How can you build a strong database developer career?

Database development is not an easy task. To become a database developer, someone needs to have a strong knowledge of the Database foundation such as data models, normalisation , queries, transaction. Also, someone needs to have strong hands on experience with Database development. Besides this, certification can help someone stand out from this competition. Also, continuous learning can help someone to update their knowledge.

A strong database developer career is built over time through a combination of education, hands-on experience, continuous learning, and networking. Keep your skills up-to-date and adapt to emerging technologies in the field.

Certification does help get through the door, but it's the year of experience working in the field that counts. For you to have a solid understanding of the DBMS systems but when it comes to firsthand there could be a breakdown.

As a person who worked my way through the ranks, so to speak. The best thing is not the technology although important, it's how the an organisation is using the the data, so if you migrating it, or using it for reports you can potentially visualise what the end user may want to use it. This in it itself can help define how you may or may not process it, build the database that it goes into and out of, because at some point you will be dealing users and need to have an understanding what they want to do with that data.

Good tips from the IT DB trenches. Thanks for that ??? I would add my own tip. It will save lot of future headaches… ?? > Implement all the DB code on DB Stored procedures (SPs) don’t rely on DB code at the application side. These SPs will be your API application DB layer. Ideally these SPs body could be standardized with logging and error exception. Following this SPs approach, It could take a bit more time but it will make maintenance and even DB growing much more easier and you don’t have to take pills or run outside or both things to escape from it.

Contributing to the open-source project is the first place to get you recognized. As you start building your portfolio. It is also important to give credit were due.

Also by having 200 years of experience for an entry level position. Well at least it feels like that anyways lol. Having knowledge is great, but what good is that knowledge if you can't put it to use? Books may teach you to code, but it will not teach you how to troubleshoot an issue.

Be curious and proactive. Ask "why" whenever possible. Explore large existing databases. Try to answer yourself why such design decisions were implemented. Imagine the ways you can improve them. Think up several variants while creating new objects. May be, the first will not be the best one. Discuss your decisions with other people. Be more tolerant of constructive criticism. Fresh and unbiased suggestions from colleagues can give you some unexpected and useful insights.

Another thing to consider: do you want to specialize as a database developer only or build up database skills as part of a portfolio of skills? It is easier for an application developer to perform database developer tasks than for a database developer to develop applications. Companies are more willing to allow application developers to "moonlight" as database developers than for database developers to perform application development tasks. There are advantages to doing both. Data driven designs can respond to business changes rapidly because only the data needs to be updated. An application developer with database skills is well suited to design and maintain such an application.