Job market for entry level DBA/SQL developer (San Diego: shops, move to)

[fedfan]

A friend is looking to move to San Diego. She is an oracle certified associate PL/SQL programmer and DBA. She has also done some entry level Linux certification.

Are there any jobs available in this field? Where should she look for them?

Thanks

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by fedfan

A friend is looking to move to San Diego. She is an oracle certified associate PL/SQL programmer and DBA. She has also done some entry level Linux certification.

Are there any jobs available in this field? Where should she look for them?

Thanks

There are jobs, but most people are looking for senior-level talent. For example I am trying to hire a DB Developer right now (SQL Server 05 / SSIS / TSQL) and I get either hardcore DBA guys (who are not devs) or total greenhorns. I can't settle for entry-level because there is too much work and I need someone who can hit the ground running.

It has been very tough to find truly good people who have both the experience and the interpersonal skills to succeed. The solid, senior level guys have the SD market in the palm of their hands right now, they all have jobs and if they are looking, it isn't for long.

The best advice I would give your friend is to start with the biggest companies. Mitchell, Intuit and First American are Oracle shops if I remember correctly. The bigger companies are more apt to take an entry-level hire and give them the mentoring and attention they need. However they are tough to get into as a starter unless you have great degree or something else to make you stand out.

The small shops have no support structure for new hires and no training programs for junior people. Only go to the small shops if you are very confident and are willing to take the 'sink or swim' approach.

DBA is the type of job where experience really matters, no one is going to let a junior staffer touch the million-dollar box with all the company's financials on it. You have to start small and get in where you can.

[niy38]

Sassberto is very right.

Fedfan: tell ur friend when applying DBA position, don't say "I'm certified associate PL/SQL programmer and DBA", unless position specifying programming experience.
say "I'm an certified DBA and linux SA" is better.

[indecisive]

the quickest way to gain experience these days is as a consultant. its pretty hard to get an entry level job as an FTE. I can say that all our junior positions are occupied by consultants. One more note, anytime someone sends me a resume with the word 'certified' at the very top 'lack of experience' comes to mind - - we all start somewhere. I started as a consultant several years ago, made next to nothing for a couple of years, developed some hard core experience and never looked back...