Our daily lives are actually heavily documented on Databases. You may not realise much of this, yet lots of the routines you take for granted are recorded, filed & archived in various ways. Our entire economic system is based on databases of information. Property-records, bank details & share values are all stored on vast 'databases'. Much of this information is also available in hard-copy, but digital 'indexation' provides for much better accessibility. Your transaction history will be recorded onto a Database each time you make a payment electronically (i.e. with a card). Do you realise that the reason you receive certain discounted vouchers from your super-market is because they have saved your buying-patterns on their database and understand what is likely to tempt you? All car dealers (and of course the police-force) utilise the 'DVLA's' motor vehicle registration database to show the exact particulars of any motor vehicle or truck etc. registered on the system. This DVLA Database is also utilised as the foundation for the Congestion Charge in the Capital city and to establish road tax avoidance, by working in conjunction with the cameras which populate our streets.

So with databases holding such a major role in modern society, just what form of employment can be found which relates to them? Generally, from an It viewpoint, there are 2 main areas of database professions: Designing and building the Databases - plus the software that manages & accesses them; & managing them - along with building reporting systems that utilise that information. The term 'DBA', or 'Database Administrator', is a well known acronym used through-out the IT industry. Medium to larger corporations need to use 'DBAs' in order to supervise the every day functions of the 'databases' they are running. Processes like 'security' & the back-up of the information need managing. 'DBA's' also must come up with reports for managers that will allow them to come to informed commercial decisions. They'll also know the Database 'language' of 'SQL' ('Structured Query Language') - pronounced 'see-quel' - which offers a 'standardised' way of interrogating a database for the intelligence needed.

Both DBA's and DB Developers tend to be decidedly thorough & ordered people, who pay a very good interest in detail, and enjoy being employed within small teams, or alone. The job regularly requires presenting to company management, and so confident communication skills will be expected. Handling corporate databases can be quite a responsible position - and safety and security is constantly transforming into a larger concern in this sector. An excellent standard of personal ethic and commercial dependability will be necessary - & in many areas you might require some form of security clearance. Accountant-types and business 'process' professionals prosper in this environment, & many go onto more senior manager's roles, for a robust understanding of the detail that underpins an organisation can bring about increased opportunity for promotion.

The main Database systems used around the world are MS SQL-Server & 'Oracle'. The older System Oracle can still be seen in various large enterprises. Nevertheless, most company databases and pretty much all Databases on the web now utilise the SQL Server system. Of course, as 'SQL' Server is owned by MS, the company has built it in to all of it's programs & platforms. For those aiming to become vendor qualified therefore, it's the recommended path to take. Qualifications have now been brought up to date, and the MCDBA (Microsoft Certified Database Administrator) has been superceded by the 'MCITP' (Microsoft Certified IT Professional) and the MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist). The MCITP DBA qualification incorporates the MS SQL Server 2005 version, because it isstill the most commonly used edition in industry. The more recent SQL Server '08 is still in its early days. In keeping with some of MS's other qualifications, a number of 'MCTS' modules come before the full 'MCITP'.

If its the Developer aspect of Databases which is attractive to you, the 'MCITP' DB-Developer from Microsoft will suit your needs. It will handle a lot of preliminary rationalisation, design and setup of databases, although it doesn't seriously stretch to full Database programming. If you are enthusiastic about database programming you should visit the applicable programming web pages on this web site. To tell the truth, there is generally a greater interest in the Administration aspect from both students & employers. For anyone who is exploring the DB-Developer track, then it would make more sense to include that certification into a programming career track. It will also grown to be more relevant to you in a few years time to do an additional MCTS in the SQL Server 2008 edition.

It would be sensible if you are just getting into IT get going on your career-track with training in software-support. Together with gaining a useful understanding of an alternative aspect of the business, it will provide you with a certification to get you going in the IT sector. An outstanding program for a new starter is the 'MCDST' ('Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician'). If you then continue this qualification with the MCTS & the MCITP, you will have done a full career track that will in most cases take around five-hundred hrs to finish. Don't ever get pressurised to make all the right decisions on the ideal career track alone though. You'll need to be sure that the training methods & the subsequent vocation will be good for you, so talk things through with a professional IT training advisor first. If you don't focus primarily on where you want to get to, you might find that you're miles off track and thousands of pounds worse-off!

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