So I can relate a little personal knowledge about this. In July of last
year I had someone approach me and ask how they could get a job as a
DBA. After talking for a bit, it turned out that he had no database
experience. He actually use to be a lawyer and decided to make a
change. I told him to set up a database on a Linux computer and start
playing around with it. The next month he said that he had done so.
What next? Well, MySQL AB had just released the CMA exam. As Baron
mentioned, it makes a great baseline to show your knowledge when you
approach companies. I told him to start studying for the test using the
MySQL Certification book (a subset of it covers the exam material). We
met twice over the next few months to study a bit and then in December
he took the test and passed it.
Monday he actually started as our part time junior DBA. Is he making a
lot of money? Nope. But, it is a good chance for him to get experience
in a rapidly growing production environment and in another nine months
or a year he *will *be able to get a decent job.
So can you do it? Sure. Do you need a college degree? Not really. He
certainly had one, but it had nothing to do with databases. What does
it take? Desire, work and reasonable intelligence. That's all. I
doubt you will make much at your first job, but learn from the
experience and do everything you can to learn more. Once you get done
with the CMA start working on the CMDBA exams. Unlike some other cert
programs these aren't fluff. I am not sure of the statistics listed on
MySQL's website, but there just aren't that many certified DBAs.
And you won't find many jobs listed as "jr dba". Don't sweat that.
Approach companies that already have dbas and tell them you want a
chance to learn. Show them through the CMA that you are serious.
Working for peanuts. If it were me, and I was just starting out, I
would pick what company I wanted to work at and if they wouldn't hire me
for eight or ten dollars an hour I would offer to work for free. Just
remember it is only temporary.
Good luck.
Keith
Thufir wrote:
> On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 1:51 PM, Baron Schwartz <baron@stripped> wrote:
> [...]
>
>> In my opinion there is a tremendous shortage of qualified DBAs for
>> MySQL. The certification may establish that you have at least a
>> baseline of knowledge. If you're looking for a job, you could hardly
>> go wrong with it, IMO.
>>
> [...]
>
> Yeah, I think that I'm going for the certification, although I can't
> imagine what kind of job I could land -- junior DB admin? I don't
> have a college degree :(
>
>
> -Thufir
>
>
--
B. Keith Murphy, CMA
Paragon Consulting Services
http://www.paragon-cs.com
http://blog.paragon-cs.com
(850) 637-3877
