBA to be on staff full time. You may instead wish to consider using a consultant for example. Your existing teams expertise may be sufficient for the majority of tasks and perhaps you just want the flexibility to tap into expert knowledge as and when needed. Often clients already have the required skill level in house, sometimes they just need to be able to leverage the wider experience that a consultant can bring to the mix, perhaps in order to accommodate an environment experiencing rapid growth for example.

      Ultimately you need to decide what’s the right balance for your business and your future plans. I hope I’ve answered your questions and please feel free to drop me an email if I can help further.

      Thanks for you comments!

      Reply

13. Manisha
    Jun 13, 2012 @ 21:54:00

    Hi John,

    I am fairly new to the idea of becoming a DBA. I recently changed my career focus from M.I.S to DBA due to not wanting to work the grave yard shift hours. I have a B.S degree in Business Administration with a focus in M.I.S and I wanted to go back to school for some DBA training……Should I go the route of getting my MBA or just take some classes to become more knowledgeable and updated on current technologies. HELP! lol

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Jun 15, 2012 @ 12:18:00

      Hi Manisha,

      You know this may come as a shock to the internet however I’m not actually sure what to suggest to you on this occasion. My thinking is that your studies so far have opened up a variety of exciting career paths for you. I don’t however think that an MBA would directly help you toward becoming a DBA but it would certainly be a great asset to you whichever career path you choose. For this reason I would not want to steer anyone away from such a great opportunity. I think this is a decision that you must make on your own.

      I would be interested to know what other readers think.

      Thanks for your comments!

      Reply

    • Dave Green
      Jun 15, 2012 @ 13:45:00

      Hi Manisha,
      I’d say that an MBA may be of limited help to you in your day-to-day life as a DBA, but it may well be of assistance in getting you an interview. A DBA who ‘gets’ business, and how the business values things, will be a very much more attractive proposition, and more useful to the business!

      Best of luck, whichever route you choose.

      Reply

      • John Sansom
        Jun 15, 2012 @ 14:31:47

        An excellent point sir!

        Reply

        • Karthik
          Jun 28, 2012 @ 11:52:16

          Hi John Sir,
          I am presently working as a database support engineer,I want to persue a career in SQL server database administration. I took a initiative by completing the course in SQL Server DBA and planning to do 70-432 certification. Now I got some knowledge about daily activities of DBA, But I lack practical knowledge since I don’t have practical experience of being a DBA. How can i proceed from here to become a DBA. Awaiting for your valuable comments.

          Reply

          • John Sansom
            Jul 08, 2012 @ 11:23:08

            Hi Karthik,

            I somehow managed to miss your comment so apologies for the late reply. Your question something that I get asked by a lot of readers, about how to go about gaining the experience needed to become a DBA. I’ve put together an entire blog post series on this subject to try to answer this question, I hope it helps. Here’s the first post, Your Road To Becoming a DBA: Laying a Strong Foundation.

            Reply

14. Lulu
    Jul 02, 2012 @ 17:15:16

    Hi, Thanks for the informative website. I have average knowlegde of SQL 2005 and rarely worked on it. I have recently been employed as Data analyst and the company used SQL server 2005. Now on the verge of re freshing my knowledge, I am thinking of doing MCITP 2008 DBA or MCITP database deveoper. Now due to budget constratints, I cant take both courses. Can u advise me on which course a data analyst would mostly need , SQL developer or SQL administrator?

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Jul 08, 2012 @ 11:03:33

      As a Data Analyst you will get the most value from the Database Developer MCITP in my opinion. It will teach you more about T-SQL and how you can query data stored within SQL Server. I would still however encourage you to pursue the DBA track once you have achieved Developer certification. The insight it provides into how the database engine works will help you to write queries that perform even better.

      With regard to budget considerations, you don’t need to go on a course in order to study toward a certification path. Personally, I prefer to purchase a suitable study guide and teach myself (See: My Guide to Passing MCTS Exam 70-432 for an example). This can significantly reduce the overall cost to certification, meaning that your employer might potentially be able to cover all your costs.

