Reply to: MSBI newb Contractor - whole lifecycle delivery question

[LondonManc]

Good advice there. However, my issue with the MS products is they seem cheap, but then you have all the rest of the system to build up, which costs.
Also, I don't find their metadata layer as strong as Business Objects and their reporting tool requires a strong technical capability. On the other hand, Business Objects is stronger on the adhoc side, providing it has been set up correctly.

Good points. I think Business Objects is more comparable with Cognos, with, imho, BO coming out on top in most areas with OLAP functionality being its biggest failing compared to Cognos.

[Drkarnivore]

Good advice there. However, my issue with the MS products is they seem cheap, but then you have all the rest of the system to build up, which costs.
Also, I don't find their metadata layer as strong as Business Objects and their reporting tool requires a strong technical capability. On the other hand, Business Objects is stronger on the adhoc side, providing it has been set up correctly.

Agreed, I've had a good few prospective MSBI customers think it's was free until they hit the need for some share point licenses.

[MrMarkyMark]

Hey.

I`m a freelance BI consultant (MS BI backend SSIS, SSAS, SAP BI - all of it, JasperSoft, SAS, LogiAnalytics, Kimball etc) but mainly the SAP BO stuff. The market for MS BI guys seems good at the moment due to many of the traditional BO\Cognos etc customers migrating to it. In fact 50% of the recruiters that call me have seen SQL Server and SSIS on my CV (and presume I know the full stack), so there seems to be a lot of demand. Half the time if you have your first principles down (data modelling, star schemae, ETL concepts) you can apply yourself quickly, especially if you are a true BI specialist, not some DBA who sat next to a guy doing some SSAS for a week (I`ve met them!).

I was also a consultant previously, which helps a lot, I`ve a good few ex-customers and contacts who would welcome paying less than half of what they used to pay for my services!

Good advice there. However, my issue with the MS products is they seem cheap, but then you have all the rest of the system to build up, which costs.
Also, I don't find their metadata layer as strong as Business Objects and their reporting tool requires a strong technical capability. On the other hand, Business Objects is stronger on the adhoc side, providing it has been set up correctly.

[wannagopro]

Hey.

I`m a freelance BI consultant (MS BI backend SSIS, SSAS, SAP BI - all of it, JasperSoft, SAS, LogiAnalytics, Kimball etc) but mainly the SAP BO stuff. The market for MS BI guys seems good at the moment due to many of the traditional BO\Cognos etc customers migrating to it. In fact 50% of the recruiters that call me have seen SQL Server and SSIS on my CV (and presume I know the full stack), so there seems to be a lot of demand. Half the time if you have your first principles down (data modelling, star schemae, ETL concepts) you can apply yourself quickly, especially if you are a true BI specialist, not some DBA who sat next to a guy doing some SSAS for a week (I`ve met them!).

I was also a consultant previously, which helps a lot, I`ve a good few ex-customers and contacts who would welcome paying less than half of what they used to pay for my services!

Thanks for the response!

I have considered going with a consultancy - though this would be a means to an end so I need to weigh up the benefits of putting off contracting for a year or so to get the consultancy under the belt. I guess it would make the switch to contracting a little easier, as clients/agents would have more faith in my ability to 'hit the ground running'. That being said, I would rather just jump into contracting if I can. hmmm

[Drkarnivore]

Hey.

I`m a freelance BI consultant (MS BI backend SSIS, SSAS, SAP BI - all of it, JasperSoft, SAS, LogiAnalytics, Kimball etc) but mainly the SAP BO stuff. The market for MS BI guys seems good at the moment due to many of the traditional BO\Cognos etc customers migrating to it. In fact 50% of the recruiters that call me have seen SQL Server and SSIS on my CV (and presume I know the full stack), so there seems to be a lot of demand. Half the time if you have your first principles down (data modelling, star schemae, ETL concepts) you can apply yourself quickly, especially if you are a true BI specialist, not some DBA who sat next to a guy doing some SSAS for a week (I`ve met them!).

I was also a consultant previously, which helps a lot, I`ve a good few ex-customers and contacts who would welcome paying less than half of what they used to pay for my services!

[LondonManc]

Thanks for that LondonManc, encouraging.

Are those pools of contractors people that you have met on the job? Getting to know a community of contractors would be great.

On the job, through going out drinking with colleagues, techie forums, etc.

Don't rely on them for contracts continually, still go through the agencies as required but they can be good for short term pieces of work or getting you on board somewhere more easily, e.g. knowing which agents are on the PSL, etc.

