Newbie Question about skill level

[icw]

Hi I am soon to start contracting.
My Skills are sql 2000 admin (but not expert)
Crystal Reports
Data manipulation
CRM COnsultancy, implementation and support (GoldMine and Sage CRM qualified)

I fancy going for "Data analyst" but am not quite sure what that is ,
Do I need to be able to make data cubes? because I don't know how to.
Do I need to use SQL analysis services? Because I never have.

My point is that I am not really sure if my skills are really good enough yet.
How do you manage to find a job that matches your skill set?
Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

[Robwg]

Really it isn't that dissimilar from going for permie jobs. Search on jobserve for jobs that look up your street - send your CV. The agents will send you to the interview if they think you are a good match. Then either get job or not.

You shouldn't really be aiming for contractor roles if you don't know what they are....although on the other hand - if the role said data analysis and then listed all of your skills you have got nothing to lose by sending your CV along - you can always ask the agent what exactly he means by data analyst as you have heard many different types - that sort of question (implies you have a lot of experience).

I quite often find that jobs on jobserve have a lot of important sounding guff that is initially quite intimidating - but the actual job behind it is normally well doable.

[gables]

<snip>..I quite often find that jobs on jobserve have a lot of important sounding guff that is initially quite intimidating - but the actual job behind it is normally well doable.

I've just started looking in an attempt to re-enter the IT market and it seems to me that nowadays* that (alot of) jobs are advertised stipulating an almost unimaginable array of skills and then some suggest fairly low rates. I get the impression that the agent has listed everything he heard in a meeting with the client.

Any tips on how to approach it?

Tony

* it may have been the same when I was contracting but just didn't notice.

[el duder]

Hi I am soon to start contracting.
My Skills are sql 2000 admin (but not expert)
Crystal Reports
Data manipulation
CRM COnsultancy, implementation and support (GoldMine and Sage CRM qualified)

I fancy going for "Data analyst" but am not quite sure what that is ,
Do I need to be able to make data cubes? because I don't know how to.
Do I need to use SQL analysis services? Because I never have.

My point is that I am not really sure if my skills are really good enough yet.
How do you manage to find a job that matches your skill set?
Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Mate, i have no skills and have been contracrting for over 5years now.

[EqualOpportunities]

Mate, i have no skills and have been contracrting for over 5years now.

Likewise - I am the least skilled person I know and have contracted since 2000.

HTH

[marcus2704]

Mate, i have no skills and have been contracting for over 5years now.

What sort of work are you involved in? Im in need of some inspiration, my current gig is hardly taxing me at all and its getting soul-destroying tbh. I have little in the way of IT certificates, just 7-8 years experience of Windows environments. Ive not had problems securing roles so far but Im after something more now before I go insane.

[SallyAnne]

Likewise - I am the least skilled person I know and have contracted since 2000.

HTH

That must be very reassuring for the people who employ you as a DBA

[To BI or not to BI?]

Hi I am soon to start contracting.
My Skills are sql 2000 admin (but not expert)
Crystal Reports
Data manipulation
CRM COnsultancy, implementation and support (GoldMine and Sage CRM qualified)

I fancy going for "Data analyst" but am not quite sure what that is ,
Do I need to be able to make data cubes? because I don't know how to.
Do I need to use SQL analysis services? Because I never have.

My point is that I am not really sure if my skills are really good enough yet.
How do you manage to find a job that matches your skill set?
Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

You could always say that you are vey good at "delivering"

[icw]

Without wishing to appear sycophantic, I am really grateful to you guys for your comments. Reading some of the stuff on here helps me to feel a lot more confident about getting myself in there!!
Cheers

ICW

[thunderlizard]

Your attitude's a bit defeatist, for a contractor. If you don't know how to do something, read up on it and practice a bit until you can. How hard can data cubes be after all?