Why Oracle Database Management is Really Important

We frequently use spreadsheets to store and share data. As long as the data is small and straightforward, spreadsheets do a good job of saving it. However, as the volume and complexity of the data grows, you will have to use a Database Management System to store and retrieve the data. Databases are highly scalable, and they are designed to communicate with other applications which make them suitable for the web.

Organizations like Banks, Government departments and multinational corporations all have vast amounts of data that need to be store and retrieved securely. Therefore, they use relational database management system to manage their data. A relational database recognizes the relationship between stored information.

Oracle is an object-relational database which is among one of the most complex databases in the world. It means that it supports many object-oriented features such as enhancing the capability of the database server by defining new and complex data types and using the attributes of “Inheritance” to define objects, which can procure properties of other objects.

Since most Database Management Systems (DBMS) understand a particular query or a specific language, not everyone can operate them. Database Administrators (or DBAs) use specialized software to store, update, delete or manage data in the DBMS.

If you want to become an Oracle Database Administrator, here are five things you should know:

What does an Oracle DBA do?

An Oracle DBA’s core job is to maintain data integrity, which means protecting the organization’s data. Database Administrators are involved in almost all functions related to data management such as development, storage, and retrieval of the database. They also “create, install, examine and troubleshoot” the database management systems that deal with the data in any organization. As an Oracle DBA, you will also be involved in the processes of backup and recovery of data, storage and capacity planning, performance monitoring and tuning, data extraction, transformation, & loading, etc. You may also be communicating with developers, data analysts and network operators to ensure smooth and efficient management & flow of information in the organization.

What are the necessary requirements for becoming an Oracle DBA?

Since database administration requires advanced knowledge of computing as well as business environments, most of the Oracle DBAs hold a Bachelor’s degree (BS) in computer programming. Due to intense competition, a college degree may not be adequate to become a DBA. Therefore, you need to upgrade your skills and become a certified expert in Oracle to advance your career. Excellent communications skills always help as in any other technical role.

You Can’t Avoid SQL

SQL or Structured Query Language, is at the core of all relational databases. SQL is used to store or fetch data in the relational databases. In fact, Oracle itself is a form of SQL Database. Also, the Oracle database is ANSI compliant. Thus, you can’t avoid SQL if you want to become an Oracle DBA. Join an introductory course in SQL before you aspire to learn advanced modules of Oracle database.

How much Oracle DBAs Earn?

The compensation of an Oracle Database Administrator may depend on several factors such as expertise in Database Administration, relevant experience, communications skills, educational qualification, etc.

According to a Salary.com report, as of Feb 2017, the median salary of Oracle DBAs is $111,450.00 per year. The average annual salary of top 10% Oracle DBAs is $132,613.00 whereas the bottom 10% earn an average annual salary of $85,637. This data clearly shows that Oracle DBA experts are among the highest paid professionals in the Information Technology sector.

How to Get Started

If you are a beginner, join an online training program to learn the basic SQL programming language. You should also acquire as many certifications in Oracle as possible to establish your credentials. Large organizations usually ask for a certain number (2-5 Years) of years of work experience. Therefore, you should also begin working as an intern along with your course to gain real world experience. You will need to be persistent and should have patience to learn Oracle DBA as it is an advanced programming language. Remember that your effort to learn Oracle will pay off quickly when you get your first job.

Average annual compensation for software developers and system engineers in the USA is around $104,500. A career in the IT sector not only offers a handsome salary and tremendous learning opportunities but it also provides a global exposure. The demand for digital tools and services is growing across all industries in the USA which is driving the growth in employment in Information Technology sector.  There is no better time than today to build a sound career in the IT industry!

Here are your 5 Steps to Landing a Job in the IT Industry

1.) Learn a Programming Language

To develop a career in the IT sector, you need to learn a programming language or a particular IT skill. Join an online course and gain mastery over any programming language or related skill set. Check out the applications and specialized software programs that are powered by the language you are learning. Try to work on as many real word projects as possible.  Practice rigorously, and build a robust portfolio. The portfolio will be extremely useful in showing your skills to potential employers.

2.) Get Certified

Not all programming languages have official certification exams. However, for some languages such as Java SE 8 programming, etc. you have the option to get certified by an authorized body. Taking advantage of certifications to advance your career in the IT sector is a smart move. Get certified by the appropriate widely recognized body. While the certification may not be entirely necessary, it will help you gain more credibility in your area of expertise and set you apart from other similarly qualified applicants.

3.) Write a Focused Resume

You need to invest significant time in developing a resume that represents your skills and accomplishments. Don’t copy the buzzwords from the internet. Prepare a short resume (1-2 pages) with all relevant details. It must be tailor-made for the job you are applying. This means it should have only the pertinent information related to the position you are applying for. By creating job customized resumes, you will increase your chances of getting that all important first interview.

