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

[JaybeeInCUK]

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.

Pretty much all the pure Prod roles are gone/offshored. You're not saying take a permie role for getting my feet wet, surely?!?!?

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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???

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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]

Cool, what kind of projects are you working on these days? (Christ if I were talking out loud I'd sound like a ****ing agent!!!)

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

[JaybeeInCUK]

RS = SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)
IS = SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)

Back to the OP 2-3 weeks is going to give you the basics but then you'll be competing with proper SQL Devs like myself who know this stuff inside out and have been using it since it came out. For £400pd clients want someone who's done it before not just read a few books. Unless you have specific industry experience you'll be starting at the £300 mark

Cool, what kind of projects are you working on these days? (Christ if I were talking out loud I'd sound like a ****ing agent!!!)

[JaybeeInCUK]

Rule number one of contracting: Do not fight the market.

If the agents are telling you that being a bog-standard DBA is not worth much in this market, then heed their advice. Get some dev skills, and not just db stored-procs. Get a bit of Java or C#. Basic DBA work has mostly moved offshore for plenty cheapness (I know, I did 10 years of Oracle DBA'ing, and that market has now been decimated by Injuns.)

Don't I know it!! Just to clarify, do you mean, 'Get some dev skills, PLUS Java or C#, or do you mean 'Get some dev skills, IE Java or C#? If the latter I was already planning on boning up on the 20 most common JS commands.

I always use some of my bench-time for re-skill. Never done anything else work-related outside IT in my bench-time; it's always worked out financially better to do the re-skill, rather than waste time on another job. Your situation may be different, though.

Well, my record is quite spotty in that I have fallen back into Permie-land on more than one occasion, (doubtless in part due to the lack of demanded skills) but I've never been faced with the decision whether to tough it out over winter or not, I imagine come December not even the paye cheapskates will want to hire.

[Rabotnik]

What's RS/IS, not come across that?

If you do T-SQL, do you also know, or can learn, PL/SQL? That could be a good stepping stone between DB and coding since PL/SQL is much more like 'real' coding (why I like it!)

RS = Reporting Services
IS = Integration Services

Should really be abbreviated SSRS and SSIS.