      You may also wish to consider looking at the now available 2012 Certifciations for SQL Server.

      Thanks for your comments and good luck with your studies.

      Reply

15. James
    Jul 19, 2012 @ 01:49:25

    Hey,
    I live in Nashville, TN and the city is booming with IT jobs. Currently, and for the past 4 years I have been the Database Administrator at a non-profit. That is my title at least. All I do is maintain our donor database through a fundraising software called Raiser’s Edge. I build simple and complex queries and exports directly through the software, run reports, data hygiene, and I am the primary user. it’s pretty easy. I started back to school last Fall at a community college to earn a AAS in Computer Information Systems. I am only able to take 1 or 2 classes per semester and I will be done around 2015. I do not know anything about SQL, Java, C#, etc, etc, but I am eager to learn these things so I can take my experience and job title and get into a higher paying and more challenging job in the I.T. field. In your opinion, am I headed down the right path? What would you do if you were in my shoes to fast track this thing? What certifications will help me the most in regards to getting my foot in the door?

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Jul 21, 2012 @ 10:25:37

      Hi James,

      Thanks for your comments!

      Are you headed down the right path? Only you can know for certain. If your path is one that you have consciously chosen to follow and it’s headed where you want to go then absolutely.

      My intention is not to be cryptic but we all want different things from life. The “right” path for you is not going to be the right path for another Data Professional.

      With regard to creating your own career path towards becoming the DBA you want to be, I try to give guidance on this in my post series Your Road To Becoming a DBA.

      I suggest rather than forming a fast track learning mind-set, it’s not a race to the finish (this path just leads to burn out), that you look to optimize/maximise your learning process instead. What can you do to take your learning to the next level and step it up a gear? My post Jump Start Your SQL Server Learning Today looks at this directly. The post series I mentioned previously also has a number of ideas/suggestions in this area too.

      I hope this helps!

      Reply

16. Prashant
    Aug 17, 2012 @ 12:21:04

    Hi,
    I am from Nepal and currently studying B.E computer science.I really want to know what steps should i take to be a DBA.I have studied Database Management for 4 month and have no clue what to do next. could you please help me??

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Aug 19, 2012 @ 19:24:37

      Hi Prashant,

      That’s a great question. How should someone wanting to become a DBA get started?

      It’s a tough one to answer briefly, so much so in fact that I created an entire blog post series on the subject. Here’s the first post in the Your Road To Becoming a DBA series. I hope you will find them helpful.

      Thanks for your comments!

      Reply

17. Krista
    Sep 17, 2012 @ 13:48:28

    One thing I didnt see here was the average pay for a junior DBA. What would that be?

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Sep 17, 2012 @ 14:28:46

      Hi Krista,

      That’s a good question. Rates depend on your local market to quite an extent. There are some web resources that you can use to get an “indicator” of what the current market rates are. For example, itJobWatch. Another option would be to speak with recruitment consultants directly about what to expect.

      Thanks for your comments.

      Reply

18. willy
    Nov 19, 2012 @ 16:07:10

    hi john,
    i wanna start i career in sql dba.But i know nothing about sql dba.So could u please suggest me how to start learning sql dba on my own.

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Nov 20, 2012 @ 09:43:57

      Take a look at my post series Your Road To Becoming a DBA for information on how to get started on a career as a DBA.

      The “very first” book you should read when starting out on the road to becoming a DBA is Thomas Larock’s DBA Survivor. It provides brilliant guidance on what it is like to be a DBA as well as what you should do with regard to your learning. You can find it under the Professional Development heading, along with many other titles that I recommend on the Books area of my blog.

      Thanks for your comments!

      Reply

19. sreenivas
    Nov 27, 2012 @ 07:48:34

    thanks a lot for giving valuable information.

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Dec 08, 2012 @ 12:35:16

      You’re welcome sreenivas!

      Reply

20. WilsonC
    Nov 29, 2012 @ 19:34:12

    John, thank you for this wealth of information.

