Database Design Career

[Tommy Martin]

I have designed a couple databases for my company and a database program for
a soccer club and a very basic contact manager program for a sales rep.

My question is: Is there any kind of career designing/maintaining Access
databases or is that something that I may want to get into SQL or Oracle (or
some other database program). Where can I go to research this further and
possibly take some classes for this type of thing, either online or night
classes.

thanks

T Martin

[Michael Shaw]

Tommy,

So far you have worn 3 hats; that of Systems Analyst (designing rhe
solution to your "business" problem), Software Developer (implementing that
solution in code) and Database Administrator or DBA (creating and
maintaining the Access database). Of these hats the Software Developer hat
is least prestigious and most likely to be out-sourced. Both the Systems
Analyst and DBA positions are still good carreer fields to persue with good
profit potential and relative job security. Training for both are easily
available at any of many IT training centers or the vendors themselves. Be
forewarned though, training is expensive - as much as $10,000/class. Also
employers will invest a lot of time and money ramping you up for either
position so they are keen on experience prior to hiring you.

You've made a good first step with your projects thus far. Continue
creating solutions and document them on your resume. Decide on a career
path you'd like to persue and then invest your time and efforts in preparing
for it. Let your employer know your career goals and maybe they will invest
in your training to get you there.

Hope this helps, good luck,

Mike Shaw
"Tommy Martin" <ma********@cha rter.net> wrote in message
news:10******** *****@corp.supe rnews.com...

I have designed a couple databases for my company and a database program
for
a soccer club and a very basic contact manager program for a sales rep.

My question is: Is there any kind of career designing/maintaining Access
databases or is that something that I may want to get into SQL or Oracle
(or
some other database program). Where can I go to research this further and
possibly take some classes for this type of thing, either online or night
classes.

thanks

T Martin

[Tommy Martin]

I've also had some experience in some basic IT (software installation,
network user setup, email acct setup, etc). Unfortunately, my company won't
pay to have a professional IT guy, so they have placed as much of that
responsibility on me as possible since this isn't really my job description.
I want to gain the experience while I'm here and work towards a degree so I
can have an attractive background to a future employer.

"Michael Shaw" <db*******@kc.r r.com> wrote in message
news:tO******** ********@twiste r.rdc-kc.rr.com...

Tommy,

So far you have worn 3 hats; that of Systems Analyst (designing rhe
solution to your "business" problem), Software Developer (implementing that solution in code) and Database Administrator or DBA (creating and
maintaining the Access database). Of these hats the Software Developer hat is least prestigious and most likely to be out-sourced. Both the Systems
Analyst and DBA positions are still good carreer fields to persue with good profit potential and relative job security. Training for both are easily
available at any of many IT training centers or the vendors themselves. Be forewarned though, training is expensive - as much as $10,000/class. Also
employers will invest a lot of time and money ramping you up for either
position so they are keen on experience prior to hiring you.

You've made a good first step with your projects thus far. Continue
creating solutions and document them on your resume. Decide on a career
path you'd like to persue and then invest your time and efforts in preparing for it. Let your employer know your career goals and maybe they will invest in your training to get you there.

Hope this helps, good luck,

Mike Shaw
"Tommy Martin" <ma********@cha rter.net> wrote in message
news:10******** *****@corp.supe rnews.com...

I have designed a couple databases for my company and a database program
for
a soccer club and a very basic contact manager program for a sales rep.

My question is: Is there any kind of career designing/maintaining Access
databases or is that something that I may want to get into SQL or Oracle
(or
some other database program). Where can I go to research this further and possibly take some classes for this type of thing, either online or night classes.

thanks

T Martin

[Michael Shaw]

Tommy,

It sounds to me like you're playing your cards right. OJT is becoming
the most common kind of training these days and the fact that you're
stepping in to fill the company need is exactly what future employers are
empressed with. Once again, document all this experience on your resume.
You should have a brite future ahead with your attitude.

Mike Shaw
"Tommy Martin" <ma********@cha rter.net> wrote in message
news:10******** *****@corp.supe rnews.com...

I've also had some experience in some basic IT (software installation,
network user setup, email acct setup, etc). Unfortunately, my company
won't
pay to have a professional IT guy, so they have placed as much of that
responsibility on me as possible since this isn't really my job
description.
I want to gain the experience while I'm here and work towards a degree so
I
can have an attractive background to a future employer.

"Michael Shaw" <db*******@kc.r r.com> wrote in message
news:tO******** ********@twiste r.rdc-kc.rr.com...

