IT Jobs - The Database Administrator

In the Information Technology world there are many options to pursue if one is looking for a solid and trustworthy career. One particular job specifically has proved being of great interest and is currently in dire need of more recruits. This IT job is that of a "Database Administrator" or for short, a DBA. Database administrators obviously work with databases, specifically database management systems software. The basic requirements of DBAs is to create databases, maintain them and write programs for database administration.

DBA Obligations
Responsibilities of database administrators differ upon many factors. Depending on one's specific DBA job description, the interwoven corporate and IT policies as well as the technical issues of Database Management Systems (or DBMS) one's duties can vary greatly. What is certain, duty wise, is that a few definite and necessary tasks need to be fulfilled by all DBAs. DBAs are often required to conduct operations including disaster recovery, performance analysis and tuning, data dictionary maintenance and some database design.

DBA obligations in clear cut form involve safeguarding and guaranteeing either a corporation's or organization's functional databases and coinciding applications that reach those databases, making sure to monitor both efficiency and functionality.

6 Required Tasks
Beyond the above obligations, DBAs are also responsible for 6 main tasks including issues of recoverability, integrity, security, availability, performance and development and testing support.

Recoverability here is done as a means to take precautionary action in case of major errors in terms of data entry, program bugs or overall hardware malfunctions. The objective for a DBA in recoverability terms is to be able to bring back a database in the state it was prior to the malfunction or lose. Rightfully so, recoverability is also sometimes called "disaster recovery."
Integrity requires DBAs to provide means to protect, but more importantly, to prevent data giving users from breaking the system's business rules. Security is obviously just what it implies. And DBAs must tailor what they create to conform to a company's security policies in terms of user ability, both in access and changing data. Availability here is just asking DBAs to provide accessible means to authorized users to access and change data as necessary for business interest.

Performance from a DBAs point of view is simply a task of maintaining efficiency in online response times and workability between all other aspects tying into the database maintenance process. If performance problems arise, DBAs will examine SQL statements, table processes and overall system architecture, individually speaking. And lastly, the Development and Testing Support aspect for DBAs is a rather less important task, one involving the collecting of sample production data for testing new and/or altered programs, consulting with programmers about overall performance tuning and making certain table design modifications as to provide new means of storage for new program functions.

Prerequisite Action
Before actually heading out into the real IT working world as a DBA, one must get their Microsoft certification, or gain what is referred to as a Microsoft Certified Database Administrator certification or MCDBA for short. This involves going through various steps from training, to testing and actual certification attainment. It doesn't necessarily come easy, but in the long run, to become a successful, accelerated and respected DBA, one must have their MCDBA certification as validity to one's IT and specific DBA skills and capabilities. And once this is had, a DBA position can be acquired and the above responsibilities are then put into effect.
If one is serious about becoming a DBA, you must get certified. Before this though, consider Microsoft Training to push yourself ahead of other IT competition.

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What Job Skills Are Most Important For the Future?

Employers, employees and job seekers all want to know: "What are the important job skills for the future?" The problem is-nobody knows!

The Trouble with Job Forecasting
Every few weeks a business magazine, Internet site, or popular press publication produces an article forecasting the jobs and careers most in demand over the next year, few years, or even decade. The problem is that these predictions are based on current data and trends, and often rely on straight-line extrapolations of current employment data. Frequently demographic and technological information is incorporated into the equation. Additional projections and analysis may be performed but none of these techniques are particularly accurate for forecasting future conditions. This is because the "explosion" in technology means that many jobs that don't even exist today will represent major career opportunities in the future.

The Job and Career Situation
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that today's graduates will have 10-14 jobs by the time they reach age 38! In the current workforce, only 25% of employees have been in their present job more than a year; while 50% have been there less than 5!