    I am a ‘dinosaur’ IBM mainframe DBA and have worked as such over 15 years. I am comfortable with relational DB concepts.I work for a large Insurance company that has decided to migrate from the mainframe to MS Server based system. The database system of choice will be SQL Server.

    Some of the older guys will maintain the DB2 system until the bitter end (may take years for full conversion). As they are close to retirement age, this is fine for them. I have the option of looking for work elsewhere or to begin cross-training and learning SQL Server DB administration.

    Have you known of people jumping from DB2 to SQL Server?
    Would the transition be easier based on my experience with relational DBs?
    Would you suggest a different course for me to start my cross-training?

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Dec 08, 2012 @ 13:36:45

      Wilson, thanks for stopping by sir.

      It sounds like you have an exciting opportunity here to leverage your existing expertise to play with and learn something new. Let those content to stay put do so, more fun for the rest of us!

      Jump ship to SQL Server? There’s no leap of faith needed here, you’ll be up to speed in no time and before you know it, wondering what all the fuss was about.

      The transition to another RDBMS will most certainly be easier than for someone new to the field. You already have the fundamentals locked down, to get started is simply a case of leaning a new tool, a bit like driving someone else’s car. Sure it looks and feels different but it’s still a car right.

      I would suggest you get a lab environment set up, install an instance of SQL Server and start having a look around. Learn how to perform all the administrative tasks that would do in DB2. Sure you could go the structured learning route, attend courses etc. but I bet you find that you can pick it up quickly without needing to. The technical community for SQL Server is awesome! If you have a question about how to do something in SQL Server, you are almost spoilt for choice for resources to use.

      I’m genuinely excited for you, as I think you have a great opportunity here to become the SQL Server go-to-guy for your company. Take it!

      Reply

21. Andy Bodnar
    Dec 03, 2012 @ 06:39:42

    so as a student pursuing a BA in CS, what is a good educational path to get acclimated in SQL to be prepared for an internship?

    Thanks

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Dec 08, 2012 @ 13:10:11

      Andy, is your Computer Science course modular?

      If so there will likely be some obvious high value choices such as “Database Systems” and programming (this will help with SQL to an extent) but to be honest I would actually say choose the subject that you would find most interesting! Almost everything that you learn on a Computer Science degree will benefit your development as a Data Professional. Consider that although a subjects’ content may not be directly relevant, it’s valuable to know and understand parallel disciplines. Databases interface with software, networks, etc.

      Sure you aspire to becoming a Data Professional now but over the course of your studies you may discover that you have a real talent for software engineering or computer graphics.

      I guess what I’m saying Andy is that by choosing to study Computer Science, you’ve already taken a great leap in the right direction toward a plethora of technology careers. Having an end goal in mind is great but you also have the opportunity to explore things a little.

      Reply

22. I Mizra
    Dec 05, 2012 @ 11:45:34

    Hi John,

    Thanks for an awesome blog. I am in a dilemma and I will really appreciate your advice. I started my career as a developer and have developed a number of desktop database applications mainly in foxpro and a couple in dot Net. I had the opportunity to implement and maintain an SQL server database for 50 users and have been doing this for the last four years. I also have a lot of experience in implementing windows 2003/2008 based infrastructure. I am a graduate but don’t have any certification.

    I liked working with SQL server and want to get full time into DBA role. I am approaching 45 and not sure if I should pursue. Also what would be your advise in terms of certification.

    Reply

23. Andy
    Dec 10, 2012 @ 07:26:15

    Thanks for the input! I actually enjoy all aspects of the technic side, as far as programming I just got my mathematics to the proper level to be able to grasp the programming side. I’m thinking programming as a educational path, as well… They do dive into SQL

    But I look at the journey I will endeavor to junior DBA is more positive through this role than just a broad “I.T. Guy”.

    I’m not sure where this exactly will land myself, but I have a 2 year old daughter to think of and a computer science degree will be some where positive.