4.) Expand your Network

Make an impressive LinkedIn profile and add relevant connections on a regular basis. Use a professional profile photo and complete the employment section with updated information. Use the right keywords that reflect your personality traits and professional skill sets. Engage with industry professionals and develop genuine relationships on the platform. Ask your classmates, current and former colleagues for a recommendation on LinkedIn. Remember that a majority of recruiters go through candidates’ LinkedIn profiles before calling them for the interview. Thus, an excellent LinkedIn profile can contribute significantly to your career’s success.

5.) Prepare for the Interview

An interview may last for 30 minutes or more. However, almost a third of interviewers know within the first 90 seconds whether they are going to hire you or not. That means, your first impression not only counts but impacts the selection process significantly. Thus, work on your personality and do everything that boosts your confidence. Pay close attention to your  outfit and personal hygiene. If the interview is on the phone, be aware of background noise and any speaking habits that hurt your credibility (“uhhh…”, “like…like…like”, speaking too fast, etc.)

Before appearing for the interview, brush-up your knowledge about the company and make sure to have a list of relevant questions pertaining to the job in question. During the interview, maintain a direct eye contact with the interviewer. Crack a smile when you are feeling less confident and speak assertively. Recruiters don’t hire people who are not sure about their expertise. Thus, stay positive and be confident during the entire interview process.

The Bottom Line…

Being prepared for the role you want and the company you’re interviewing for is crucial.   Be ready to work hard and become an expert in your field. Enroll for advanced online IT courses to keep your knowledge updated. Remember that to be successful in the technology industry, you need to learn new things continuously so that you can add value to the business from the start and all the way through your career.

Revenge of the nerds?!

A report ranking the best jobs in 2013 is chock full of IT roles, with database administrator, systems analyst, software developer and Web developer achieving rare air.

According to the recent U.S. News and World Report findings, reported on recently in InfoWorld, those positions took up nearly half the “top ten” spots on the list. Computer programmer, IT manager and systems administrator roles cracked the top 25.

The ranking of 100 jobs was based on the hiring demand using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics findings and scored out through salary, job prospects, growth potential and other factors.

Though these factors don’t universally grade out at the high end for each and every IT job on the list (for example, IT manager roles rank high for stress level, but also top out on potential with a projected 18 percent employment growth rate in the next decade), the “in-your-face” presence of so many IT roles among the upper echelon of this list signals that, indeed, techies are in high demand these days.

Are you behind in newer technologies, or need a fresh career in IT? Look at GogoTraining’s curriculum offerings. Training can move your career in new directions.

Source: CompTIA IT Career Blog

Whether you’re an active job seeker in the ever-changing IT industry or an entrenched veteran in need of new challenges, your New Year’s resolutions are ready-made.

A clear takeaway from the recent article in CIO.com offering career resolutions is all IT pros need to evolve along with the industry. As organizations gear up to add staff in an IT job market expected to hit the ground running in the year to come, your organized competitors for those jobs are already doing much of the following:

• Expand your sphere of influence to understand the big-picture business side of the industry you target
• Chart out a career map which includes a skills analysis, plan to bridge skills gaps and network of peers and mentors
• Build a current, dynamic personal website to market your “brand”
• Keep on top of your social profile by searching for yourself to see what comes up, much like your prospective hiring manager would
• Proper interview follow-up can pay under-appreciated dividends
• Get out of the comfort zone with new classes, seminars and industry introductions

Check out GogoTraining’s expansive list of video based courses and try something new – shake it up!

Source: CompTIA IT Careers Blog

As part of our March Madness Program we are giving away a course to every 100th person to Register for a Free Account. All you have to do is create a Free Account and tell us which course you would like to win.  This promotion will run through March 2012.  Don’t hesitate, Sign Up for Free TODAY!

GogoTraining has released nine unique online IT training courses with live mentoring sessions designed to fast-track career advancement opportunities as part of their 2011 Mentor-Accelerated Summer IT Training Program.  The courses are scheduled in July of 2011 only, are affordable for anyone to take, and offer limited seats available.

Among them are two courses focusing on key Oracle technologies:

• Oracle Real Application Clusters: This course explains Oracle’s Real Application Clusters (RAC) and provides a detailed look at installing and configuring Oracle’s RAC environment. This RAC online training covers topics such as system requirements, tuning, troubleshooting, utilities and architecture.
• Oracle Application Express (APEX): This course will describe the components of Oracles’ Application Express tool.  Oracle Application Express covers the methods used within APEX to quickly and efficiently develop web based applications. This training covers how to install and configure APEX, build an application, create forms, reports, buttons, and templates, work with session states, page processing, navigation and utilities and handle security.

