How do I get into a career as a programmer/development DBA?

Question

About 8-9 years ago I started getting into programming as a hobby. I started with my TI-86 calculator, and then moved into using Visual Basic. After about a year I started playing around with HTML and JavaScript. Then I discovered Flash; I programmed with Actionscript 2.0 for about 2 years which lead me to start using Coldfusion. After a while I realized that A) I am not a designer, and B) with the way that things were going with AJAX, .NET, and PHP there wasn’t much future in Coldfusion/Actionscript.

I had been working mostly as an administrative assistant, but about 3-4 years ago I got a position where I would be doing some web development, and assisting the system admin with supporting windows desktop PCs. I have gotten some decent experience over the past few years, but it has been spread out in somewhat disparate areas:

I spend about 40% of my time writing PHP/MySQL and HTML/CSS, etc. I spend about 20% of my time helping users with PC questions. I spend about 20% of my time doing administrative things (mail-merges, excel, etc). I spend about 20% of my time managing / creating reports from our Access Database.

I have also taught myself many things on my own, and now have a beginner’s level understanding of things like: Windows Server, Java, Linux, Objective-C, SQL Server, C#, C++, Ruby, Mac OSX, VBA, VBScript, and basic IP networks.

I feel like I am in a bit of a rut – I want to get my career moving, but I am not sure what I need to do. If I practice with C# and SQL Server Express for a year will that be enough to get me in the door somewhere? Would it be easier to get a position if I teach myself Linux/Apache since I have more experience with PHP/MySQL?

Answer 1

Looks like you have a basic understanding of many technologies. Get an entry-level programming job and develop the skills that needed at that job. Then you'll see whether you need C# and SQL Server or PHP/MySQL :)

Answer 2

It sounds like you have enough experience to start a junior programmer position, but the money would be dreadful, and propably less than you are earning now.

If you're happy to go with that, then do so, however you will have to "sell" yourself to prospective employers, and what you're selling is your passion for programming.

You also need an edge over the countless college leavers that have structured learning behind them and and that are willing to work for a pittance for the experience.

You edge should be your real world experience, so be able to talk about that.

Alternatively you need to complelte an accrediated course (night school or other) to get a recognised qualification. You can bring this to your current or future employer.

My two cents.