Considered working as an Oracle Database Administrator? This interview will take you through the ups and downs you can expect in the position, what it takes to land the job, what you can expect to earn and more.

My current role is in retail and manufacturing as an Oracle database administrator (DBA).  I have worked in IT (Information Technology) for over 20 years, 15 of that as a DBA.

As an Oracle DBA, I configure hardware and networks to maximize the use of the database and then install the database software. I work with application projects to design databases.

I am asked for input on the design of ways to get data into the databases, such as data entry screens, as well as any interfaces to other internal or external systems (such as a supplier or financial institution).

My help is also used to design ways of getting data out of the database such as reports or query screens. There may also be a need for interfaces to extract data from our databases and send it to other systems.

Once the databases are in place, I create the processes to back up and restore them.

Finally, I define how to manage the databases in a disaster recovery scenario, such as if the computer room flooded and I had to set up computers and databases at another location to keep the business running,

On a daily basis, I monitor all of the databases for performance and check that any backups that were scheduled completed successfully,

I am very happy with my job, perhaps an 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. It is full opportunities to be creative, to think fast on my feet, and to learn from the ever-expanding pool of technical wisdom.

My view of my role on projects is as a key element which will affect lots of people, within the company as well as our customers. This motivates me to always do my best and deliver stellar results that people can depend on.

My career path allowed me to work in several small businesses with empowering technical leadership. I’ve had the experience of a manager leading me into a room full of components and saying, “See if you can put this computer together”. Or a box of new software was placed on my desk with “See what you can do with this”.

The effect of these experiences on me was a building up of my confidence to great levels. Because of those experiences, I don’t resist taking on difficult tasks. They are just another challenge for me to have some fun and to learn something.

I am grateful to friends I had in college who said that I should look at the computer field because it was really taking off. So I began my career by taking some programming classes and getting a job supporting a small medical billing system. Again I was lucky to have a manager who just let me loose to “figure things out”. I developed some great troubleshooting skills that have served me ever since.

A few times in my career I have “relearned” the lesson that there is a difference between confidence and ego. Confidence allows me to take on a task because I truly know that I can accomplish it. Ego has me take on a task because I think it will make me look good.

Once I took on a systems project that was still a few years away from my ability to master myself. But I wanted to impress the senior management with my skills. Several days and a few sleepless nights later, I had to call in some serious favors from multiple vendors to help me get the job done.

That changed the way I approached my work and taught me the value of team efforts!

Another valuable thing I learned once I got out of school is that there is a place for everyone to work at something for which they are truly passionate. I have had “jobs” where I got up, went to work, did what I was supposed to do then went home to start it all over again the next day. That was a miserable existence. The money was great but that didn’t matter. I hated going in to work.

When I found a place where I could be creative, use my skills and felt like I was a part of something, I was always excited to see what the next big thing was coming up for me.

Besides the serious times, funny things happen. A senior support person and I were helping someone restart their databases on a system that had crashed. We were talking to the customer on the phone and realized that nothing we had suggested was working. So we had them go into the server room and asked them to reset the machines, meaning to power them down completely and start them back up, something we never did because this was a 24x7 operation.

We told the customer what we wanted them to do which was to throw a breaker off on the machine panel. They said “I can’t see the breaker”. We told them where to look on the side of the machine and they still said they could see it. Then they said “Hold on a moment while I get a flashlight” and we heard them put the phone down.

The support person and I looked at each other puzzled. When the customer came back on the phone we asked why they had to get a flashlight and they said “Oh, well, our power went out and it’s dark in the computer room”.

Ever since then when I do support over the phone I make sure to ask a litany of questions like “Do you have power?”...”Is it plugged in?”...”Is it turned on?”...

Because each day brings something new and different to learn, I look forward to going to my job. It’s an old cliche that you get back what you put into something, but I think that’s still applicable in my job. As long as I continue to have the curiosity about what I can learn, my job will stay fresh and interesting.

There are stressful times at work; people wanting their data right now, deadlines that can’t possibly be met, and customers that just don’t understand what they are asking for. Nowadays, budgets are a high priority and we are often trying to do more with less. When the CEO wants me to accelerate an important strategic project and the CFO wants me to cut 15% from my budget, I wonder if they ever talk between themselves. It is frustrating to feel like I am the go-between for two executives. On the other hand, I know that most issues I deal with have an element of bad communication in them so that is the aspect I like to tackle first.

A most important mission for me is to keep myself mentally and physically healthy so as to balance out the work place stress. Time with friends and family, a walk at lunch, and spontaneous days off to go to a beach that I particularly like help me to maintain that balance.

To get into this line of work requires a solid understanding of systems and the people that use them. A degree in computer science with all of the hands on lab that one can take will help them get a good start.

If I had one thing to say to a friend who was going into this field I would say “Find the place where you are most curious and head in that direction!”

That is the great thing about working with something you are passionate about. Every morning you wake up will feel like a new day and that excitement alone will carry you forward for a long, long time.

This is a true career story as told to ComputerJobs.net and is one of many interviews with IT professionals which among others include a Webmaster and a Software Analyst.