Beginner learning, Advise needed - SQL?

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Beginner learning, Advise needed - SQL?

lee-hardman

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May 10, 2012 at 4:24 am

#260736

Hi,
I am looking to begin a career in SQL, basically i have been working as a business analyst now for a big company for a number of years. I do not have a degree in IT ect but i have good knowledge.
We have recently implemented a new software (Lagan Frontline) and SQL knowledge is needed for report building and maintaining the program. This has obviously opened up a new job possibility.
My questions are what paths do i need to go down to begin learning this?
Should i familiarize myself with the program before enrolling on a course?
I have been given the following courses to look into:
http://www.firebrandtraining.co.uk/courses/microsoft/t-sql?fbt=1&refer=msn_aw&keyword=mtsql08&ad=t-sql&campaign=msn&kw=sql%20training
http://www.impartica-training.co.uk/courses/introduction-to-sql.aspx
And then once i'm more familiar with the program and have a bit more knowledge, this:
http://www.traininghott.co.uk/Courses/SQL-Server-2008-Reporting-Services-Training-Course.htm
Any help and advice will be a great help,
Lee

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

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Duran SSChampion Points: 13259 More actions · Answer 1

Hello Lee,

What would be a good idea is to buy a beginner book both in SQL administration and in T-SQL, then get yourself the developer edition of SQL Server from the web and work through the books, then decide whether you want to go on a course afterwards. If you go on a course after going through the books, I'd expect you would get more out of it, thus making the most of the money and time spent on it. Hope that helps.

Regards,

D.

lee-hardman SSC-Addicted Points: 405 More actions · Answer 2

Old Hand,

Thanks alot for your reply, i will look to buy these books this week and start learning. Do you recommend any particular books?

I believe this is something i want to learn and take as a new path in my career.

Will the books have information for first time beginners to SQL as i have not used it before.

And is a degree in anything else not needed to be able to grasp this?

Thanks again,

Lee

Robin Sasson Hall of Fame Points: 3359 More actions · Answer 3

Hi Lee,

The Firebrand page is interesting, especially the statement "You’ll be T-SQL trained in just 2 days"; I've been using SQL for a few years and am learning new things all the time.

My personal view is that courses are an element of you training, experience, self learning, trial and error etc. being other key elements.

Buy a few books, install SQL Server for yourself and start playing.

:exclamation: "Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience." :exclamation:

heymiky SSCarpal Tunnel Points: 4875 More actions · Answer 4

The firebrand training course will be very intensive and I would only reccomend that you do something like this once you have had some experience, do some reading and get a copy of SQL Server Developer Edition would be my advice to start with...

Edit: Look in the books section of this site, there are some very good free ones to start with, Troubleshooting SQL Server: A Guide for the Accidental DBA is a good start

lee-hardman SSC-Addicted Points: 405 More actions · Answer 5

Thanks again!

I will look around to see if i can get a beginners edition of the book that can talk me through the basics first, and then move onto a more indepth 'techy' book i think.

Ill have a look round now, and check out the books section on here.