Config Manager wants to retrain. Advice & opinions please?

[mjays]

I've been rethinking my I.T. life and need some advice so I can start to focus.

I've been contracting as a Software Configuration Manager (very technical roles) for about 15 years (recently became ITIL V3 certified). I think I want to retrain to something more marketable. I've never had a problem (until now) in getting a new contract but I know that other skills have more positions on Jobserve. Also, I want to break the £500 daily rate, all my roles are around the £400 (£450 tops) mark.

Obviously being a java, c#, c++ etc developer is more sought after than a Software Config. Manager but being a contract developer seems a more difficult goal, learning an OO language to the required level and all that. After a quick look at the market I've decided that becoming a certified DBA is a good skill to acquire. I'm an advanced/intermediate scripter (unix, perl, powershell, DOS Batch) so SQL shouldn't be a problem.

However, there is another option. I could specialise more into Build Management as I've doubled as a Build Manager in the past, and pick up Maven, Ant, J2EE deployment, skills. I'd have to pick up java but the level required for small scripts shouldn't be an issue.

So what do I do? Database Administrator? And if so DB2 or Oracle? Or J2EE deployment and the Build Manager route?

Which direction is the wisest choice?

Thanks in advance.

[SallyPlanIT]

On the business side of things; training for NEW skills is not a tax allowable expense, so you couldn't claim the cost.

[Scrag Meister]

On the business side of things; training for NEW skills is not a tax allowable expense, so you couldn't claim the cost.

Really!! WTF.

So if I wanted to go and learn some new skill to enhance my business further, and expand the range of services I could provide, I can't claim it as an expense against the business!!

That is so cr4p.

[pmeswani]

Really!! WTF.

So if I wanted to go and learn some new skill to enhance my business further, and expand the range of services I could provide, I can't claim it as an expense against the business!!

That is so cr4p.

Sad but true. But I was also under the impression that if the client takes you on to do Job A, for which you are skilled to do, and then asks you to do Job B, for which you need skilling, it can be claimed as a legitimate expense for one to put training costs through the business. But may be I misunderstand.

[malvolio]

Really!! WTF.

So if I wanted to go and learn some new skill to enhance my business further, and expand the range of services I could provide, I can't claim it as an expense against the business!!

That is so cr4p.

Entirely reasonable, when you think about it. Tax-deductible Business Expenses are to support you in your business. You can claim training in the line of work you trade in. You want to switch businesses, how does that benefit the old one? In effect, why should I pay for your retraining?

Going back to the OP though, there's plenty of call out there for Config, Build and Release/Transition Managers. Don't be too hasty to discard your experience for something totally new (that for a while you won't be any good at anyway), better to build on what you've got.

And don't believe all the stories of mega day rates either, a lot of it is willy-waving. Reality is that you're on a good solid average, especially for what you do.

[BoredBloke]

Entirely reasonable, when you think about it. Tax-deductible Business Expenses are to support you in your business. You can claim training in the line of work you trade in. You want to switch businesses, how does that benefit the old one? In effect, why should I pay for your retraining?

Going back to the OP though, there's plenty of call out there for Config, Build and Release/Transition Managers. Don't be too hasty to discard your experience for something totally new (that for a while you won't be any good at anyway), better to build on what you've got.

And don't believe all the stories of mega day rates either, a lot of it is willy-waving. Reality is that you're on a good solid average, especially for what you do.

I would have thought that if you were a config manager then you could expense training in another IT related field as it is not a huge leap from your core IT consultancy. Obviously it would be impossible to expense a brick laying or plumbing course, but I would ahve thought that if you are already in IT then training in an IT related area should be allowable. From my small exposure to Config I would have thought that having some understanding in development could be quite useful!

[malvolio]

I would have thought that if you were a config manager then you could expense training in another IT related field as it is not a huge leap from your core IT consultancy. Obviously it would be impossible to expense a brick laying or plumbing course, but I would ahve thought that if you are already in IT then training in an IT related area should be allowable. From my small exposure to Config I would have thought that having some understanding in development could be quite useful!

Quite possibly true, but that's not how HMRC sees it.

[Scrag Meister]

Quite possibly true, but that's not how HMRC sees it.

So is there any area of crossover, ala I do VB/VBA but think C# would be useful for future business as it seems to be growing in popularity, I can't expenses training in C#?

[malvolio]

So is there any area of crossover, ala I do VB/VBA but think C# would be useful for future business as it seems to be growing in popularity, I can't expenses training in C#?

That would be OK, as I understand it (but I'm not a lawyer or a taxnman), on the basis that both are directly relevant to your basic trade of writing programs. The OP was talking about changing trades, which is not the same thing. And before you ask, IT is not a trade in that sense.

[configman]

My advice don't be to specilaised - as a Configuration Manager you are very close to Release, Change, and Software Config Management without much more knowledge required than you already have. My CV is full of those keywords and supported by some roles as a Build Manager which when done properly is the automation of Release, Change, Configuration, and Software Config Management. 2 months ago I finished one contract, in 2 weeks had 4 interviews and 2 offers, didn't get a chance to get a result from the other 2 as one offer was to good. With those roles under my belt I often go in as an auditor or process analyst - another 2 possibilities.

One big advantage as Release, Change, Configuration Manager is you become more sellable as your technical skills are far less important compared to your process and management skills. It doesn't matter if the client is microsoft or java etc.