[wannagopro]

Although the MSBI looks good at the moment and there are plenty of roles in the market. but at the same time are too many BI people in the market in my opinion.
The genuine MSBI contract rates have come down lately.
Almost everyone with the SQL Development and DBA skills have delved into the BI Arena.
Keep trying though, BI Analyst/Developer roles are a lot in number but not the best rates.
Could try for BI Architect, if they seem genuine roles.

I'd be more comfortable with a developer/analyst role in truth, glad to hear from experienced folk that the market is good right now. I was looking at the market 5-6 months ago and it was pretty poor, so I guess a lesson there is that it can flip at any point (though I do remember reading that the election had an impact on the wider market)

[wannagopro]

Agree with MrMarkyMark on the whole. Most BI people have a preferred or specialist tool set be it SQL Server stack, Cognos, BO, whatever. I've used all three but have a preference for one and that's the main thrust of the contracts that I'd rather take. However, I'm also a data warehouse developer and project manager/senior business analyst but given I'm no longer permie, the control I have over which parts of my skillset are used are more up to ClientCo in terms of what they've asked me to deliver dictates the skills employed.

Good luck and while it's feasible to go it alone, I know of a couple of small pools of contractors with virtual offices who keep each other active.

Thanks for that LondonManc, encouraging.

Are those pools of contractors people that you have met on the job? Getting to know a community of contractors would be great.

[jkdaniel]

Although the MSBI looks good at the moment and there are plenty of roles in the market. but at the same time are too many BI people in the market in my opinion.
The genuine MSBI contract rates have come down lately.
Almost everyone with the SQL Development and DBA skills have delved into the BI Arena.
Keep trying though, BI Analyst/Developer roles are a lot in number but not the best rates.
Could try for BI Architect, if they seem genuine roles.

[LondonManc]

Agree with MrMarkyMark on the whole. Most BI people have a preferred or specialist tool set be it SQL Server stack, Cognos, BO, whatever. I've used all three but have a preference for one and that's the main thrust of the contracts that I'd rather take. However, I'm also a data warehouse developer and project manager/senior business analyst but given I'm no longer permie, the control I have over which parts of my skillset are used are more up to ClientCo in terms of what they've asked me to deliver dictates the skills employed.

Good luck and while it's feasible to go it alone, I know of a couple of small pools of contractors with virtual offices who keep each other active.

[wannagopro]

Yes, you will do, agents / pimps often sound desperate.
The market, in BI, does seem quite good at the moment, however, I do know a number of good people on the bench.



Cheers bud, just illustrating it can be done

Cheers for taking the time to respond, I'll check in with some agents to check out viability.

[MrMarkyMark]

I'm finding I'm getting increasingly desperate emails from agents about both permie and contract roles. Market is looking good on the whole.

I have around 6 years experience.

Yes, you will do, agents / pimps often sound desperate.
The market, in BI, does seem quite good at the moment, however, I do know a number of good people on the bench.

Congrats to the Missus!

Cheers bud, just illustrating it can be done

[SueEllen]

I'm finding I'm getting increasingly desperate emails from agents about both permie and contract roles. Market is looking good on the whole.

I have around 6 years experience.

Sometimes the desperation is due to the rate/salary offered or location.

[wannagopro]

Yup, semantics completely, but very relevant in the BI contract market.
I have also seen BI Developer roles that are predominantly SQL server based.
I was just suggesting that they can also be described as someone who works with both multiple RDBMS and reporting tools.
The difference is usually in the roles description / requirements.


Yes, it is a risk and most of us have had to "bite the bullet" and go for it. My missus just did exactly this and bagged a role from her very first contract interview, however, she was previously a consultant so YMMV.

How many years experience do you have?

I'm finding I'm getting increasingly desperate emails from agents about both permie and contract roles. Market is looking good on the whole.

I have around 6 years experience.

Congrats to the Missus!

[MrMarkyMark]

Possibly semantics, though it isn't unusual to have BI developers specialise almost exclusively in particular technologies. That might not fit your definition, if you are more comfortable describing my skill set as 'MSBI developer' for the purpose of this discussion, no problem, though there are plenty of 'Business Intelligence' roles, both contract and perm, that are looking for developers with predominantly microsoft technology expertise.

Yup, semantics completely, but very relevant in the BI contract market.
I have also seen BI Developer roles that are predominantly SQL server based.
I was just suggesting that they can also be described as someone who works with both multiple RDBMS and reporting tools.
The difference is usually in the roles description / requirements.

With a 3 month notice period, finding out for myself would involve me leaving my current job to enter a competitive market and only knowing for sure whether I have a chance towards the end of that 3 month period, leaving it rather late to gain re-employment should I need it.

Yes, it is a risk and most of us have had to "bite the bullet" and go for it. My missus just did exactly this and bagged a role from her very first contract interview, however, she was previously a consultant so YMMV.

How many years experience do you have?