DBA Job Search 101

Are you looking for a database career? Your job is one of the most important areas of your life. It helps support yourself. It makes you confident and satisfied. Success in your profession is one of the best things that may happen to you. Select your future job wisely and do your best to live up to requirements.

Searching a job starts with a resume. You may have a basic text of a resume, and you can change this text for each job. Have a look at the job advertisement: what are they looking for? Visit the website of your future workplace, check out their business profile, their main activities and objectives.

Your resume does not have to be long. If you are a newbie, one page will be enough. If you have 10 years of experience, it might be two or three pages. Put your name and contact information (address, phone number, email) on top. You should include your education, your professional skills and interpersonal skills, your expertise, your earlier workplaces, recommendations. Use bullet points, bold and italics. Add only the most important details. Long texts are boring.

Your cover letter should be succinct and well-written. One page will nicely do. Do not write too long sentences. You should tune the cover letter to the specific needs, requirements and policies of your future workplace.

A good phone interview is part of your success. Your tone, your choice of words will tell tales about you. Make a good impression over the phone, otherwise you will not get a second chance. Make sure that you sound like an employee who is polite, helpful and interested in the job.

An on-site interview is perhaps the most important step in getting a job. Get prepared for the interview. If you have not researched your future workplace on the Internet – see resume above –, you should now. See what their approach, policies and goals are. Have a copy of your resume with you.

Good communication skills may help you a lot. Be polite and friendly. Do not mention your personal life. Do not ask about your salary. Get an approach that your work is about them and not about you and your needs. You needs can later be discussed with HR if they sent you an offer.

Mind the dress code of your future workplace. You do not want to come across as an unkempt, lazy person or someone for whom dressing and appearances are more important than work, knowledge and merits.

You might get behavioral interview questions. Your employer will be interested in your leadership skills and problem-solving skills. They might want to know whether you are a team player or how you can handle unexpected problems. You should have stories and examples about these skills.

A technical interview is about your professional competence. List your skills and your accomplishments. You should come across as a motivated, modest, positive person.

After a job interview, you might send a thank you note. Get a blank note for this purpose. Write two or three sentences, add the date and a greeting.

Follow up your job application process. After a couple of days, you may call your future employer on the phone, or you may send an email. Do not pester them though. Asking them once should be enough. 

Remember that you should do your best to succeed at your job application. You should also remember that successful application is never enough: you must keep up the good work and develop in your professional life. Good Luck and Be Yourself!