    Reply

24. Arooj Ahmad
    Dec 12, 2012 @ 13:30:52

    I just now got job as SQL DBA. I am fresher. My daily duty is check the maintenance plan, backup and running job. After checking all the thing, I don’t know what extra I need to do as a DBA.? Can anyone please suggest me .

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Dec 13, 2012 @ 17:35:25

      Hi Arooj, that’s a great question and one that there are a lot of possible answers to. It’s a perfect question to post on the SQLBrit Community Forum, where you can benefit from the wider experience and input of the community, including my good self of course.

      Reply

25. wishall
    Dec 19, 2012 @ 12:00:52

    Hello, I am totally from a different educational background.I have done my MBA in finance and want to learn SQL which would help me in my banking activities (later, i want to involve myself totally into tech domain). But really confused as to how should I start my career in SQL. I have to learn SQL from scratch. Can you please advise me on this?

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Dec 19, 2012 @ 12:30:53

      Hi Wishall,

      I assume you are asking after the language of SQL rather than the database product SQL Server?

      As an aside you might want to post your question on the forums to get input form the wider community on your question.

      Reply

26. wishall
    Dec 19, 2012 @ 12:37:28

    Yes, you are right.
    I would follow your advise..

    Reply

27. Elaine Scott
    Jan 11, 2013 @ 22:08:56

    Hello John Sansom,

    I feel like I am the only one in the world with this, but I decided I wanted to study and be a SQL DBA. I have a BA in Business Management, a Masters in Education Media Design & Technology, an interest in technology, and lastly I am currently taking the SQL Server 2008 R2 Certification course. Is it uncommon or even possible to go into this career with minimal experience or background?

    I want this opportunity and I am being challenged with my studies. I am seeing that studying DBM is NOT like other studies. I guess I could use some advice and suggestions to get me rolling in the right direction and with some momentum. I don’t just want this to be a fleeting attempt. I am really serious about doing well and retaining the information learned.

    Please help. Thank you for your website.

    Elaine

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Jan 12, 2013 @ 11:26:05

      Elaine, I know that when starting out with something new it can certainly feel like you are on your own but I guarantee you that is not the case. Look at all the comments prior to yours and you will see people aspiring to learn, grow and try something new just like you. We all started out at the beginning at one time or another and the community is here to support you.

      You’ve posed some great questions that deserve detailed answers and so rather than just offer my own feedback I would encourage you to post you questions to the SQLBrit Community Forum. It’s an incredibly friendly place and you get to tap into the knowledge and experience of others in addition to my own.

      Talk to you soon!

      Reply

      • Elaine Scott
        Jan 12, 2013 @ 15:51:23

        Thank you John. I signed up with the SQLBrit Community. I look forward to receiving some helpful advice.

        Reply

28. Rajan Dubey
    Jan 15, 2013 @ 07:54:38

    Hello John Sansom,

    I am a system Engineer(Technical support on SQL 2008) and this my first job but I want to change my profile. I want become a DBA I have little Knowledge of SQL server. pls assist me.

    Thanks

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Jan 16, 2013 @ 21:42:17

      Hi Rajan,

      Take a look at my post series Your Road To Becoming a DBA for information on how to get started on a career as a DBA.

      Reply

29. Shree
    Feb 11, 2013 @ 17:19:04

    Hi John,
    I’m currently with the technical support team but aspire to get on to the Analytics Team; heard that they requir ppl with skills on MS SQL/SASS/BI related skillsets. I am an absolute beginer..please help me with a road map…there are so many links online that each rout to a diffrent skill and it has become so very confusing. Thank you.

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Feb 11, 2013 @ 18:58:30

      Hi Shree,

      I would think that the best people to ask that question would be the Analytics Team within your existing company. They will be able to tell you exactly what the requirements for a role/position within the team are.

      I’ve also sent you an email with some general information on how your can get started with SQL Server but again, I think you should start with the team at your current company.

      Best of luck!

      Reply

30. Shree
    Feb 11, 2013 @ 19:07:43

    Thank you John, for the quick response!

