Oracle is one of the biggest names in IT, cloud and data solutions — chances are that you would have come across the company or its products at some point in the past.
Founded in 1977, Oracle has long been an employer of choice, offering ample chances for talented people to develop its market-leading software and products or to support the needs in other ways.
Being present in 55 countries, there are lots of opportunities to build a career with Oracle. If this is a career dream for you, then read on to discover more about the company, what a career with them looks like, and some tips on how to get hired by Oracle.
What types of jobs can you apply for at Oracle?
Oracle careers are focused on four main avenues: cloud infrastructure, cloud applications, industry solutions, and software. Oracle will also employ people in support divisions. Here are some of the types of jobs you can apply for at Oracle:
|
Administration |
|
|
Consulting |
|
|
Customer service and support |
Procurement |
|
Sales and business development |
|
|
Software engineering |
|
|
Technical support engineering |
|
|
Information technology |
User experience design |
How good are Oracle salaries?
Oracle is a large company with a global presence; it’s known for creating world-beating IT solutions. As such, they offer good average salaries in a bid to attract top talent.
According to the most recent available data, management roles such as executives and directors are paid between $58,620 and $168,686 per year. Consultants, meanwhile, are paid between $67,665 and $128,511 a year, with some senior roles paying well over $200,000 a year.
Mid-level roles such as analysts and administrators are paid in the region of $50,000 to $75,000 per year, while intern salaries are around $28.47 per hour, which is 49% above the national average.
What perks and benefits does Oracle offer?
Regardless of their role and where they are based, Oracle offers its employees a comprehensive suite of benefits and perks.
High on Oracle’s list of priorities are mental health and wellbeing benefits, like employee assistance programs, wellbeing seminars and various healthcare insurance packages. There is generous paid parental leave and fertility, surrogacy, and adoption aid as well.
In terms of financial wellbeing, there are generous pension schemes, discounted Oracle stock, and life insurance, disability coverage, and financial advice. Finally, Oracle offers flexible working patterns such as hybrid working, generous paid time off, and paid volunteer hours.
What’s it like working at Oracle?
Oracle has a good reputation as an employer, with Glassdoor reporting that 74% of Oracle employees and ex-employees stating they would recommend working there to a friend.
Oracle employees report being most happy with the work–life balance and hybrid working opportunities, as well as the choice of benefits on offer. They also report a healthy work culture and great teams.
Despite salaries being higher than national averages, Oracle employees report being dissatisfied with the pay and feeling undervalued for their work. They also cite inconsistent bonus structures, poor leadership and challenges with office politics as “cons”.
What do you need to get a job at Oracle?
Oracle is very open about what is needed to work with them, with their career sites providing plenty of actionable tips to get started.
Oracle chiefly recommends that you focus on your career goals and prioritize getting upskilled in the areas that link to preferred roles in order to get a head-start on the hiring process. They also suggest focusing on your network and leveraging your professional relationships.
It will help to understand Oracle’s services in order to give yourself a good chance at getting a job with them. To this end, Oracle offers free training and accreditation in their products, aimed at jobseekers interested in their company.
How hard is it to get a job at Oracle?
Glassdoor reports that 67% of Oracle candidates had a positive interview experience, with the company’s recruitment processes scoring a difficulty level of 3.0 out of 5.
Candidates should expect a thorough and staged interview process. This typically starts with a screening interview to gauge basic questions such as salary expectations and notice period, as well as fit for the role.
Following this, there could be a technical interview focusing heavily on hard skills applicable to the role, or a behavioral interview which focuses on soft skills and STAR questions based on your experience. After this, there will be supplementary stages such as a panel or peer interviews, then a final interview with a senior leader.
How to get hired by Oracle
Getting hired by Oracle doesn’t happen by accident; there are a few critical steps that you must prepare for and take in order to give yourself the best chance of landing a role with the company. Here are five tips to help you get hired by Oracle:
1. Aim for the right role
As already discussed, there are a lot of different roles on offer at Oracle, across many different divisions and levels. The company is also significantly geographically dispersed.
It’s therefore important that you research career opportunities available at Oracle and find a role that is the right fit for your professionalism. When you have found this role, tailor your online application, cover letter and résumé to align in terms of keywords and language.
A narrower, specialized focus might mean that you apply for fewer roles with the company, but it might help your application stand out better when it gets in front of Oracle recruiters.
2. Ensure you have the right skills and attributes
Oracle targets top talent, candidates with exceptional skill and knowledge. It’s therefore a good idea to ensure that you have researched the skills you need for the role you are interested in.
Jobs at Oracle often require technical or system skills such as CSS, Git, HTML, Java or Python, or advanced education in divisional skills like finance, human resources or law.
Additionally, all Oracle roles require the use of many different soft skills such as communication, presentation, networking, collaboration and teamwork, analytical skills, and problem-solving. Prioritize these skills that will make the best contribution to the roles you are interested in.
3. Network with Oracle employees
Networking with Oracle employees might seem intrusive, but it can benefit your prospects of landing a role with the company in a few different ways. Getting to know Oracle employees can help you learn more about the company, its culture, working practices and, ultimately, if the company is a good fit for you.
You can connect with people working in the divisions and roles you are interested in, and they in turn can make some introductions on your behalf and increase your visibility. Reach out to Oracle employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events in order to broaden your network and get to know the right people.
4. Assess your fit for Oracle’s work and values
Oracle’s mission is “To help people see data in new ways, discover insights, unlock endless possibilities”, and their core values are communication, compliance, customer satisfaction, fairness, innovation, integrity, mutual respect, quality and teamwork.
To have a rewarding career at Oracle where you’re happy and the company is getting a return on their investment in you, your values and purpose should align with theirs. You will be assessed on this fit in the recruitment process as well, so ensure your passion comes through in your application.
5. Focus heavily on your application
Oracle recruitment processes are competitive, structured and long. You will need to do all you can to prepare for these processes so you can give yourself the best chance at success. Ensure your application materials highlight the skills you need for the role, and your passion and values are mentioned in your cover letter.
Prepare for your interview by rehearsing examples from your experience where you can demonstrate the skills needed for the role and how you have acted in line with Oracle’s values and mission. Behavioral alignment will give you the best chance possible to land the Oracle role of your dreams.
Final thoughts
A career with Oracle can take many different forms. Whether you’re looking for graduate or internship opportunities, direct entry roles, and whatever your expertise or wherever you are geographically located, there’s an Oracle career for you.
To get a job at Oracle, you must ensure you research the company and its roles carefully and tailor your application to what you are applying for. Avoid job search pitfalls, build your network and rehearse your interview skills in order to give yourself the best chance at landing a job with Oracle, and most importantly, learn about their products and services. Good luck!
Got a question? Let us know in the comments section below.
This article is a complete update of previous version originally published on January 28, 2015.