Reply to: Pessimists need not apply....

[Pogle]

1. Sharepoint will die a death. It's a waste of space.

2. Bob is well skilled in the dark arts of SQL Server, SSIS, SSRS, SSAS, Datawarehousing, Kimball etc etc ... i've spent months interviewing and testing them, most of which have 5 to 8 years experience, 99% of which struggle to open visual studio. It's not that you can't get a job in this area, if you're as good as me no probs(), it's just difficult getting your cv seen. The company i'm working for are just looking looking at the $ signs and I can't get good people!!!!

Yeah I agree, Its a very similar story with Business Objects/SAP, they look good on paper, but you scratch the surface and there is no substance. There is currently a shortage of good people in my area, I'm getting a lot of genuine calls at the mo from agents who simply cant get experienced people, its good 'cos the rates are going up, but its frustrating cos I cant clone myself

[Olly]

I'm all set on going down the MS BI route. From past experience it's clear you have to understand what the business is doing and read between the lines to give them the reporting and insight they really need...something Bob is incapably of.

Ironically, I'm thinking about going to India to do the cert

[Scary]

Something connected with plumbing.

[Jog On]

That's what sasguru said to his wife.

My first valid use of the emoticon

[Jeebo72]

1. Sharepoint

.


2. MS SQL Server 2008 - Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

1. Sharepoint will die a death. It's a waste of space.

2. Bob is well skilled in the dark arts of SQL Server, SSIS, SSRS, SSAS, Datawarehousing, Kimball etc etc ... i've spent months interviewing and testing them, most of which have 5 to 8 years experience, 99% of which struggle to open visual studio. It's not that you can't get a job in this area, if you're as good as me no probs(), it's just difficult getting your cv seen. The company i'm working for are just looking looking at the $ signs and I can't get good people!!!!

[DimPrawn]

And I'm not looking to reach the top I just want to touch the sides once more..

That's what sasguru said to his wife.

[rz6bm7]

And I'm not looking to reach the top I just want to touch the sides once more..

[DimPrawn]

You aint't going to get to the top of those certs without actually knowing what you are doing.

You have to present to Microsoft experts in person and do a hands on lab watched by Microsoft experts to get it.

Anything less than this and Bob in India will have the same level of certification within a week.

[Mich the Tester]

ISEB Software test foundation will take you about a day's reading and a multiple choice exam. It isn't respected because of that, but it lets you into ISEB Practitioner or ISTQB Advanced, which is quite highly regarded and will take several weeks of studying. You could try to blag the experience, but just be careful you're not being interviewed by me, because I'll see through it quite quickly. You should get your CV through the first selection though.

[rz6bm7]

Cheers DP - leads me to extend the question = do you think give the time frame that it is possible to achieve usable skills or just the paperwork to get my foot through the door of a reasonable contract??
And is there enough life in the skill for it to pay e.g. will it die as a skill in six months or is it reasonable to take it as a skill and transfer it into open source e.g. MYSQL etc (given how usefull my old MCSE was in the 'real world')

Jeeb - your very right, I was looking at getting back to being 'hands on' I guess it's always a question of rates and sustainability..

[DimPrawn]

Seeing I'm in a good mood and you seem like a nice person, I'll give you my opinion on what would be the best boot camp certification.


1. Sharepoint

Very popular at the moment with lots of clients.

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ation_path.pdf

You need to get to the top of the cert chart to make any sort of impact.


2. MS SQL Server 2008 - Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

DBA's tend to be onsite and less affected by outsourcing (although the Indian ICT brigade are your enemy).

Do the latest SQL 2008 certs including all the data mining, BI, analysis services stuff.

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...th_MCM_MCA.pdf

Lots of work to reach the top.

HTH

[Jeebo72]

I like the positive responses but aside from selling my body or going to Afghanistan what is viable for imminent project work (in the eternal hope someone will spend some money somewhere, soon)

No where. There's experienced people in every sector out of work. Whoring, always appreciates new over old. Therefore I made a valid response.

[rz6bm7]

I like the positive responses but aside from selling my body or going to Afghanistan what is viable for imminent project work (in the eternal hope someone will spend some money somewhere, soon)

[HairyArsedBloke]

What skill/certification is achievable in say ten weeks boot camp or self study that should get some work at the end of the invested time/ money???? given the market...

Any skill/certification that cannot be taken by someone in India.

HTH

Exactly, Bob would be an 'expert' in two weeks.

[DimPrawn]

What skill/certification is achievable in say ten weeks boot camp or self study that should get some work at the end of the invested time/ money???? given the market...

Any skill/certification that cannot be taken by someone in India.

HTH