    A casual intrection with our Analytics team yelded not much information except that I will have to aquire skills related to BI and doing SAAS and MS SQL Server will be helpful.
    I was wondering if you or any in the forum can guide me with a road map.
    Thank You!
    Shree

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Feb 11, 2013 @ 19:15:26

      Personally I would be disappointed with a weak response like that. I’d also be questioning whether or not that’s the sort of team that I would want to work in. Not to jump to conclusions though, perhaps you just caught whomever you spoke to at a bad time.

      I would suggest attempting once again to find out more information, preferably from the team manager. Make sure to show your enthusiasm for data technology and to sell yourself. You could be talking to your future boss after all.

      Absolutely, feel free to post a question on forum! The folks there will almost certainly be able to offer you additional advice and suggestions.

      Reply

31. Tejal
    Feb 12, 2013 @ 12:14:41

    Hi John,
    its a beautifully made website with tremendous support and knowledgeable people.
    I am not even a beginner in this field as i have no idea what SQL or DB or relevant technical jargon mean.
    I am type of person who needs lot of motivation from others to do something. Before reading your blog , (no offense) i didn’t even knew you existed because i never read about DB or SQL before. but after all the replies above, i realized this is one of the best website/community i have come across where you actually get reply to your questions.

    basically i am not in this field at all. i am inside sales rep with technical bend of mind and desire to learn something new. my strength lies in troubleshooting .

    to make things short, I am working in a company and they had purchased a custom made software based on SQL DB from an IT company . well for some reason or other, so far we haven’t implemented that software, since it was put on back burner, to take care of daily activities. Now my company has finally decided to make use of this custom made software for internal use. Now the problematic part:

    the original source code is outdated and with lot of errors and many of the files might be missing, not sure. The IT company from which we purchased this software , now they are charging ridiculous amount of money just to get rid of some functional errors from the source code and install that software on our server.

    I am personally unofficial tech “guy” for my company. solving minor issues here and there. I want to tackle this problem myself of removing errors from source code and installation. But i have absolutely no knowledge of SQL or DB for that matter.

    Can you suggest how i can go about it? do you recommend making a call to my IT co and pay fees or call some SQL tech guy that can resolve it. but my personal preference is to learn everything about this myself and resolve this issue, being a “tech guy”, although i am women,lol

    Sorry for such a big write up. but after reading your reply to every question, i have become hopeful that i will get guidance here.

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Feb 12, 2013 @ 18:26:55

      Hi Tejal,

      Thanks for your comments.

      May I suggest you submit your comment as a post on the Community Forum. It’s a much better platform to support a conversation of this nature.

      You’ve raised some great points for discussion and I’ll certainly do what I can to answer them there. I’m sure the rest of the community will offer their insights too.

      Talk to you soon…..

      Reply

32. Tapiwa
    Mar 01, 2013 @ 16:36:11

    Hie

    I am a learner sql server student and I have done the course. however whats left is for to write the exam. i am really afraid. I am good at the practical side but I seed not to understand the exam, each time i write a practice test I fail.

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Mar 01, 2013 @ 21:25:08

      Tapiwa, what course/exam are you studying toward?

      Reply

33. kishore kumar G
    Mar 05, 2013 @ 12:00:25

    Hello john,

    I’m really very happy abt getting this oppurtunity to txt you. On your experience i need a feedback about swithching from a ‘system admin role’ to a ‘sql DBA/server mgmt’ after holding a 2.5yrs of experience as a system administrator will it be possible to stabilize us in this DBA field. If so, what kind of certification do you prefer.

    thanks & regards

    kishore kumar G

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Mar 06, 2013 @ 16:39:12

      Hi Kishore,

      Absolutely! You can indeed switch from a similar technology role to a junior DBA position.

      I would suggest however that you avoid thinking of certification as a direct ticket to a SQL Server DBA role because in my experience the majority of employers do not view them is this manner. As is often the case, experience is the key and is something that I discuss on my post series, Your Road To Becoming a DBA. I think you may find this to be a helpful read because I try to address some of the challenges with creating your own unique career path as a data professional.

