January 13, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I like database work. I have been playing around with access and sql server. I can kind of fumble my way through. In this day and age are there any jobs out there that will train you on SQL Server? If so how do I find them?
January 14, 2009 at 4:08 am
Certifications will help you get your foot in the proverbial door. But, as most who know me will tell you, I don't take much stock in certifications... I take stock in experience whether it's self training or OJT. If you want something you can put on your resume, you could do some volunteer work for a non-profit organization and have them write a recommendation for you when you complete whatever it is that you've done. Also, heavy, accurate participation in a forum like this one is a form of experience that is easily verifiable by employers. Go spend $50 on the Developer's Edition of SQL Server and get crackin'. 🙂
There are also "entry level" jobs available on many of the typical job sites like Dice, Monster, SimplyHired, etc. Those typically mean "will train" to some extent. Be advised that those types of entry level positions are just that... entry level and they don't pay much... not in money, anyways. The experience is worth some serious cash in the future especially if you get really good at the trade.
Letters of recommendation and compiling a list of major accomplishments can really make a resume attractive... it's hard for a future employer to ignore accomplishments like "Rewrote a dupe check across 62 databases that took 24 hours to sometimes fail so that it checks 93 databases (50% more work) in less than 15 minutes and it hasn't failed yet." Of course, that absolutely must be verifiable. The worst thing you could ever do is lie about your experience because people like me can very quickly tell in an interview if you've actually done something or not and I also actually check any references you may claim.
For some encouragement, and I'm a bit different than others, I hired a developer who had zero commercial experience over 4 other people CI Masters Degrees and all sorts of certs did but couldn't answer stupid simple questions like how to get the current date and time. The kid was all self trained and really knew his stuff. And, he was seriously motivated without an ounce of arrogance in his entire body. I would much rather have someone who is already motivated and simply needs some guidance than to try to motivate someone who's nothing more than a ring knocker.
Of course, like I said, I'm not the norm in just about any area you can imagine. But that's what has worked for me. I won't tell you how much I make, but it's quite substantial... all due to a pot wad of verifiable experience, the correct attitude, and a true love of working with databases. Heh... look at the number of posts I have on this forum and tell me I don't like SQL Server or the folks that have to deal with it every day.
Search the job boards, do a bit of volunteer work to get experience, start working and answering problems on forums like this one... keep the good attitude and love for databases... it'll happen.
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.
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