Networking or Database Administration

cruffin

I wonder if anyone has thoughts on whether it would be "easier" to get started in IT in a networking route or a database admin path?

I just graduated with an AA in CIS but, I don't have any IT work experience. I am planning on starting at WGU in Feb. (just waiting on transcripts) and I am trying to determine which route I want to take.

My AA degree did have a concentration in database administration which I enjoyed, but I also took a number of networking courses that were equally interesting. : )

I realize that decisions like this are personal, something that I have to choose and not be told what to do. However, I did want to try and find out if anyone had advice or opinion regarding entry level job prospects or opportunities as they would apply to a database career path or a networking career path.


-thanks!

ptilsen

Entry-level IT jobs generally do not relate heavily to network or database administration. An entry-level DBA or network engineering position is not an entry-level IT position at all. For your first IT job, you are likely to work in a helpdesk, entry-level NOC, or in entry-level DST role. If you take certifications beyond A+ and Net+, you'll probably not be doing much of what you're certified in at your first role. This isn't a rule, but it's generally how things work.

DBA is often an extension of programming more so than IT infrastructure, while networking sits with systems as the definition of IT infrastructure. Obviously there can be also sorts of crossover, but in general they are very different career paths.

Personally, I find networking to be more interesting and a result "easier", but I don't think it's fair to say one is truly easier than the other. It is probably easier to get your first true networking role that utilizes CCNA knowledge than it is to get a DBA position, which generally would require more experience. To my knowledge, there is really no such thing as an "entry-level" DBA role or a quick or easy path to such a role.

I don't work in either field, so I might not be the best person to answer this. Overall, my opinion is that the career path is clearer and perhaps "easier" for networking than DBA, which once again is not to be construed as meaning that network administration is less challenging than database administration.

cruffin

ptilsen wrote: »

Entry-level IT jobs generally do not relate heavily to network or database administration. An entry-level DBA or network engineering position is not an entry-level IT position at all. For your first IT job, you are likely to work in a helpdesk, entry-level NOC, or in entry-level DST role.

I should have been clearer in that i meant the first "career specific" position rather than just first entry-level position, as I definitely comfortable with and understand the reasons why my entry-level job would be a help desk, etc. role.

ptilsen wrote: »

It is probably easier to get your first true networking role that utilizes CCNA knowledge than it is to get a DBA position, which generally would require more experience. To my knowledge, there is really no such thing as an "entry-level" DBA role or a quick or easy path to such a role.

Overall, my opinion is that the career path is clearer and perhaps "easier" for networking than DBA, which once again is not to be construed as meaning that network administration is less challenging than database administration.

Thank you for your reply.

You did a great job answering my "real" question even though I didn't articulate it well. I was thinking similar things...

It seems, at least to me, that it would be more difficult to get an actual DBA job than a true networking one, as a first career specific role.


Do you feel that the demand for such first "career specific: roles are equal, or does one have a greater demand than the other?

ptilsen

Gotcha, that makes more sense. I feel like there are more network administration and engineering jobs out there, but that doesn't necessarily mean that demand is higher, at least not relative to supply. The DBA openings are probably fewer, but harder to fill.

Keep in mind, this is entirely, 100% anecdotal. I'm basing this off of bad job search results from past years (lots of network and database jobs come though on Monster searches for systems jobs), who I know in each industry, and what I've seen on TechExams. That is to say, I see lots of high-paid DBA jobs on job searches, lots of CCNA-and-above professionals on TechExams and IRL. Like I said, it's not at all scientific.

If you really want to find out, search "database developer", "DBA", "database administrator", "oracle", "SQL", things like that on Monster and Dice. Do the same for "networking administrator", "network engineer", "network architect", "cisco", "Juniper", "CCNA", "CCNP". Look at postings, experience requirements, certification requirements, salaries.

My general feeling is that most DBA positions get filled with candidates who have lots of experience in a related or similar IT discipline. By comparison, my feeling is there are lots of entry-level networking positions that get filled by helpdesk and DST guys who get their CCNA, or no-experience CCNAs.

rep21

ptilsen wrote: »

My general feeling is that most DBA positions get filled with candidates who have lots of experience in a related or similar IT discipline. By comparison, my feeling is there are lots of entry-level networking positions that get filled by helpdesk and DST guys who get their CCNA, or no-experience CCNAs.

Pretty much this sums it up from what I've learned. I'm gunning for a database admin type of position in the future. I work in a help desk position at a large utilities company and have talked to all of the database admins and a few of the database programmers. They got to that position by A. being a systems admin and kind of being pushed into the role, or they were programmers of some sort. The majority of them started at a helpdesk role, moved up through desktop support/networking into systems admin roles. Unfortunately, from what I've seen, the database positions never open up, while the systems and networking jobs have positions available all the time. I am doing the database degree at WGU, but I may adjust this to the network admin one as it seems like I would need to do this type of job before I got to be a database admin anyway.

swild

Check job listings in your area. Here, DBAs are in high demand with entry level between $45k and $60k and the best entry level networking position I have seen is a home-install tech for AT&T at $14/hr with a BS. Needless to say, I will be leaving this area as soon as I finish my degree.