which microsoft skill is hot now?

[bogeyman]

If you've not got any skills other than Microsoft, then probably none of the above. To get a contract quickly you need to stand out from the crowd, which means getting some non-Microsoft skills on to your CV as well - Unix, Linux, Oracle, DB2, etc etc

There are many more mixed technology companies out there than there are ones that are 100% Microsoft. For example, I was hiring recently for my current client and they have a whole bunch of AS400s. I wasn't bothered about the lack of AS400 on the CV, but I wanted to see experience with other systems than Microsoft. Any CV that was 100% Microsoft went straight in the bin.

Wheeey! CowboyBob in from left field with a crunching anti-M$ tackle.

"I was hiring recently for my current client and they have a whole bunch of AS400s. I wasn't bothered about the lack of AS400 on the CV"

If that's how you hire, you shouldn't be hiring, or even washing cups.

The OP asked what MS skills were hot and you said (I pararphrase)...

"Huh! M$ is deh tulipz lolz! get sum leet skilzz n00b - M$ its teh evil"

[Stan.goodvibes]

Any CV that was 100% Microsoft went straight in the bin.

That was after you threw away half the CVs in the pile first, to avoid employing unlucky people, right?

[Cowboy Bob]

Wheeey! CowboyBob in from left field with a crunching anti-M$ tackle.

"I was hiring recently for my current client and they have a whole bunch of AS400s. I wasn't bothered about the lack of AS400 on the CV"

If that's how you hire, you shouldn't be hiring, or even washing cups.

The OP asked what MS skills were hot and you said (I pararphrase)...

"Huh! M$ is deh tulipz lolz! get sum leet skilzz n00b - M$ its teh evil"

Are you so stupid that you think that my advice to the OP of trying to branch out from MS a bit to gain a competitive advantage over other 100% MS people is not sensible? Are you seriously saying that keeping your skills homogenised into one area is good for your long term future as a contractor?

[bogeyman]

Are you so stupid that you think that my advice to the OP of trying to branch out from MS a bit to gain a competitive advantage over other 100% MS people is not sensible? Are you seriously saying that keeping your skills homogenised into one area is good for your long term future as a contractor?

The OP asked 'which microsoft skill is hot now?' and you go into your irrelevant anti-MS tirade.

You then enlighten us with your approach to hiring (i.e. you don't care what skills the employer wants or needs - just as long as you are happy).

Are you that stupid?

I think anyone who has a vendor logo as their avatar is immediately suspect anyway.

[Cowboy Bob]

The OP asked 'which microsoft skill is hot now?' and you go into your irrelevant anti-MS tirade.

You then enlighten us with your approach to hiring (i.e. you don't care what skills the employer wants or needs - just as long as you are happy).

Are you that stupid?

I think anyone who has a vendor logo as their avatar is immediately suspect anyway.

There was nothing anti-MS in my post. Quite the opposite. I was merely suggesting that diversifying is a good thing - given that the OP gave the impression that he/she was only intending on learning MS technology, only had MS experience (the name 'ashwin' gives me a clue) and is finding it tough to get a contract with his/her current skillset.

As for my hiring procedure, if you had any knowledge at all about AS400 you would realise that it would pretty much be a fruitless task to find anyone with the requisite experience of .NET or Java (yes we use .NET) and AS400 on the same CV, and that those with some experience of non-MS technologies are likely to get "into the groove" far quicker than those who have only ever experienced a point and click interface. Besides, the anecdote was only there as an example of how diversification is good - there are plenty of other mixed technology shops out there.

My advice to the OP was sound. Your post was a pure troll. Get your head out of your arse, ignore my avatar as it's not relevant, and grow up.

[bogeyman]

There was nothing anti-MS in my post. Quite the opposite. I was merely suggesting that diversifying is a good thing - given that the OP gave the impression that he/she was only intending on learning MS technology, only had MS experience (the name 'ashwin' gives me a clue) and is finding it tough to get a contract with his/her current skillset.

As for my hiring procedure, if you had any knowledge at all about AS400 you would realise that it would pretty much be a fruitless task to find anyone with the requisite experience of .NET or Java (yes we use .NET) and AS400 on the same CV, and that those with some experience of non-MS technologies are likely to get "into the groove" far quicker than those who have only ever experienced a point and click interface. Besides, the anecdote was only there as an example of how diversification is good - there are plenty of other mixed technology shops out there.

My advice to the OP was sound. Your post was a pure troll. Get your head out of your arse, ignore my avatar as it's not relevant, and grow up.

You're a rather an angry little individual aren't you?

As it happens I'm quite familiar with AS/400 (and S/3x) but more at home with S/390, Z etc.

Have you ever really been in a hiring position or is that just some kind of fantasy?

[Cowboy Bob]

You're a rather an angry little individual aren't you?

Not really. I just don't take too kindly to trolls - which your first post in this thread clearly was.

I answered a question from the OP in a perfectly sensible manner. You disagreed, fair enough. But instead of offering your own opinion, you decided to troll my post instead - which demonstrates a high degree of immaturity.

Yes I am in a hiring position. I have my methods to weed out who I think will not make the grade. Again you may disagree with those methods, but I would counter that by saying I've never (so far) hired anyone who turned out to be unfit for the role.

Now, how about you offer your own advice to the OP (if you have any) and make a positive contribution to this thread?

[bogeyman]

Not really. I just don't take too kindly to trolls - which your first post in this thread clearly was.

I answered a question from the OP in a perfectly sensible manner. You disagreed, fair enough. But instead of offering your own opinion, you decided to troll my post instead - which demonstrates a high degree of immaturity.

Yes I am in a hiring position. I have my methods to weed out who I think will not make the grade. Again you may disagree with those methods, but I would counter that by saying I've never (so far) hired anyone who turned out to be unfit for the role.

Now, how about you offer your own advice to the OP (if you have any) and make a positive contribution to this thread?

Trolls schmolls!

High degree of immaturity indeed. Let me guess. You're in your 20s probably and live with your mum.

[Cowboy Bob]

Trolls schmolls!

High degree of immaturity indeed. Let me guess. You're in your 20s probably and live with your mum.

This is the end of my contribution to this thread. I think those reading can come to their own conclusions as to how worthwhile your posts have been.

[bogeyman]

This is the end of my contribution to this thread. I think those reading can come to their own conclusions as to how worthwhile your posts have been.

Oh boooh hoooh

Don't leave me Cowboy Bob!