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Database developer/Administrator The work A database developer/administrator is responsible for the planning, design, testing, installation and maintenance of information management systems used by companies and institutions across the commercial, public and education sectors.
A database administrator works with the client to establish what the database is for, how to use it and who will need access to it. They then draw up a layout for the structure of the database. They need to consider the 'back end' design, for example how to organise the data, and the 'front end' functionality - how to retrieve and display the information. Once a test version is developed, the administrator analyses the database, checking ease of use, accuracy of results and speed. Refinements are put in place at this stage. The database is then filled (populated) with new or existing data by transferring from other sources and database management system (DBMS) software is installed and configured for use. Administrators draw up procedures and documentation for:
Senior administrators are normally responsible for strategic planning, policy, budgets and building and maintaining client relationships. Hours and Environment Database managers normally work 37 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. However, they may be on-call if system breakdowns occur outside normal office hours. Skills and Interests As a database developer/administrator, you should:
Entry There is no single route to becoming a database developer/administrator. The main requirements are having the right knowledge, skills and experience for the job. Previous experience in computing is usually required, often gained in IT support, programming, systems analysis or web development. Qualifications are also a useful way of demonstrating a certain level of competency. Relevant courses include:
There are postgraduate conversion courses for those with awards in other subject areas. Whether knowledge is gained through experience and/or study, an understanding of some of the common structured query language (SQL) software packages will be required along with database management systems (DBMS), including:
Training If you hold a degree-level qualification, work-based graduate apprenticeships may be available. The majority of training is on the job, supplemented by internal or external courses as appropriate, and progress will be helped by taking additional software manufacturers’ certification courses. Some career progression options are outlined below. Proprietary certification qualifications are available through software development companies. Some examples include:
For details of options in terms of professional development, see the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) website. The framework has been developed by some of the professional bodies listed in Further Information in conjunction with industry. It allows IT professionals, training providers and employers to reference their skills or requirements and help identify career development pathways. Opportunities Opportunities can arise within any organisation that makes use of computerised databases. Web-based services are becoming Increasingly important, so expertise in the integration of web technologies and databases is particularly useful. Developers/administrators are also employed by specialist IT firms, sub-contracted to provide database services to clients. Developers/administrators can move into wider IT management roles or transfer their skills to other areas of computing, such as:
Annual Income Further information Sybase UK Microsoft UK Oracle IBM UK |
