Reskilling - Course Recommendations Please

[Wetti Big Deal Birnathi]

I am currently in my first role with a well known solution providing consultancy in the UK but I wish to transfer into the contracting arena at the earliest availability but I feel I need to expand upon my technical creature set before doing so.

I am particularly interested in doing Sharepoint development. I have done Sharepoint client but not Sharepoint server and I would very much like to learn sharepoint server so I can apply for Sharepoint server contracts.

Can anybody point me or recommend me to some online courses that have an active practical component rather than just watching videos?

I have looked at PlrualSight but this does not best fit my needs as I do not have available hardware to run a resource intensive application in the same league as Sharepoint server. Furthermore, I do not have Sharepoint server software and I do not have any programming tools.

This is my question:

Are there any cheap or free online courses available that provide all the hardware and software requirements encapsulated in a VM access? So for example, I subscribe to a course and then I get VM access where I can access Sharepoint Server instance and a development studio suite such as Visual Studio and I can build some Sharepoint server projects under the direction of the course literature?

Thanks in advance,

Wetti

[cojak]

Hi Wetti,

I'm not sure that you'll find any courses that offer something for nothing in return.

I would advise youtube and some Wrox or O'Reilly books. You'll not have VM access unless you pay ($xxx) for it.

[eek]

A contractor needs to be the expert in the technology they are working on. You need years of experience with it so you can't just switch to contracting...

[eek]

Hi Wetti,

I'm not sure that you'll find any courses that offer something for nothing in return.

I would advise youtube and some Wrox or O'Reilly books. You'll not have VM access unless you pay for it.

You can get a limited amount of Azure credit to run a VM or 2 on Azure for free... Remember to shut them down when you don't use them though - and then use another email address to start again when the credit runs out...

[cojak]

But he wants the provider to provide the hardware AND the software.

He'll not get far with that.

[Wetti Big Deal Birnathi]

You can get a limited amount of Azure credit to run a VM or 2 on Azure for free... Remember to shut them down when you don't use them though - and then use another email address to start again when the credit runs out...

Is there a way of installing SharePoint server on thses VM do you think?
I do not have a licenced copy of SharePoint server so I would need a licence. Perhaps there is a developer's licence available ? Does anyone know this?

[GB9]

And don't forget that if this is a new skill the cost of training is not tax deductible.

[LondonManc]

On top of what cojak said, getting into contracting isn't to be taken lightly or as an early option. You'll be up against seasoned, experienced professionals and if you have very little in the way of achievements, what is your competitive advantage?

[Wetti Big Deal Birnathi]

On top of what cojak said, getting into contracting isn't to be taken lightly or as an early option. You'll be up against seasoned, experienced professionals and if you have very little in the way of achievements, what is your competitive advantage?

I am not a novice technician though, I have worked for some years in my home country and now approach the end of a 2 year period with one uk employer so I believe I am versed in the prerequisite skills to obtain a contract.

[Bee]

If you are in a Consultancy company, you are in right place to become not only a contractor but a consultant contractor.
I advise to stay at least 10 years before you became a consultant contractor. While there, try to orient your career in one or two areas. You can also ask for trainings in your company.

I am currently in my first role with a well known solution providing consultancy in the UK but I wish to transfer into the contracting arena at the earliest availability but I feel I need to expand upon my technical creature set before doing so.

I am particularly interested in doing Sharepoint development. I have done Sharepoint client but not Sharepoint server and I would very much like to learn sharepoint server so I can apply for Sharepoint server contracts.

Can anybody point me or recommend me to some online courses that have an active practical component rather than just watching videos?

I have looked at PlrualSight but this does not best fit my needs as I do not have available hardware to run a resource intensive application in the same league as Sharepoint server. Furthermore, I do not have Sharepoint server software and I do not have any programming tools.

This is my question:

Are there any cheap or free online courses available that provide all the hardware and software requirements encapsulated in a VM access? So for example, I subscribe to a course and then I get VM access where I can access Sharepoint Server instance and a development studio suite such as Visual Studio and I can build some Sharepoint server projects under the direction of the course literature?

Thanks in advance,

Wetti