Just been benched...in time to retrain for December?

[TheFaQQer]

If you're looking at certifications / formal training, then over the winter period there are worse places to go than India for some cheap training in a warm climate

[Spacecadet]

If you're looking at certifications / formal training, then over the winter period there are worse places to go than India for some cheap training in a warm climate

AFAIK Microsoft does not let non-Indian nationals take the certification exams in India.
However, there is still nothing to stop you training there and taking the exam here

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Hi all, SQL DBA for umpteen years but had enough of agents asking me for Dev skills I don't have (and I've been a DBA long enough to remember when we didn't have to create code!) and screwing me ever further down on rates, so going to hit the books on RS/IS (as well as a damn good brush-up on T-SQL). All this should take about 2-3 weeks, and wanna aim for about the 400/day mark.

Questions:

1) Good idea, businesswise?

2) Is December totally dead? I could batten down the hatches until Feb but I'd rather be generous with friends/family this Christmas;

3) If #2 is a "Yes!", any of you lot take non-IT work to fill in bench time? What kind? (just not pulling pints, please!)

I have been a SQL/BI Developer for several years now and I can tell you I didn't learn how to code and develop in 4 months let alone 4 weeks. It has taken me years to get up the level I am at now. Having said that you have to start somewhere so good luck on that. Best thing you can do is get into a SQL DEV/DBA role with a mix so you can gradually pick up those skills.

[TheFaQQer]

AFAIK Microsoft does not let non-Indian nationals take the certification exams in India.
However, there is still nothing to stop you training there and taking the exam here

You can still take the exam in India provided that the testing centre is reputable (i.e. has been checked properly by MS) and you have an Entry Visa rather than a tourist one.

MS have cracked down on it, but you can still take the exams in India if you want to.

[SussexSeagull]

You can still take the exam in India provided that the testing centre is reputable (i.e. has been checked properly by MS) and you have an Entry Visa rather than a tourist one.

MS have cracked down on it, but you can still take the exams in India if you want to.

I know a man who went to Goa to do a course and combined it with a holiday.

[tractor]

...

You can still take the exam in India provided that the testing centre is reputable (i.e. has been checked properly by MS) and you have an Entry Visa rather than a tourist one.

MS have cracked down on it, but you can still take the exams in India if you want to.

You have to be Indian to certify in a non-reputable organisation???? lol

[TheFaQQer]

I know a man who went to Goa to do a course and combined it with a holiday.

I had a break first, then 2 1/2 weeks of training and certification. Don't go much later than February, though, as it gets incredibly hot and humid.

That said, when it's gorgeous weather and your hotel is on a private beach, do you really want to be in a classroom six days a week studying???

[JaybeeInCUK]

Data warehousing, although I've been doing that since 2005 (so hardly "these days" )with an 18 month gap to work on a migration project.

Its worthwhile adding Analysis services to that list of stuff to learn

DW is gonna take a LONG time to learn, plus I have no previous exposure to OLAP of any kind. But I agree that once acquired, there's a pretty penny in it.

[SussexSeagull]

I had a break first, then 2 1/2 weeks of training and certification. Don't go much later than February, though, as it gets incredibly hot and humid.

That said, when it's gorgeous weather and your hotel is on a private beach, do you really want to be in a classroom six days a week studying???

I was out in November at about the same time (although without the course bit).

Dry although we caught the tail of a tropical storm on the last day.

[northernladuk]

I was out in November at about the same time (although without the course bit).

Dry although we caught the tail of a tropical storm on the last day.

That initself can be quite an experience as well so not always a ruined day!