Career Overlap Transition record
RecordMove

Database administrator to database developer

A database administrator already meets 40% of what the database developer role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional
From database administrator
40 % overlap
Distant match
To database developer
37 You already bring
7 Still to learn
116 Skills in the target role2
Learning distance Substantial retraining

72.9/ 100

1 How much of what a database developer is expected to do is already part of a database administrator’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the database developer role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

A database developer role treats 13 of its required skills as things a database administrator already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

  • balance database resources
  • create data models
  • data quality assessment
  • data storage
  • database development tools
  • database management systems

What stands in the way is 7 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 37 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A database developer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a database administrator background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held balance database resources working with computers
  • already held MarkLogic information and communication technologies (icts)
  • already held TripleStore information and communication technologies (icts)
  • already held Oracle Relational Database information and communication technologies (icts)
  • already held Filemaker (database management systems) information and communication technologies (icts)
  • already held IBM Informix information and communication technologies (icts)

All 37 carried skills, including the 13 the database developer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 79 missing skills fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.

Skill to pick up Tier
01 information skills 3 required, 3 supplementary
  • still to learn collect customer feedback on applications required
  • still to learn identify customer requirements required
  • still to learn report analysis results required
  • optional, not held identify ICT security risks optional
  • optional, not held verify formal ICT specifications optional
  • optional, not held execute analytical mathematical calculations optional
02 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 required, 55 supplementary
  • still to learn data extraction, transformation and loading tools required
  • optional, not held ABAP optional
  • optional, not held AJAX optional
  • optional, not held APL optional
  • optional, not held ASP.NET optional
  • optional, not held Ajax Framework optional
  • optional, not held Assembly (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held C# optional
  • optional, not held C++ optional
  • optional, not held CA Datacom/DB optional
  • optional, not held COBOL optional
  • optional, not held CoffeeScript optional
  • optional, not held Common Lisp optional
  • optional, not held Erlang optional
  • optional, not held Groovy optional
  • optional, not held Haskell optional
  • optional, not held IBM InfoSphere DataStage optional
  • optional, not held IBM InfoSphere Information Server optional
  • optional, not held ICT power consumption optional
  • optional, not held Informatica PowerCenter optional
  • optional, not held Java (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held JavaScript optional
  • optional, not held JavaScript Framework optional
  • optional, not held Lisp optional
  • optional, not held MATLAB optional
  • optional, not held ML (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held Microsoft Visual C++ optional
  • optional, not held Objective-C optional
  • optional, not held OpenEdge Advanced Business Language optional
  • optional, not held Oracle Application Development Framework optional
  • optional, not held Oracle Data Integrator optional
  • optional, not held Oracle Warehouse Builder optional
  • optional, not held PHP optional
  • optional, not held Pascal (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held Pentaho Data Integration optional
  • optional, not held Perl optional
  • optional, not held Prolog (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held Python (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held QlikView Expressor optional
  • optional, not held R optional
  • optional, not held Ruby (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held SAP Data Services optional
  • optional, not held SAP R3 optional
  • optional, not held SAS Data Management optional
  • optional, not held SAS language optional
  • optional, not held SQL optional
  • optional, not held SQL Server Integration Services optional
  • optional, not held Scala optional
  • optional, not held Scratch (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held Smalltalk (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held Swift (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held TypeScript optional
  • optional, not held VBScript optional
  • optional, not held Visual Basic optional
  • optional, not held WordPress optional
  • optional, not held computer programming optional
03 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required, 3 supplementary
  • still to learn write database documentation required
  • optional, not held use software design patterns optional
  • optional, not held address problems critically optional
  • optional, not held create solutions to problems optional
04 assisting and caring 1 required
  • still to learn apply information security policies required
05 constructing 1 required
  • still to learn test ICT queries required
06 working with computers 8 supplementary
  • optional, not held execute integration testing optional
  • optional, not held execute software tests optional
  • optional, not held integrate system components optional
  • optional, not held perform data mining optional
  • optional, not held use query languages optional
  • optional, not held manage digital documents optional
  • optional, not held store digital data and systems optional
  • optional, not held use personal organization software optional

