How do you like your career? What was involved with schooling? What should I be learning to stay ahead of the pack, SQL?

Been thinking about a new career lately and am seriously considering going back to school for Network administration/database.

thnx

 

**waiting on Joey**

 

I think thats what I might be getting into. Not sure.

 

it depends what you want to do with your database knowledge ... admin? architect?

SQL is a must ... Oracle is something you should know too.




If you're working on the Network / infrastructure side, that's totally different.

 

I'm a network admin, but it's not my job.

I'd say networking and database people are quite different and don't ususally mingle. Go with one or the other.

 

Not sure what exactly I wanna do, haven't had a chance to talk to a school and figure that out. That's why I'm here, figured there have to be some NA's here to give some adviceh:

 

Database Architects are the sheeezay. It takes quite a bit of skill to work this position. You're in charge of data organization / leverage ... from a sales aspect, you leverage existing information and turn it into dollars. It's strange something you can't hold (electronic information) can be utilized as a sales tool.

 

weekly hours? salary range? job security?

I have a family to think about now so I'm looking for a job where I can make 50k+ to start and not have to work a crazy schedule like I am now. Currently I work from 5:30am-whenever I'm done, 10+hour days lately 6 days a week. I hate getting up at the ass crack of dawn and going to sleep at 9 to do it. I want to be able to spend time with my wife and children, yes there will be more

I looked up NA's in NJ and they earn a median income of $38hr in my area, low end being about $25hr, I could live with that to start and once I really get comfortable and get some experience put my resume out there for more $$$.

 

the top DBA's here do about 45 to 50 hours a week. They HAVE to be pulling in 55 to 70K. Also, they're completely secure in their jobs. There's absolutely no competition because NOBODY, nobody knows the data like these guys.

 

My best advice is to search job boards online and see what they are looking for...and go from there