Anyone here work in the database field?

Administrators, designers, not sure what elsers?

How difficult is the field to get into in NZ?

Do you enjoy your job? Positives and negatives?

I've always had a soft spot for database design but I'm not sure how to get into it (if such jobs exist).......

I kinda work in the database area. I mainly do software development, but have previously done database administration through having to sort out stuff at clients sites where they didn't know stuff all about how to maintain a database. I find that sort of thing to be quite boring though. The design side is definately more interesting.

i also do software programming and db administration, i dont think that i could do db admin as just a single job, it would just be 2 boring

yeah a DBA is one of the most boring IT jobs but it is generally a highly paid one

I can think of a few jobs that sound more boring to me than DB admin

but not many

if any

I managed to restrain myself

Most development jobs these days will have some involvement with databases.

Embedded systems *shudder*

I miss the old embedded systems.

They actually DO something unlike all this PC bollocks.

*stays away from this conversation*

i work on a AS/400 maintaining it, amoungst a shit load of SQL and client access crap.

thankfully i'm good at delegating jobs to ppl

Haha - I agree with most of you about admin *snore* but I am very interested in database design. I rate it as the most interesting part of my job at the moment (I think). Certainly up there with coding, etc.

I'm keen to get into Systems and business analysis and design.....

Before my current job I was an Informix Database Admin for an 800 person company.

I liked it, but it would have been boring if I wasn't doing Linux Admin as well.

You'll find it a hard job to walk into though.

Informix? Definite LOL. :p Must have been Vodafone, right?

Imo, best way to get into it is to keep going with your development, pick up some DB admin experience in Oracle or a decent relational database and ask the current DBAs lots of questions. Always query the SQL you write for efficiency! Learn how to write PL/SQL.

Perhaps look into doing the Oracle developer exams in your spare time?

And then get a position at a company where there is possibility of moving into that field. Where I work, developers often design their own database schemas, set them up and do some degree of optimisation for smaller projects. You can pick up a lot of the basics this way, especially if you;re interested in learning how to improve things. Making a transition into a more senior DBA from there wouldn't be too difficult, given the right enthusiasm and training.