2 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a database developer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 37 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held balance database resources skill
  • already held create data models skill
  • already held data quality assessment knowledge
  • already held data storage knowledge
  • already held database development tools knowledge
  • already held database management systems knowledge
  • already held estimate duration of work skill
  • already held interpret technical texts skill
  • already held perform backups skill
  • already held query languages knowledge
  • already held resource description framework query language knowledge
  • already held use an application-specific interface skill
  • already held use databases skill
  • already held DB2 knowledge
  • already held Filemaker (database management systems) knowledge
  • already held IBM Informix knowledge
  • already held LDAP knowledge
  • already held LINQ knowledge
  • already held MDX knowledge
  • already held MarkLogic knowledge
  • already held Microsoft Access knowledge
  • already held MySQL knowledge
  • already held N1QL knowledge
  • already held ObjectStore knowledge
  • already held OpenEdge Database knowledge
  • already held Oracle Relational Database knowledge
  • already held PostgreSQL knowledge
  • already held SPARQL knowledge
  • already held SQL Server knowledge
  • already held Teradata Database knowledge
  • already held TripleStore knowledge
  • already held XQuery knowledge
  • already held data engineering knowledge
  • already held execute ICT audits skill
  • already held manage cloud data and storage skill
  • already held use back-up and recovery tools skill
  • already held use spreadsheets software skill
The 2 learning areas not shown above
Skill to pick up Tier
07 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 supplementary
  • optional, not held ICT infrastructure optional
  • optional, not held hardware architectures optional
08 management skills 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held manage business knowledge optional
72 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to pick up Tier
  • optional, not held ABAP optional
  • optional, not held AJAX optional
  • optional, not held APL optional
  • optional, not held ASP.NET optional
  • optional, not held Ajax Framework optional
  • optional, not held Assembly (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held C# optional
  • optional, not held C++ optional
  • optional, not held CA Datacom/DB optional
  • optional, not held COBOL optional
  • optional, not held CoffeeScript optional
  • optional, not held Common Lisp optional
  • optional, not held Erlang optional
  • optional, not held Groovy optional
  • optional, not held Haskell optional
  • optional, not held IBM InfoSphere DataStage optional
  • optional, not held IBM InfoSphere Information Server optional
  • optional, not held ICT infrastructure optional
  • optional, not held ICT power consumption optional
  • optional, not held Informatica PowerCenter optional
  • optional, not held Java (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held JavaScript optional
  • optional, not held JavaScript Framework optional
  • optional, not held Lisp optional
  • optional, not held MATLAB optional
  • optional, not held ML (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held Microsoft Visual C++ optional
  • optional, not held Objective-C optional
  • optional, not held OpenEdge Advanced Business Language optional
  • optional, not held Oracle Application Development Framework optional
  • optional, not held Oracle Data Integrator optional
  • optional, not held Oracle Warehouse Builder optional
  • optional, not held PHP optional
  • optional, not held Pascal (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held Pentaho Data Integration optional
  • optional, not held Perl optional
  • optional, not held Prolog (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held Python (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held QlikView Expressor optional
  • optional, not held R optional

32 further entries not listed here

30 held skills the database developer role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role administer ICT system skill
  • not needed by the target role apply company policies skill
  • not needed by the target role business intelligence knowledge
  • not needed by the target role data models knowledge
  • not needed by the target role define database physical structure skill
  • not needed by the target role design database backup specifications skill
  • not needed by the target role design database in the cloud skill
  • not needed by the target role design database scheme skill
  • not needed by the target role distributed computing knowledge
  • not needed by the target role domain name service knowledge
  • not needed by the target role implement ICT security policies skill
  • not needed by the target role implement a firewall skill
  • not needed by the target role implement anti-virus software skill
  • not needed by the target role information structure knowledge
  • not needed by the target role maintain database performance skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain database security skill
  • not needed by the target role manage database skill
  • not needed by the target role online analytical processing knowledge
  • not needed by the target role operate relational database management system skill
  • not needed by the target role perform ICT troubleshooting skill
  • not needed by the target role protect personal data and privacy skill
  • not needed by the target role provide ICT support skill
  • not needed by the target role provide technical training skill
  • not needed by the target role quality assurance methodologies knowledge
  • not needed by the target role remove computer virus or malware from a computer skill
  • not needed by the target role support ICT system users skill
  • not needed by the target role system backup best practice knowledge
  • not needed by the target role use automatic programming skill
  • not needed by the target role use different communication channels skill
  • not needed by the target role use scripting programming skill
58 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to pick up Tier
  • still to learn data extraction, transformation and loading tools required
  • optional, not held ABAP optional
  • optional, not held AJAX optional
  • optional, not held APL optional
  • optional, not held ASP.NET optional
  • optional, not held Ajax Framework optional
  • optional, not held Assembly (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held C# optional
  • optional, not held C++ optional
  • optional, not held CA Datacom/DB optional
  • optional, not held COBOL optional
  • optional, not held CoffeeScript optional
  • optional, not held Common Lisp optional
  • optional, not held Erlang optional
  • optional, not held Groovy optional
  • optional, not held Haskell optional
  • optional, not held IBM InfoSphere DataStage optional
  • optional, not held IBM InfoSphere Information Server optional
  • optional, not held ICT infrastructure optional
  • optional, not held ICT power consumption optional
  • optional, not held Informatica PowerCenter optional
  • optional, not held Java (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held JavaScript optional
  • optional, not held JavaScript Framework optional
  • optional, not held Lisp optional
  • optional, not held MATLAB optional
  • optional, not held ML (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held Microsoft Visual C++ optional
  • optional, not held Objective-C optional
  • optional, not held OpenEdge Advanced Business Language optional
  • optional, not held Oracle Application Development Framework optional
  • optional, not held Oracle Data Integrator optional
  • optional, not held Oracle Warehouse Builder optional
  • optional, not held PHP optional
  • optional, not held Pascal (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held Pentaho Data Integration optional
  • optional, not held Perl optional
  • optional, not held Prolog (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held Python (computer programming) optional
  • optional, not held QlikView Expressor optional

18 further entries not listed here

Index

Other moves recorded from database administrator

Full index of moves from database administrator

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can a database administrator become a database developer?

Yes, and it is a substantial move. A database administrator already covers 40% of what a database developer is expected to do: 37 skills carry over, 13 of which the database developer role treats as required.

What skills does a database administrator need to become a database developer?

7 required skills are missing, plus 72 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is test ICT queries.

How hard is the move from database administrator to database developer?

Its learning distance is 72.9 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.