[AccessD] OT: What are you lot doing now and then?

Randy,

The impression I get from the few people I've been able to talk this
over with, having the certification helps you land a job; but once you
have the job the company doesn't help you keep it up to date or to get
new ones.

Did you take some formal courses -- those 3-5 day deals costing $1500
or more -- or is it primarily self-study?

Steve Erbach


On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 09:29:06 -0500, Randall Anthony
<randall.anthony at cox.net> wrote:
> Steve,
> I find myself in a position similar to yours, unfortunately I got laid
> off in the process (lack of contractual funding, natch).
> 
> 1.  I was very much immersed in developing and maintaining dbases and
> applications from Access2.0 through A2K, using SQL and ASP pages for
> some.
> 
> 2.  As the work slowed down, my access to developing new apps
> disappeared.  Consequently, when push came to shove, my skillsets
> deteriorated.
> 
> 3.  The company I worked for was a division of a defense contractor with
> a small IT department.  Last I heard that division's IT department is
> getting smaller.
> 
> 4.  So, during this "sabbatical", I decided to bite the bullet.  I've
> got one class left, SQL Server 2K Implementation and Administration.
> I'm now an MCP in ASP.Net development, I'm studying to pass the SQL
> Programming exam next week, then I have two exams left to get my MCDBA.
> If I had achieved this while working, that company would have given me a
> bonus and a pay raise, however, even if I had accomplished this with
> them, I still would have gotten the axe.
> 
> I have spoken with a number of professionals in the field when I was
> contemplating getting my Masters degree.  Most concurred that a Masters
> would be beneficial if you were aiming for management type positions
> within the IT world, but the return on investment would be negligible if
> I wished to remain technical.  Ergo, the next best thing to separate
> oneself from the pack in IT is to get certified (in my humble opinion).
> 
> I'm starting to get more positive replies from companies I have
> submitted a resume to, and I feel fairly confident that I will be
> affiliated with someone soon.  I think that could be attributed to my
> obtaining certification.
> 
> Randy.
>