The top 10 "in-demand" jobs for 2010 did not even exist in 2004" (statistics from "Did You Know?" video created by Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod and Jeff Bronman, for Corinthian Colleges, Parthenon IV, 2009). Corinthian Colleges (which includes Everest Universities, Colleges and Institutes as well as WyoTech) says that they are "preparing students for jobs that don't yet exist...using technologies that haven't been invented"..."to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet." CCi (Corinthian Colleges, Inc.) has many initiatives to address these challenges, including technology, curriculum, modes of student contact and instructional interface. Most importantly, recognition of the challenge, a willingness to change, an investment in classroom technology, and a "can do" attitude pave the way to the future.

This is not to say that other firms and educational institutions do not share this vision of the future, or a willingness to change. But it is an example of a progressive and proactive approach.
How does One Prepare?

It's challenging to prepare for a future when there is so much uncertainty, and things are changing so rapidly. What is needed is not only a "skill set" but a "mindset." The technical skills you need to make a living in business, criminal justice, medical or legal fields are important, but given the rate of change, other abilities are at least of equal value.

You've probably guessed that one of the keys to success in the emerging environment is education. But education is not enough. You must have an attitude of openness, flexibility, and eagerness to learn, along with willingness, even desire, to embrace change. And, your education must be enriched with learning technologies, and approaches designed to engage the student and teach them to be a "lifelong learner." It must include technical skills, information technologies, interpersonal and communications skills. It must also incorporate planning, critical thinking and analytical skills. This is a good foundation for any career.

Ben A. Carlsen, Ed.D, MBA, is an experienced CEO and manager. Dr. Carlsen has over 30 years experience in management, consulting, and teaching. Currently the Head of the Business Department at Everest Institute, Hialeah, FL., he was Chairman of the Los Angeles County Productivity Managers Network and President of the Association for Systems Management (So. Calif. Chapter). Additional information can be obtained at http://drben.info
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Job Search in the Hidden Job Market

The hidden job market isn't going to come to you. So you have to go after it.
You may have heard of this term or maybe you haven't. But essentially it just means the jobs that are not advertised.

The jobs a hiring manager is thinking about, such as to replace a current employee because he/she may not be performing well, maybe someone is going back to school and will be leaving soon. It's also possible that the time is getting close for someone to retire. What about this one; business is going well and they are expanding their workforce and a position that never existed is been created as you read this article.

These scenarios are happening every minute somewhere at some company and those might be the perfect jobs for you. Yes, we see thousands of jobs advertised on known and large job boards, which I am not knocking down since some might be great opportunities. But also think that thousands of eyeballs have access to these advertisements and competition is fierce.

And remember that advertising cost money, it takes time not to forget the hundreds or sometimes thousands of resume submissions they may receive. After hiring managers and/or human resources specialists receive all these applications, now the fun starts.

What about this; After they have received all these want to be next employee credentials you show up (introduced by someone else, a phone call you made, in person, etc.) and are able to introduce and explain yourself. They get to know a real person that is telling the truth directly to them. Who do you think they are going to be inclined to choose?

To be able to achieve this you need to take some steps, start by combining the leads you've gotten from networking from your company research. Then create a list of companies and individuals you want to contact.

If you don't have a specific contact name, research until you get one. A good way of finding names is not to directly go to the gatekeeper but find a friendly sales professional at the company who would like to explain their products and/or services to you. Build a bit of raport and ask them to direct you the to the most appropriate person. Once you've compiled your list, call or email the contacts and request an informational interview.

An informational interview is a brief meeting between someone researching a career or industry and someone working in that career or industry. Remember those jobs are hidden and your interest might not be for an specific job but about the company and their functions.
At the beginning you might be nervous, prepare a simple script so you don't get flustered. If you do, don't worry it will pass with practice.

Explain that you want to learn about an industry, career or company and ask if the person has some time to talk with you.

