Junior DBAs

The strongest junior DBAs for operational systems come from software development backgrounds with a genuine passion for data.

They’ve built apps, optimized queries, and experienced firsthand the pain of poor database decisions before transitioning into a DBA role.

Why does this matter? A broader background means these DBAs are better at:

• Spotting bad design decisions
• Diagnosing root causes of performance issues
• Giving realistic application tuning advice
• Weighing tradeoffs in database designs
• Automating processes with solid coding skills

If you’re hiring a junior DBA, you’re likely considering candidates from various IT roles. While SysAdmins and Data Analysts can thrive as DBAs, for operational systems, software developers often bring an extra edge.