Reply to: Looking to get into SQL DBA .. Advice ?

[Pogle]

I think the best bet would be to get some grounding first in Data Warehousing, Star Schemas / Flakes etc in SQL Server and then BI, whether Cognos BI 8 or SSIS, Reporting Services, Analysis Services. Very much seems to be a market in demand at mo

I wish!!!
The Business Objects market is dire at the mo.

pogle

[Stan.goodvibes]

I'd worry more about your status to the tax man than invoicing.

I have a cunning plan that involves me contracting in the eurozone, Oz and NZ and not ever being resident anywhere long enough to pay tax... anywhere.

[Tin Pot]

oh p.s. Clientco is paying for my courses (even tho I'm on contract!) - do you think I'd be taking the p*ss if i invoice for the days I am on the course as well?

I'd worry more about your status to the tax man than invoicing.

[Stan.goodvibes]

Yeah well i wasn't planning on just doing the courses and then leaping out there into the BI contract market. Courses/exams are scheduled for completion March 09 in time for the data warehouse project to kick off, so I'll have some experience under my belt before I try and get another contract.

So, back to the question - coming off a SQL BI data warehousing contract with MS certification... likely day rate? in London?

I only ask as I was planning a return to the UK later next year, and assuming that I can get a contract, what the rates are likely to be. If its less than 400/day I will consider Sydney instead.

Cheers.

oh p.s. Clientco is paying for my courses (even tho I'm on contract!) - do you think I'd be taking the p*ss if i invoice for the days I am on the course as well?

[Spacecadet]

problem is with SQL and BI is that without real world experience you'll fall flat on your face.
Any Business Intelligence solution requires a certain amount of "green fingers". A decent course will give you the tools you need but using them correctly takes months if not years of experience

[Solent]

I think the best bet would be to get some grounding first in Data Warehousing, Star Schemas / Flakes etc in SQL Server and then BI, whether Cognos BI 8 or SSIS, Reporting Services, Analysis Services. Very much seems to be a market in demand at mo

[Stan.goodvibes]

and if you had completed MCTS courses and exams (Reporting Services, Analysis Services, and Business Intelligence) and had some experience with BI and SQL Server and about 10 years of VB to .net etc...

What sort of rate would you ask for?

[Tin Pot]

Contract availability

Yeah I have a developer background but have done a lot of T-SQL and BA database design stuff and prefer that to coding.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who wants to comment on the availability of contracts for MS Business Intelligence

I'd be interested in any BI or SQL Server contracts - will work for food at the moment

BI seems to be on the up, hence I'm upskilling in that area as we speak.

[lightng]

I'm also a .NET developer who has done MS BI stuff on previous projects. I'm looking at going more down the MS Business Intelligence route too.

For larger companies, it looks like Business Objects still has a majority share. My prediction / gamble is that this will change in the next couple of years.

[Stan.goodvibes]

I quite fancy doing that as I find that being a SQL Server DBA to a bit too quiet for my liking. Grabbing Business Objects experience seems like a good route to go down too.

Yeah I have a developer background but have done a lot of T-SQL and BA database design stuff and prefer that to coding.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who wants to comment on the availability of contracts for MS Business Intelligence

[crimdon]

You might wanna consider the path I am taking (of least resistance) which is moving away from the DBA side of things to the SQL Server Business Intelligence stuff.

You gotta do the Reporting Services, the Analysis Services, then the Business Intelligence courses and exams. Its more development than DBA.

I quite fancy doing that as I find that being a SQL Server DBA to a bit too quiet for my liking. Grabbing Business Objects experience seems like a good route to go down too.

[expat]

Its derived from Sybase SQL Server

But, thats beside the point, I agree with you about shortening Microsoft SQL Server to "SQL" and I really hate it when agents do it

Yes: have "SQL" anywhere on your CV, and you will keep getting calls for SQL Server DBA roles

[Spacecadet]

I know it's OT and unhelpful, but I really really do wish that people would not say SQL when they mean SQL Server. I'm not just being pernickety, it's because it screws up searches (which is probably what MS had in mind).

Its derived from Sybase SQL Server

But, thats beside the point, I agree with you about shortening Microsoft SQL Server to "SQL" and I really hate it when agents do it

[expat]

I know it's OT and unhelpful, but I really really do wish that people would not say SQL when they mean SQL Server. I'm not just being pernickety, it's because it screws up searches (which is probably what MS had in mind).

[Stan.goodvibes]

You might wanna consider the path I am taking (of least resistance) which is moving away from the DBA side of things to the SQL Server Business Intelligence stuff.

You gotta do the Reporting Services, the Analysis Services, then the Business Intelligence courses and exams. Its more development than DBA.