Database Administrator Resume: Sample, Guide & Tips

Database administrator is the name, and organization is the game. But if you want to put your data storage skills to professional use, you need to organize your resume first.
To give you a helping hand, we’ll cover all the ins and outs of putting together the perfect database administrator resume:
- Writing a strong a resume summary or objective
- The details you need for your experience and education sections
- Including the most in-demand database administration skills
- Tips, tricks, and advice to help you along your career as a database administrator
Since you’re already a master of organization, you might not need to read this incredibly helpful, well-thought-out, and masterfully crafted guide. (It’s okay, we won’t hold it against you.)
If you’re ready to build your resume right away, check our resume builder to get started.
However, if you want a little more background about resume-building awesomeness, keep on reading!
A Model Database Administrator Resume
Every great project starts with inspiration. Let’s take a look at what a good database administrator resume example might look like.
Think of it like your file map to follow as you build your own resume:
[Courtney M. Pile]
[Database Administrator]
[ Gulfport, MS | 228-555-3453 | co.m.pile@randomemail.com]
Summary
Detail-oriented database administrator with 6+ years of experience installing, upgrading, and maintaining enterprise-level databases and software. Extensive background creating backups and detailed logs, generating reports, implementing security checks, and optimizing administration processes for accurate data retrieval, improving efficiency and halving incident rate.
Experience
Lots O’ Storage, LLC | Biloxi, MS
Database Administrator
February 2017 – March 2023
- Troubleshoot issues for 85+ front-end users while following all data protection regulations and laws.
- Project lead for installation and customization of software and applications for over 350 computers company-wide.
- Conduct regular debugging exercises on facility computers and drives to ensure smooth operation and functional requirements are met. Incidents reduced by 50%.
- Collaborate with 35+ database programmers and IT project managers to maintain security, integrity, and optimization of the company’s database.
- Reduced query execution time across the board by 78%
Education
University of Southern Mississippi | Long Beach, MS
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
2011 – 2015
Skills
- Time management
- Analytical skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Oracle DBA OCP
- Quickbase Expert Builder
- System administration
- Basic knowledge of Javascript
- Network and cloud security
Certifications
- Oracle Certified Professional MySQL Database Administrator Certification (in progress)
- Microsoft Certified Azure Database Administrator Associate Certification, 2022
- Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA), 2020
Languages
- English (native)
- German (fluent)
Featured Content: Database Administrator was rated number 7 in tech jobs in the US News Best Job rankings 2023. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average growth rate for Database Administrator and Architect jobs between 2021-2031 is 9%*, which is higher than the national average. Time to perfect that resume with our help!
What’s the Best Database Administrator Resume Format?
You know how there’s no single “best” way to organize and manage a database? Well, the same goes for resumes. There’s not one best database administrator resume format to follow. There are, however, a few universal resume formatting guidelines you should always follow:
- Put your education and experience sections in reverse chronological order
- Limit your resume to one page
- Use bold headings and bullet points to make it easy to scan for information
- Choose a professional font like Calibri, Arial, or Cambria
- Save your resume as a PDF to prevent formatting issues
Within each section, it’s also a good idea to put what you consider the most important information at the top. Give the hiring manager the good stuff right away to keep them interested.
Writing Your Database Administrator Resume Summary or Objective
Your unique selling point comes in the form of your resume summary or resume objective.
Whichever one you choose to write, be sure to include plenty of specific details and a few key skills that would make you the best administrator they could hire.
💡top tip
Resume summaries are best for applicants with professional experience to summarize, while resume objectives are better for entry-level applicants.
Database Administrator Resume Summary Example
Writing a great database administrator resume summary is a little bit like organizing a digital file system. Think of all the experience, skills, and qualifications you have and “organize” them into a short two or three-sentence description. (Okay, we said a “little bit”)
To give you an idea of how to organize yours, here’s a database administrator resume summary example to use as inspiration:
Right ✅
Detail-oriented database administrator with 6+ years of experience installing, upgrading, and maintaining enterprise-level databases and software. Extensive background in creating backups and detailed logs, generating reports, implementing security checks (reduced incident rate by 76%), and optimizing administration processes for faster and more accurate data retrieval.
What makes this database administrator resume summary so good is that it offers clear, specific details about the applicant’s experience. They don’t just “manage databases;” they “implement security checks” and “create detailed logs.”
There’s also a metric included which shows an achievement they can be proud of. It’s all about the details that make you stand out from the other applicants.
Database Administrator Resume Objective Example
If you don’t have much or any work experience to summarize, perhaps a resume objective is right for you.
Describe your overall career goals, throw in a few key skills you possess, and outline how they relate to the job. Make it clear what you can offer the employer with your SQL certifications, and knowledge of MongoDB Oracle PL/SQL. Just like a resume summary, it’s all about the details!
Here’s a look at what a good database administrator resume objective example might look like:
Right ✅
Computer science graduate seeking an entry-level database administrator position. My volunteer experience includes assisting in the installation of a more efficient Microsoft database at a local NGO. Looking to use organizational, system administration, and Oracle SQL skills to optimize database operations, simplify processes and improve workflow at Acme.
