Duties

• Database administrators design, test and implement databases. They consider the needs and uses of the information in the database when designing a database and typically with a group of employees from various departments to plan a new database. They test the database and correct any errors found after the database is designed. Once the database is free of errors, the database administrator trains others in the organization to access and use the information located in the database.
  
  

Skills

• Database administrators must be comfortable using complex data sets and models. They also must have a current knowledge of the latest technological advances. Administrators must have the skills to maintain, modify and upgrade database software packages and perform acceptance testing on new systems and software. A database administrator also must have good technical writing skills to communicate to others within the organization.
  
  

Education

• The majority of database administrators have a bachelor's degree from a college or university. It is likely that they started their career as a database technician or in another apprenticeship role, as becoming a database administrator typically requires several years of on-the-job training.
  
  

Complementary Traits

• An individual who is equipped with the technical skills to be a database administrator will find that certain personality traits make them a better fit for the job. They are more likely to flourish in the position if they are detail-oriented, self-motivated, tolerant of stress, dependable and analytical. Furthermore, database administrators must be able to think critically and solve multifaceted problems. They must use reasoning skills to solve these problems within organizational time and cost constraints. They also must be able to prioritize their workload. Good interpersonal skills allow a database administrator to listen and understand the problems of database users.