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Job Requirements: Databases

Started by AndreTheGiant Jan 19, 2007 at 11:31 AM 4 replies 750+ views

Original Post

Jan 19, 2007 at 11:31 AM

Ive been looking for a new job lately and Ive been going through a LOT of job postings online. Many of them are asking for MS SQL Server experience, and many are asking for Oracle developers. Almost none of them are asking for both/either. I have some questions: Ive had a fair amount of formal academic schooling on database theory. How databases work, what theyre used for, how to structure SQL statements, etc. We were not trained on any specific database software, it was mostly just theory. I also have 2 or 3 years of practical work experience using MS SQL Server database software. I have never used Oracle and dont know anything about it. My question is: If a job is asking for Oracle experience, and all I have is MSSQLServer experience, does that count? How different are they? Judging from my database theory courses, I cant see how Oracle can be that much different from SQL Server. If I have 3 years of experience in SQL server, can that some how translate into an automatic 1 year of experience with Oracle or something like that? Can I apply for jobs that require Oracle experience even though I have never used it? In my mind, they must be very similar pieces of software. If a job were asking for experience using the Firefox browser and all I knew was Internet Explorer, I would still apply. Is this the same thing?

jfclavette

Jan 19, 2007 at 11:39 AM

Depends on what the job is. If you're just acting as a client for the database, and are not expected to administer it or write bleeding edge, hand-optimised SQL then yeah, you'll pick the minor differences in no time. PL-SQL isn't the same as T-SQL, but they're still somewhat similar.

If you're going to do even the slightest bit of administration, then don't even think about it. Being a DBA for Oracle database is a special case of masochism.

Big B

Jan 19, 2007 at 1:05 PM

Agree with above. SQL statements for the two as close as comparing writing SQL for any other two databases. The difference between the Oracle and MS SQL Server is that I can run SQL Server on my development system along with everything else. I can run Oracle on my development system, but nothing else. Even with just Oracle running it isn't that smooth.

SQL Server is set up as a data warehouse. Oracle is set up as an all encompassing Enterprise system running everything from inventory to payroll. You can use it as a data warehouse, but it requires a hell of a lot of tweaking.

The reason you don't see job listings looking for both is that they both cost as much as a house, so once a company buys into one, they are stuck.

I'd suggest downloading Oracle's free edition and setting it up.

Sneftel

Jan 19, 2007 at 1:09 PM

Quote:
Original post by Big B
I'd suggest downloading Oracle's free edition and setting it up.

That's a really good idea. Spend about two hours screwing with Oracle, and you'll be able to honestly say you have experience using it (gets you past Hiring Obstacle 1); and combined with your preexisting knowledge of SQL you'll be able to actually demonstrate that you can do database stuff (Hiring Obstacle 2).

gpalin

Jan 19, 2007 at 2:34 PM

I also agree with the suggestion for the free Oracle database. It works fine on my laptop, along with other programs. And it's a good way to get experience with the Oracle way of doing things. This way, I've been able to do some basic applications (personal projects), using Oracle for the database.

As for databases in general, SQL is the main common point between different systems. But each system has it's own slightly different dialect of SQL, so a specific SQL query may work on Oracle but not SQL Server. That's the sort of thing that would be good to pick up on. And also the tools that come with each system.

sanguineraven

Jan 19, 2007 at 3:49 PM

It depends on what kind of position you apply for, as already mentioned. Having sat my Oracle Certified Associate exam, I can say there is a lot of small rules, syntax, obscure functions and exceptions to rules about Oracle's SQL variant to learn.

Oracle's PL/SQL is fairly straight forward if you have any experience in a procedural language.

As for DBA role in Oracle, if you have never used Oracle before, DON'T apply for an Oracle DBA job expecting it to be logical and similar to other DBA knowledge you may have. I am training in DBA tasks at the moment and there is simply huge amounts to learn.

As adviced, download Oracle XE and play about a bit. You can use SQLDeveloper or I would recommend TOAD for Oracle which is a nice frontend to let you play about with lots of its features.

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