These courses include the following student experience:

1. WATCH online video course modules (assigned by week).
2. DO hands-on lab work and exercises.
3. ATTEND live, online weekly sessions with instructor.

The live, online weekly sessions allow students to:

1. REVIEW the material watched during the previous week.
2. DISCUSS the material with instructor including any questions.
3. PREVIEW the material for the coming week.

Register today as there are limited seats and they’re filling up!

GogoTraining has released nine unique online IT training courses with live mentoring sessions designed to fast-track career advancement opportunities as part of their 2011 Mentor-Accelerated Summer IT Training Program.  The courses are scheduled in July of 2011 only, are affordable for anyone to take, and offer limited seats available.

Offered courses include popular selections from the GogoTraining online course catalog such as:

• Oracle Real Application Clusters
• Oracle Application Express (APEX)
• Introduction to Android Programming
• Programming in Java 6 w/ Swing & Servlets
• ITIL® v3 Foundations
• ITIL® Continual Service Improvement
• Programming for Non-Programmers
• Introductions to C Programming
• Red Hat Linux Essentials

Courses in GogoTraining’s Mentor-Accelerated Summer Training Program include:

• Expert instructors
• The same material taught in corporate IT training classrooms
• Engaging “classroom experience” video modules
• Hands-on labs and exercises
• Direct access to ask the instructor questions
• Weekly 2-hour live online mentoring sessions including review, discussion and previewing of coming material.

The courses involve watching assigned online video material, doing hands-on lab and exercise work, and attending live online sessions with the instructor.  The live sessions are once each week for two hours and provide for instructor-led review, discussion and previewing of the coming week’s material.

“These are for someone who wants an advanced learning opportunity for a fraction of the time and cost,” says Marianne Cherney, CEO of GogoTraining.  “Our Mentor-Accelerated training courses are perfect for those who wish to gain extra skills needed for a promotion or new position.”

There is more evidence of the IT sector being on the leading edge of emergence from the economic recession.

According to the most recent Report on Jobs by the KPMG and Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the IT sector in the UK has risen in demand of permanent positions to levels seen five years ago before the recession entered full swing.  IT jobs have outpaced engineering and construction jobs.  REC Technology Chair Jeff Brooks indicates that to keep meeting the rise in demand with skilled workers there must be a focus on ensuring prospective workers are well trained and educated.

Also, an informal tracking of open IT jobs shows a 46% lift over April 2010 in the American market.  While almost everything has seen a strong increase, the greatest rises appear to exist in SQL, Oracle, C#, Python, Ruby, HTML5, IBM, VMWare, Linux, Android and other skill sets to do with social media and cloud computing.

…

Are you ready to be picked for one of these outstanding opportunities?  GogoTraining has the IT training you need to make your mark.

The economy has improved for graduates hitting the field with computer science degrees.  According to Dice.com, companies are planning to hire almost 20% more graduates this year.

Last year was tough for many people trying to get in, graduates and experienced workers alike.  Employers were averaging roughly 40 applicants for every open position.  That average has dropped significantly to about 21 applicants this year.  With job creation running at a generally consistent clip for some time, graduates are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Demand for skills reaches across the IT field.  Networking and storage skills are being sought by those gearing up to be a Cloud vendor.  Security skills are in demand in both corporate and government.   Application developers for web, mobile and software are finding homes in small as well as enterprise-level employers.

Computer science graduates can supplement their degrees with focused skill training in the hottest IT topics of today.  GogoTraining is a leading provider of high-quality training taught by industry experts, available online and affordable (even for graduates!).  Example areas of interest include:

• Android developer training
• Linux administration and programming training
• Microsoft server training
• Oracle database administration training
• Java programming training
• C programming training
• Business Intelligence training
• I/O and Storage training
• ITIL Foundations and Intermediate training
• IT Security training

The Oracle Certification blog ran a poll to find out what certifications people “intend to pursue in 2011” and the results held a few items of interest.

The results:

• 58% plan to pursue database certification.
• 35% plan to pursue Java certification.
• 29% plan to pursue PL/SQL.
• Almost 7% intend to pursue Solaris certification.

That Oracle DBA certifications were on top is no surprise as that has always been Oracle’s big deal.  While nobody expected Solaris to rank high it does seem to be somewhat lower.  Java certification certainly looks strong and shows a good addition to Oracle’s suite of professional IT certifications.  So the top three truly most sought-after certifications are for database, Java and PL/SQL (really a subset of the DBA certification list).

Learn more about training for Oracle database certifications.  GogoTraining also offers outstanding Java training courses along with a host of other technologies in the online IT training course catalog.

• Oracle Database Certification training
• Java training courses
• Oracle 11g PL/SQL Programming Part 1
• Oracle 11g PL/SQL Programming Part 2