Re: RSFC advice column

On May 9, 10:41 pm, Bill Lang <wjlm...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Fri 09 May 2008 11:26:40p, deb.rube...@xxxxxxxxx
(deb.rube...@xxxxxxxxx) wrote



On May 9, 10:47 pm, Bill Lang <wjlm...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
So I'm looking at CYAing my career. After all those years
slinging food, I've decided I like working 9-5 in an air
condiitioned office much better. I'd like to make sure that
continues.

Right now, my employer has me doing work at about the level of
an A+ flunkie. My "programming" (which is about 90% of my job)
is done on a console (Automate 7), they've got me doing a few
things with VBA (which I really just google and tweak), and
basic customer service help desk kind of stuff. I'd like to
have something else to put on the table "just in case".

I'd love to do programming or web development stuff, but I'm
not sure I have that in me. Programming is easy, it's the damb
languages I can't get. Simple VBA macro's are kicking my ass
and HTML might as well be cyrillic. Our site is mostly ASP,
and that's even worse.

I don't think I want to pour $Thousands into some kind of
certificate either, but network or MS stuff is stuff I grasp
better than languages.

Help me out here dudes. Point me in the direction of a secure
and higher tax bracket.

Howdy, future neighbor (I'll be moving over to Brigadoon Dr in
June)...

Anywhoo...

For the path you're looking at,you may as well bend and submit
($1) to Bill and go ahead and get into the M$ certs; either do
buy the books and do your own training, or go full out and get
the certs... I'm talking the MS Vista/Server level stuff.

(IMHO, certs are barely worth the $165 per pop... they get you
in the door, but if you are a paper tech, you won't last the
probation period... skillz, babe)

Something you may be able to grok is database admin----
workbooks, spreadsheets, tables, etc. Amazingly (to me) its
here to stay, as most people seem not to have the patience for
creating logical databases, etc., and most important, maintaning
them.

Just a drunken thought.../

Mookie

Welcome to the hood. Time for me to dig the 20X's out of the box!!

I wuz going to call you eventually to see what's available over at
O'Duh. Ya'll got one shot classes an old fart like me can take?
I've thought about the database stuff too. SQL would actually make
me more valuable with the current boss. Our current Database/Server
Admin/Backup Web Dude may not stick around once his wife gradumates

Wrox has some pretty good books on learning basic computer stuff --
including a very good book on SQL Server management -- including basic
SQL coding. SQL is more "results" oriented rather than "procedure"
oriented. A lot of people find that easier to deal with. Key thing--
learn to design good databases (try a book like Database Design for
Mere Morlals) SQL is easy to do with a good database design. Nearly
impossible without one.

Marty
.