Tommy,

So far you have worn 3 hats; that of Systems Analyst (designing rhe
solution to your "business" problem), Software Developer (implementing

that

solution in code) and Database Administrator or DBA (creating and
maintaining the Access database). Of these hats the Software Developer

hat

is least prestigious and most likely to be out-sourced. Both the Systems
Analyst and DBA positions are still good carreer fields to persue with

good

profit potential and relative job security. Training for both are easily
available at any of many IT training centers or the vendors themselves.

Be

forewarned though, training is expensive - as much as $10,000/class.
Also
employers will invest a lot of time and money ramping you up for either
position so they are keen on experience prior to hiring you.

You've made a good first step with your projects thus far. Continue
creating solutions and document them on your resume. Decide on a career
path you'd like to persue and then invest your time and efforts in

preparing

for it. Let your employer know your career goals and maybe they will

invest

in your training to get you there.

Hope this helps, good luck,

Mike Shaw
"Tommy Martin" <ma********@cha rter.net> wrote in message
news:10******** *****@corp.supe rnews.com...

>I have designed a couple databases for my company and a database program
>for
> a soccer club and a very basic contact manager program for a sales rep.
>
> My question is: Is there any kind of career designing/maintaining
> Access
> databases or is that something that I may want to get into SQL or
> Oracle
> (or
> some other database program). Where can I go to research this further and > possibly take some classes for this type of thing, either online or night > classes.
>
> thanks
>
> T Martin
>
>

[Tommy Martin]

Thanks for all your advice Mike.
"Michael Shaw" <db*******@kc.r r.com> wrote in message
news:3N******** ************@tw ister.rdc-kc.rr.com...

Tommy,

It sounds to me like you're playing your cards right. OJT is becoming
the most common kind of training these days and the fact that you're
stepping in to fill the company need is exactly what future employers are
empressed with. Once again, document all this experience on your resume.
You should have a brite future ahead with your attitude.

Mike Shaw
"Tommy Martin" <ma********@cha rter.net> wrote in message
news:10******** *****@corp.supe rnews.com...

I've also had some experience in some basic IT (software installation,
network user setup, email acct setup, etc). Unfortunately, my company
won't
pay to have a professional IT guy, so they have placed as much of that
responsibility on me as possible since this isn't really my job
description.
I want to gain the experience while I'm here and work towards a degree so I
can have an attractive background to a future employer.

"Michael Shaw" <db*******@kc.r r.com> wrote in message
news:tO******** ********@twiste r.rdc-kc.rr.com...

Tommy,

So far you have worn 3 hats; that of Systems Analyst (designing rhe
solution to your "business" problem), Software Developer (implementing

that

solution in code) and Database Administrator or DBA (creating and
maintaining the Access database). Of these hats the Software Developer

hat

is least prestigious and most likely to be out-sourced. Both the Systems Analyst and DBA positions are still good carreer fields to persue with

good

profit potential and relative job security. Training for both are easily available at any of many IT training centers or the vendors themselves.

Be

forewarned though, training is expensive - as much as $10,000/class.
Also
employers will invest a lot of time and money ramping you up for either
position so they are keen on experience prior to hiring you.

You've made a good first step with your projects thus far. Continue
creating solutions and document them on your resume. Decide on a career path you'd like to persue and then invest your time and efforts in

preparing

for it. Let your employer know your career goals and maybe they will

invest

in your training to get you there.

Hope this helps, good luck,

Mike Shaw
"Tommy Martin" <ma********@cha rter.net> wrote in message
news:10******** *****@corp.supe rnews.com...
>I have designed a couple databases for my company and a database program >for
> a soccer club and a very basic contact manager program for a sales rep. >
> My question is: Is there any kind of career designing/maintaining
> Access
> databases or is that something that I may want to get into SQL or
> Oracle
> (or
> some other database program). Where can I go to research this

further and

> possibly take some classes for this type of thing, either online or

night

> classes.
>
> thanks
>
> T Martin
>
>

[Alan Webb]

Tommy Martin,
The big bux are in client/server rdbms' like Oracle & SQL server. Good
Oracle DBA's were getting $150.00/hr. in the S.F. Bay Area before the dotcom
boom went bust. Salaries are still ahead for Oracle guys over Access. SQL
Server is also in more demand. Access is a good place to start but getting
certified in a bigger rdbms will improve your salary and longevity.

"Tommy Martin" <ma********@cha rter.net> wrote in message
news:10******** *****@corp.supe rnews.com...

I have designed a couple databases for my company and a database program
for
a soccer club and a very basic contact manager program for a sales rep.

My question is: Is there any kind of career designing/maintaining Access
databases or is that something that I may want to get into SQL or Oracle
(or
some other database program). Where can I go to research this further and
possibly take some classes for this type of thing, either online or night
classes.

thanks

T Martin