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  There will always be a demand for Database skills
 
You might like to check out this related page on Personal Qualities for Career Success.

Here's a useful link for the UK offered by the Daily Telegraph on February 25th.2009.
It covers CVs, Interviews and has a (currently) very superficial look at choosing a job that matches your personality.


I used to think that being an Oracle DBA is as close as you can get to having a job for life these days.
However, as I write this, (September 2009) both SQL Server and DB2 are catching up with Oracle.

SQL Server is winning market share from Oracle.

In response to this, the latest versions of Oracle Enterprise Manager are moving to point-and-click DBA tasks and away from Command line work.
This translates into 'one DBA can look after more Databases', or to put it more realistically, and depressingly, fewer DBAs are required.

I receive emails that say - 'I am an Oracle DBA and I have just been laid off, what do I do ?'
The implication is clear - if you are in this position, you should acquire some DBA-related skills which give your CV a broader appeal, such as Database Developer, which brings us to ...

The second most common occupation would be as a Database Developer,(which would mean PL/SQL skills for Oracle). This is also the conclusion on January 4th. 2004, of the respected Oracle expert, Tom Kyte.

Oracle continues to be the market leader, at 33%, although IBM's DB2 is close behind at 31%, but Oracle dominates on UNIX, whereas IBM is dominant on mainframes.

Microsoft's SQL Server is way behind at 14% overall, although it is ahead on Windows.

A demand for Data Architects is growing as the Internet and e-Commerce forces many organisations to rationalise and integrate their Data/Information Sources.
In addition, 9/11 led to the introduction of a wide range of legislation related to tracking individuals and events, which has given greater importance to Integrated Compliance Framworks and Generic Data Architectures.


  Here is a series of Useful Links
 

Follow these Links in turn to plan your Career path
 
What is a DBA ? Start with this one___
What is in Demand ? Check the demand in the UK for DBAs (or anything else).
Becoming a SQL Server DBA Looks good.
Career prospects as a DBA "A Job for Life".
Careers as a Data Migration Specialist  
Careers as a Data Warehousing Specialist  
Careers with Oracle Skills The DBMS which is most in demand
Certification CramSession offers Study Guides and Self-Test.
CV Does your CV stand out from the pile ?
DBA Interview Questions  
Developing Database-backed Web Sites The Skill which is most in demand
Neuvoo Highly Recommended - provides a round-up of what's available on other Jobs Web Sites
Oracle People You can register with this Oracle People Web Agency.
Planning your Future Career You should ALWAYS have a Plan, and keep it up-to-date.
Organizations - join a Professional Organization ...
Association of Database Developers A great name, and affordable at $40, but it might fail the Groucho Marx test, because it may be too easy to join.
Publications - Keep up your reading ...
Database Journal "The Knowledge Center for Database Professionals"
Database Trends "provides corporates with timely coverage of ... enterprise information issues."
Intelligent Enterprise "The only magazine dedicated to strategic business applications that turn information into intelligence."
Intelligent Enterprise - Asia "Information Strategies for the Business Leader"
Planning your Future Career You should ALWAYS have a Plan, and keep it up-to-date.
 
The Role of a Data Architect  
 
Recruitment IBM (UK)
Recruitment Agencies DBAJobs.com - great name for a Web Site !!!
Recruitment Agencies Engineering Jobs - it consolidates jobs from other Recruitment web sites and is worth checking out - a search for "Contract Database" produced 300 Jobs.
Recruitment Agencies GurU.com
Recruitment Agencies JobFizz (especially recommended for the UK)
Recruitment Agencies JobRapido - a beautifully designed and very easy to use Web Site, offering permanent jobs on an international scale.
Recruitment Agencies JobServe (also recommended for the UK)
Recruitment Agencies Monster.com (the biggest)
Recruitment Agencies PlanetRecruit - "Jobs for Technology Professionals",covering IT, Engineering and Telecomms Jobs in the UK.
Salary.com Salaries and Job Descriptions for a wide range of IT jobs.
Skills in Demand  
Tutorials to get started These can be very useful.
Typical Day in the Life of a DBA Make sure you like the sound of the job.
 

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