I agree, the Jr. DBA must focus on learning. Mid DBA...is still learning. Many Mid still view tuning/troubleshooting as an art (with a little magic thrown in) Sr. DBA...is still learning. Realizes that database management is a science, requiring research, expirementation and a very healthy dose of skepticism.
The best Sr. DBAs that I know are the first ones to say 'I don't know'. That is the only true path to learning. No one can know everything. Often times the Jr. DBA will be a great source of knowledge since they don't know what NOT to ask. Reaction to reading Books/Documentation Junior - I did not know that Mid - I know that Senior - Perhaps...let's prove it When a developer/user asks for a change to the database Junior - I'll look it up and change it Mid - I have a script to do that, I'll let you know when I am done Senior - Why are you needing this change? Did you realize that x will cause y? Let's figure out the best way to accomplish the result. When faced with an undocumented condition/unknown error Junior - Log a TAR, get frustrated with 'We need a trace file. We need more information. <We have no clue...>'. Calls more senior help. Mid - Remembers a passage in a book, tries out the command. Fixes the symptom. Senior - Knows that x can cause y, if z is present. Tracks condition from symptom through to actual problem. Attends sessions at IOUG Junior - Assumes that all speakers know exactly what they are talking about and all vendor tools work as advertised. Mid - Listens to and believes Tim, Cary, Craig, Rich, Rachel, Gaja and all other High Holy Oracle Gurus preach Senior - Listens to, questions and tests (on non production systems) what Tim, Cary, Craig, Rich, Rachel, Gaja and all other High Holy Oracle Gurus preach Knowledge level Junior - Has no clue what they know and don't know Mid - Knows what they know Senior - Knows what they don't know Every Senior DBA is a mix of Jr. and Mid. They may know a great deal about one subsystem of Oracle, but lack knowledge in another area. Daniel W. Fink Sr. Oracle DBA MICROMEDEX 303.486.6456 -----Original Message----- Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 2:43 AM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L Junior DBA's job is a learning. Mid DBA's job is a science. Sr. DBA's job is the Art. Srs feel database, users, developers and everything else. They feel what, where, how, when and why should by done. Their intuition is of high degree. ... and everybody is sure - the Sr DBA knows everything. (so one of the priority of Sr DBA is to make this impression) -- Alexandre -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Alexandre Gorbatchev INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). i -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Fink, Dan INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
