What Does a Junior Database Administrator Do?

A junior database administrator is responsible for overseeing a company's computer database systems. The fundamental role of this position is to optimize databases so that employees can efficiently access information. Being successful in this career requires an individual with extensive computer programming skills, problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to the specific needs of a company. Some common job duties of a junior database administrator include identifying database needs, creating databases, addressing security concerns, troubleshooting problems and performing updates.

One of the preliminary tasks of a junior database administrator is identifying the database needs of a company. For example, a paper supply company may need a computer system that allows employees to access client information, look at inventory and track orders. Before creating a database, an individual in this position may meet with managers to determine the requirements. Gathering the requirements is essential for creating a practical database that meets the needs of all company departments and personnel.

After he has a clear idea of what a company's exact needs are, a junior database administrator will create the actual database. This process often takes significant planning and usually happens in phases. In general, the basic structure will be developed initially, and individual components will be developed later on. For simpler databases, an individual might take care of the entire database creation process himself. More complex databases may require help from other programmers.

Along with creating databases, a junior database administrator must also address all security concerns. For example, he may need to create a login area for employees to enter a user name and password. He may also set database parameters to notify management if multiple failed access attempts are made in a limited amount of time. This practice is essential for preventing unauthorized access and jeopardizing security.

Another important part of this job involves troubleshooting problems when they occur. With any type of database or computer network, it's common to experience glitches or other errors. When this happens, it's up to a junior database administrator to resolve the issue and get a database back to normal functioning. In most cases, this involves reprogramming a certain area of the database.

A junior database administrator will also need to make occasional updates to the database software or operating system. These updates may address security concerns or improve program functioning or compatibility with other software. If he needs to restrict access to the database, or if the updates will affect the way users interface with the data, he must communicate these changes to users.