April 11, 2014 at 8:19 am
Where is the best place to take classes in SQL and IT related courses in Chicago/Wisconsin? Any ideas I hav a B.S. in hotel management and trying to learn SQL to get a job.
April 11, 2014 at 9:36 am
There are many institutions / providers that does online training / inclass as well. I do for different companies too. If you are not planning to spend much, start with w3schools and after a good understanding go to pluralsight. Touch base with the admin team at sqlsaga.com and they can provide you more insight as well(Just an FYI).
Good Luck 🙂 .. Visit www.sqlsaga.com for more t-sql code snippets and BI related how to articles.
April 11, 2014 at 11:03 am
Thanks for your advise. This is helpful
April 12, 2014 at 6:29 am
And don't miss out on free opportunities in your area. SQL Saturday Chicago is happening in just a couple of weeks. SQL Saturday Madison was just a couple of weeks ago. Keep an eye out for more in the future.
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April 17, 2014 at 7:57 am
Port1433 (4/11/2014)
Where is the best place to take classes in SQL and IT related courses in Chicago/Wisconsin? Any ideas I hav a B.S. in hotel management and trying to learn SQL to get a job.
Not wanting to pour water on your fire of enthusiasm, but you might want to take a look at this SSC thread.
Great books include:
Kalen Delaney's Inside SQL Server 2000/2005 and/or Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (and 2012) Internals books for understanding how SQL Server works.
Itzik Ben-Gan's range of books, such as Microsoft SQL Server 2012 T-SQL Fundamentals, Inside Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008: T-SQL Querying: T-SQL Querying, Inside Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008: T-SQL Programming: T-SQL Programming , Microsoft SQL Server 2012 High Performance T-SQL Using Window Functions, et al. These are great for SQL coding.
Blogs by people such as...
Paul Randal/Kimberly Tripp, Jonathan Kehayias, Joe Sack, Brent Ozar, Kalen Delaney, Paul White, et al.
Training...
I only go to SQLSkills now (no, I have no affiliation with SQLSkills) - haven't tried Brent Ozar and his team, but would consider them if they were in the UK.
Exams...
Having been a full-time DBA for some 13 years, I had the same worries many others have spoken of in the past regarding MS exams and so never bothered with them. However, there was one that had a 'good' name and so I decided to pursue the MCM (Microsoft Certified Master). For this you have to have passed other prior exam routes, and so I began my path to this certification by taking exams 70-461, 70-462, and 70-463. I did this in a one week crammer, passing all 3 first-time. Great, you may think. But I felt deflated as they were everything I thought and heard they might be - exams didn't really fit to my experience in the real world. No matter. I was now on the path towards my ultimate goal, the MCM...until MS withdrew the certificate at the beginning of this year. :crying:
Will I continue with the other exams? Nope. Unless I find I have some spare time where I'm not working, but I've never been out of DBA work and never had a problem getting work without the exams because I continue to keep myself abreast of SQL Server issues and developments reading blogs, white papers, books, and experimenting and testing when and where I can - I now have a Dell R910 at home with tons of Memory and Spindles to experiment and test with 😀 ...but you could do similar with a $500 PC and a download of the MS 180-day evaluation copy of SQL Server as a start.
Wow, you might say...that's great...but you're already a DBA so, yes, that's great for you, but how does it help me? Well, 15 years ago I wasn't in IT, I was in a public service far removed from the coalface of IT. But I was injured at work and had to retire, in my late 30's, from that career. I had an interest in computing - I still have my ZX Spectrum and BBC B computers - and was lucky in getting a place at college, getting a BSc in Computer Science, and getting a Junior Developer role. Within 18 months I realised that I liked working with databases and got a job as a Junior DBA. Since then I've worked hard to understand the technical aspects of the work I now do, including other areas such as networks and storage, and I really believe that this is what stands me out from others I am up against for contracts/jobs that I go for and pretty much always get...even though I am the much 'older' guy.
So, with a bit of luck and a lot of personal time reading, trying, testing, and understanding you can get there and get that SQL job. However, if you just go on a couple of 'not cheap' SQL courses and throw yourself forward for possible SQL jobs, if the interviewers are half-decent they will likely rip you apart, and unless they want a really junior person they can spend time on and mould themselves, then you may not get very far - which is what the guy in the link above is experiencing.
If you've got this far, then I hope it's useful. I loved what I did before - it was a great adrenaline buzz - but I also love what I do now, too, so good luck with your new adventure. 🙂
Edit: just come across a blog by Brent Ozar[/url] about good books.
April 17, 2014 at 8:23 am
Another good starting point in Microsoft Virtual Academy (ITS FREE!)
http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/product-training/sql-server
You wont have enough information to pass the MCSA exams by just watching these, but its a great start to introduce you to different aspects of the DBA world and spark interest and independent study in the different areas.
If you are just starting out I would still recommend the MCSA as it exposes you to different parts of SQL that you may not use in your day to day job. However, I would agree that part of the exams are based on the Microsoft way and not necessarily the way it works in the real world.
Hope that helps!
- Tony Sweet
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