      Best of luck! It’s a great time to be starting a career in I.T because the market is flexible to professionals wanting to make their own unique career paths and to build the ideal role they desire.

      Reply

      • kishore kumar G
        Mar 07, 2013 @ 07:49:59

        Hi John,

        Now I got an idea about what i’ve to look for. The Link “your road to becoming DBA” has really inspired me like you. It’s being a pleasure to discuss about my career with you. If I need any further Clarifications about this DBA career, You Have to support me.

        Thanks & Regards

        Kishore kumar G

        Reply

34. Anuj Choudhary
    Mar 21, 2013 @ 11:24:52

    Hi John,

    i am working in IT Support from last 3 years.now i want to learn database and become DBA.
    for this i have some questions for you,

    1.only the programmer or developer can become DBA,i do not have any knowledge of either programming and development,so please suggest if i can become DBA
    2.how much time it takes to become DBA?
    3.how will be the future in DBA for me.

    i woulb be grateful if you will reply my queries.

    thank you for yuor attention.
    Best Regards,
    Anuj

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Mar 24, 2013 @ 19:48:23

      Hi Anuj,

      1. Can you become a DBA? Absolutely!
      2. How long will it take? That depends on a great many things and naturally there is no precise answer I can give you.
      3. What will the future be like for you as a DBA? Whatever you decide you want it to be.

      Your questions are quite open ended and are ripe for further discussion. A lot of our community members are already having similar conversations in the community forum and I’m sure you could find more answers there too.

      Thanks for your comments.

      Reply

35. santosh pohar
    Mar 21, 2013 @ 16:39:55

    Hi John,
    I am a started of SQL server. Could you please guide me how to start with basics of SQL?

    Regards,
    Santosh

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Mar 24, 2013 @ 19:41:10

      Hi Santosh,

      Take a look at the post series Your Road To Becoming a DBA, where I offer the answer to your very question. I hope it helps.

      Reply

      • santosh pohar
        Apr 01, 2013 @ 14:26:01

        Thanks John!!

        Will this help in improving my PeopleSoft knowlwdge?

        Regards,
        Santosh.

        Reply

        • John Sansom
          Apr 01, 2013 @ 16:40:25

          PeopleSoft is a completely different product suite. That said, some of the professional development posts are applicable to a great many areas.

          Reply

36. sudarshan
    Mar 31, 2013 @ 04:55:13

    hi m sud
    i am doing b.c.a (bachelor of computer application) and i want to become DBA so i want to know what courses i have to do for becoming a DBA .

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Apr 01, 2013 @ 16:43:09

      Hi Sud,

      What are the modules/course options that are available to you? Focusing on data related subject areas could be advantageous however at this level, all knowledge is valuable.

      Reply

37. Anuj Choudhary
    Apr 15, 2013 @ 14:07:59

    Hi John,

    please do revert back for my below query,i will be very thankful for this.

    i want DBA which able to look up the server part but not develping and programming.
    regarding 1 ques., I want to know that person from Support Team can become DBA and secondly after becoming DBA my Support my experience will count or not.

    your resopnse is much awaited.

    Thank you for yuor attention.

    Reply

    • John Sansom
      Apr 15, 2013 @ 18:21:40

      Hi Anuj,

      What you are describing is the more traditional DBA role, that of pure administrative tasks and responsibilities only. For the most part these roles no longer exist. It’s one of the reasons why people choose to use the term Data Professional to more accurately describe the responsibilities of the modern DBA. The role of the modern DBA can be quite different from one organisation to another.

      I would advise you against avoiding learning to program. In my opinion programming is an incredibly valuable skill to posses, particularly when it comes to task and process automation.

      With regard to technical support skills being transferable, absolutely they are. All previous experience can be considered as potentially valuable. There’s a lot more to being a Data Professional than technical skills alone.

      Thanks for your comments.

      Reply