When you use describe your experience or software knowledge with specifics, you prove that you know what you’re talking about. If hiring managers feel like you have at least a basic understanding of database admin processes, they’re more likely to hire you!
💡top tip
Use the employer’s name in your resume objective or resume summary. It shows that you didn’t just copy and paste the same resume for every application, and that you are honing in on their company specifically.
How You Put Database Experience on a Resume
This section is where you can not only show you have the skills and knowledge necessary to land a job in your field, but it also proves you can put that knowledge to use in real-world situations.
To create an effective experience section, you should touch on three pieces of information:
- Work history
- Key accomplishments
- Responsibilities
Limit your experience section to your top 3-7 examples — whatever fits on one page (preferably).
💡top tip
Customize your resume experience section to fit the job description. Only examples that are relevant to the job should be included.
Here are a few experience section best practices for you to follow as you compile your resume:
- Use concrete numbers and statistics
- Incorporate powerful adjectives and verbs in your bullet points to emphasize your greatness.
- Personalize your experience to fit the job you’re applying to
- Keep all information concise
- Use keywords from the job description
If you want to stand out, you need to make it look like you’re the absolute perfect fit for the position. It might take a bit more work, but make sure you customize your experience section for every job you apply to.
Database Administrator Experience Section Example
Let’s take a look at an example entry from a Database Administrator who has some experience:
Right ✅
Lots O’ Storage, LLC | Biloxi, MS
Database Administrator
2017 – 2023
- Troubleshoot issues for 85+ front-end users while following all data protection regulations and laws.
- Project lead for installation and customization of software and applications for over 350 computers company-wide.
- Conduct regular debugging exercises on facility computers and drives to ensure smooth operation and functional requirements are met.
- Collaborate with 35+ database programmers and IT project managers to maintain security, integrity, and optimization of the company’s database.
See all those concrete numbers and details? That’s what will make any hiring manager perk up the minute they read this applicant’s experience section.
How to Write the Education Section for a Database Administrator
Your resume’s education section might not be as important as your experience section, but employers still like to know you have the basic training to make you a good candidate.
What are the education and academic skills of a database administrator? According to O*NET, most jobs of this type require a 4 year bachelor degree. But this is not always the case.
Check out this education entry to see how you should list your qualifications:
Education
University of Southern Mississippi | Long Beach, MS
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
2009 – 2013
If you have more degrees or education experience, just add them to the list. But remember, keep them in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent degree at the top.
You can also include your GPA or any academic achievements if your work experience is shorter, but only if they’re impressive and relevant to the job you’re applying to.
Did you complete a project or relevant coursework that could demonstrate your knowledge of database administration? Add these too in bullet points.
💡top tip
If you have a college degree, you can leave out your high school experience.
What are Common Skills Needed by Database Administrators?
Add a separate skills section to your resume to fill out your background knowledge and present you as the ideal candidate.
Think of hard skills like something you could get a degree or certification in, like a specific system or piece of software. Remember it is vital to demonstrate your IT skills for this role.
On the other hand, soft skills are almost like personality traits, like analytical skills or time management skills.
Here are just a few of the hard and soft skills that look good on a database administrator resume:
Soft Skills
- Time management
- Analytical skills
- Monitoring processes
- Developing project plans
- Attention to detail
- Providing recommendations
- Training others
- Problem-solving
Hard Skills
- Developing performance metrics or standards
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Oracle PL/SQL
- Apache Airflow
- Amazon Redshift
- System administration
- Java Scripts
- Network and cloud security
How to Add Other Sections for an Effective Resume
For qualifications you want to brag about but don’t fit anywhere else on your resume, add a few other sections.
Other sections can be dedicated to specific information that doesn’t fit anywhere else. You can add as many other sections as you want, as long as they’re relevant to the position you’re applying to.
Your personal projects in programming, volunteering in relevant roles, or presentations at a relevant conference can all be listed here under relevant headings.
In this case, your extra certifications may be what makes you stand out from other applicants.
Here are a few examples to help guide you:
Certifications
- IBM Certified Database Administrator — DB2 12, 2023
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals, 2022
- Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA), 2020
>> Languages <<
- English (native)
- German (fluent)
>> Volunteering <<
Building Bridges Centre | Sheboygan, WI
I.T Administration Volunteer
March 2021 – September 2021
- Assisted in the installation of the new Microsoft Azure database system at a local adult special needs education centre, as well as follow-up training.
Rounding up
Now that you know all the pieces of a great database administrator resume, it’s time to do what you do best: organize and optimize! While you’re writing your resume, remember these time-tested tips:
- Customize your resume to match the job description
- Use specific details as often as possible
- Include plenty of numbers and statistics
- Select a clean and easy-to-read layout
- Choose a professional and readable font
- Save your resume as a PDF
Looking for a little inspiration to get started? We have tons of free resume templates to give you a head start. Our editor makes it easy for you, just fill in your information and download the completed file.
With your new resume, you’ll be using your organizational and managerial skills to optimize databases!
*Data taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 16, 2023.