Oracle SQL certificate for PM

[gixxer]

Currently on the bench looking for a new contract. My background is investment management however lately I have spent most of my PM consulting time with projects that required an understsanding of SQL and related mysql dbases.

I wrote my first ms sql query 15y ago in Access and now I am fine, actually have fun writing queries.

Clearly, I do not want to compete against any technical IT guy however being able to read and write what I need has proven useful several times.

Fact is that when I speak with agents my diverse CV makes many not so confortable and I am afraid to be perceived as a nothing of everything cowboy.

So I thought to get the Oracle Database SQL expert certification. Does it has any credibility or I better stick a boyscout firemaker patch to my CV?

Thank you all 😃

[northernladuk]

You mention your background but what are your skills? Are you a PM that should have tranferrable skills or are you an Oracle bod that thinks they can PM?

[gixxer]

You mention your background but what are your skills? Are you a PM that should have tranferrable skills or are you an Oracle bod that thinks they can PM?

1st applies. SQL just got stick to me. I am not really the technical guy in tje room, never the less the Oracle person.

[northernladuk]

OK so would an SQL certification make you an expert in your field to complement your experience and make your the best candidate or would it be a random cert with no demonstrable experience so making you look even more random that you say you are?

You need to think about what you can sell to a client, experience and certs. Random cert plus no experience then not a chance. Years of experience backed up with a cert them you are a candidate.

Sounds like you need to think about what you offer a client and start building on that rather than just being a random OK at everything type. Permie roles might like that but contract ones won't.

[gixxer]

OK so would an SQL certification make you an expert in your field to complement your experience and make your the best candidate or would it be a random cert with no demonstrable experience so making you look even more random that you say you are?

Thanks Northernladuk, I think this answers all.

A certification will not make anybody an expert, experience does. A certification however proves that you were able to do something (passing whatever exam) at some point in time. Perhaps, and this condenses most of the reasoning of my original question a certification might set a standard, hence credibility for a given skillset.

How much the "Oracle Database SQL Expert" accomplishes this is for me so far unknown.

In the last project, I managed (a bespoke lightweight ERP) I was definitely hands-on SQL as I had to be times before. Do I profess myself a database expert? Not really. I can however debug a query that has been written for me or write it from scratch if I wish so. This is the skillset that I want be able to demonstrate, nothing more.

Sounds like you need to think about what you offer a client and start building on that rather than just being a random OK at everything type. Permie roles might like that but contract ones won't.

haha...So far worked direct, billing fixed prices. Always closed projects profitably and on time, so I do not really do anything too random. However, you are right, agents and some larger clients prefer monochromatic profiles and I need to speak with them too.

[MrMarkyMark]

Stick to being a PM.

Obviously, its useful to understand the technologies, if you can, but I can't see the advantage of the hands on element.
The thing is, anyone can write a bit of SQL, but, it is the deep understanding of the best way to write it, that is the real skill.

Nothing worse than 2 bit SQL jockies

[WTFH]

Nothing worse than 2 bit SQL jockies

I'll join you in that statement.

[NigelJK]

Nothing better than a PM who actually understands some of the technology.

[WTFH]

Nothing better than a PM who actually understands some of the technology.

Nothing worse than a manager who understands a little about a piece of technology, but acting like they are the authority on it.

[northernladuk]

Nothing better than a PM who actually understands some of the technology.

Nothing worse than someone understanding some technology thinking they can PM because they did a Prince 2 course 10 years ago.....