Informational interviews may not always lead to a job, but they're generally time well-spent. You can get feedback on your skills and experience as well as make professional contacts. And, in the best cases,they can help you identify hidden jobs that haven't been advertised.
About the Author

Fernando Ratkoczy is an author and Founder of http://www.NewEdgeProductions.com If you're looking for Job Search Training or wish to find the best Job Search Training Programs developed by leading Career Management Consultants, then check out The Fast Job Search Series. If you try to reduce your job search time and improve results you found one of the most comprehensive programs in the market. You are welcome to review free previews http://www.newedgeproductions.com/job-training-videos.html of The Fast Job Search Strategies available on-line.

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How to Find Teenage Jobs You Will Like to Do

The Journey of Life is traveled one step at a time, within your own experience. Teenage Jobs can be your path to future personal and career independence. It's your life, so you do not have to live it conventionally. You can live the lifestyle you personally create for yourself. The right job will help form, and be a part of your lifestyle.

We, as a whole, are more alike than not. Yet, at the same time we are very different from one another. The typical conventional Job Path, leads us from a part time job in the summer months, to graduating from high school, going to college, receiving a degree, and finally entering the workforce on the ground floor, into an entry level job.

What are You Passionate About Doing?
Since, you will be spending a great deal of your waking hours on a job, working in your future, it is wise to make sure you pick the right teenage jobs for who you are as a unique individual. What kind of job have you dreamed about which fits who you think you are? It would make good sense to begin contemplating the notion about where you think you fit in the world of working. The right teenage job for your abilities and personality may connect you to your future adult career.

In reality, for the vast majority of teens, and even for those much older contemplating a career change, making a career choice is a bit more involved than merely thinking about what you would like to do for a living. It may turn out to be a confusing task, especially if you have little or no work experience as a teen, or have worked in a single industry your entire adult working career.

Take a Few Teen Quizzes
* Think for the long haul, beyond the part time teenage jobs. Taking a career assessment test can help give you suggestions about which careers match with your favorite job aptitudes, strongest abilities, and working personality.

* Some Career and personality tests can make mistakes and misdirect you to the wrong career and education choices. Check the background and choose well known, reliable, dependable testing instruments.

* Beware, and use your own judgment, some tests are not scientifically researched, nor validated.
* Additionally, assessment tests can only go by your testing input. They are not a crystal ball and they do not reveal your future.
* The test will verify and remind you about what you already know about yourself, and possibly reveal a few traits you weren't aware of, or may have forgotten.
* They will give you a few career suggestions you probably had not thought about.
* Any test taking must be tempered by your own good judgment and self knowledge.
* For example, if a test tells you that you are the artistic type, but you are positive that you have absolutely no interest in art, and prefer mathematics, and possess a predominately analytical mind; Logic dictates that you must favor what you know to be your preference.
What do You Know How to do the Best?

If you possess a certain inclination for doing something with ease, and can do it well, consider matching this ability of yours to a job which requires it's use. Using your preferred abilities in performing an action will bring you happiness, enjoyment, and validate what you are passionate about. If you discover the natural abilities you prefer to use, and find Student Jobs which demand the use of your innate talents, you will have then found your ideal teenage jobs.

We all have different paths we can choose to walk in life. Therefore; For some of us, hitting the road with our tennis shoes on and a backpack, and exploring nature for a month or two, is key to discovering our life's purpose and direction. For others, they may be more of a homebody type and prefer the old recognizable scenery of their familiar home surroundings.

Nevertheless, whoever you are, knowing yourself is the answer to finding where it is you belong in the job world. No one can decide, or do this for you. Know that we all have our very own unique Niche in life, and a perfect career we will fit into. It is just up to us to be where it is, we belong. The information you receive about yourself from teen quizzes can help you decide your career direction.

Steve Humphreys
http://www.career-test-info-guide.com/
Key to ideal career discovery, is self knowledge. Find, develop, and plan your career choice with our self help resources. Teens, career changers, or job searchers will find helpful advice and articles about career tests, resumes, interviews, and more. Let us help you find your dream career on your journey.

Free ebook - Ten Steps to your Dream Career. http://www.career-test-info-guide.com/ebooks-download.html
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