We had the pleasure of chatting with Jerome, one of our highly skilled Oracle database consultants. Throughout the interview, Jerome shared his valuable insights and experience working in the industry, while also shedding light on his love for sports and the importance collaboration and humility. Come with us as we dive into the world of Oracle databases and learn more about the person behind the consultant.
Can you generally explain your role, your missions and choose 3 words that describe them?
I am an Oracle Database Consultant and I provide expert services to our clients for the Oracle technology on a need-basis. The interventions are usually short, ranging from 3 days to 3 weeks, and can involve deploying or changing an Oracle infrastructure. We advise and support our clients from project study to implementation. Once the most suitable solution is chosen, we take care of the environment configuration, database migration, backup configuration, and disaster recovery solutions.
I particularly appreciate the project-based approach as it allows for continuous innovation and creation. It's important to note that our interventions are punctual as our goal is for the client to become self-sufficient as soon as possible and no longer require our constant support.
If I had to describe my job and responsibilities in three words, I would say:
- Pragmatism: choosing simple solutions instead of complex ones that are not always necessary.
- Expertise: we work mainly with companies and IT professionals who have several years of experience, so the clients expect proven expertise.
- Professionalism: we work for hospitals or financial sector companies where the criticality of the data in the IT system is very high. There's no room for error.
What do you prefer in your work?
I like accompanying the client to see the project through. I don't like working alone and I find satisfaction in collaborating and helping the client implement the optimal solution. Our primary goal is not to make money, but to truly help through our expertise. I also enjoy the complexity challenge that our industry offers, as it pushes us to continuously learn. It takes about 10 years of experience to be good in our sector, and even then, one is never 100% good. It's important to maintain one's skills up to date.
If you had to give advice to new hires, what would it be?
First of all, it's important to have a certain level of humility. If you were the best before joining dbi services, you won't be once you arrive, as the competence level of the consultants is very high. It's important to accept this reality and understand that these dynamic pushes everyone up. There will always be someone more competent than you. Sharing is part of dbi services' DNA. We share our knowledge and skills, including through blogs. We also share solutions to problems encountered at clients, always in good spirit and team coherence.
"Be humble and appreciate sharing."
What is your best anecdote?
My best anecdote relates to the sharing culture at dbi services. The blogs written by our consultants are an excellent way to share our knowledge and expertise. I remember reading a blog written by one of our former consultants, Franck Pachot, and being impressed by his level of expertise. This motivated me to join the project.
If you could put yourself in a colleague's shoes for a day, who would it be?
I think it would be interesting to be a colleague from the marketing team. This would allow me to better understand how this crucial department for our company functions. How marketing manages to approach the highly technical aspect of our industry and highlight it, while ensuring a strong brand image. It's an aspect of our work that is little known to me and would be interesting to explore.
If you had an Aladdin lamp, what wishes would you make?
I would wish for more time to practice my favourite sport, itinerant mountain biking, with Pierre-Yves. I would also like to have more time for other sports activities, such as marathons and trails.
It's not time-consuming, as you just need to find an appropriate moment. We form a small group here that goes jogging once a week on Thursdays after work.
I consider it to be an excellent thing to be able to clearly separate work and personal life, which is largely respected at dbi services.
Once the workweek is over, you can really disconnect, which makes you more efficient. From experience, a company that does not allow this distinction can often be a sign of a lack of organization.
Could you tell us few words about your passions?
(cf. question 6)
What is your favorite Film or series?
My free time is limited, so I'm not a big fan of series, but I recently enjoyed For All Mankind. In terms of films, I prefer science-fiction films set in space, such as Interstellar.
If you had to choose a mentor, who would it be?
If I had to choose a mentor, I would not hesitate to name a former colleague I had the chance to meet at the beginning of my career. He was a true mentor to me by giving me a chance by recruiting me in a start-up. By his side, I learned the rigor and high level of requirement required for our profession. Being very young and having everything to learn, this mentor sensitized me to the importance of being methodical in what we propose on a daily basis.
What do you think about Sequotech?
This strategy is interesting and is still in its early stages. For now, in my opinion, synergies are more focused on business development. I've already had the chance to work with UDITIS, which, like dbi services, is a thriving company. The next step is to build our collaboration using our technologies, while continuing this desire for synergy.