This has been a great article for me personally. I have been out of the game for quite some time (5 months unfortunately), so I have been focusing a lot of my time and efforts into SQL server(and other applications), but not as a DBA but for other, smaller roles like a analyst that might open that door for me in the distant future. I myself believe that a lot of my learning is gained when I am using software/hardware hands on, so for the time being after I complete my degree, I will not be rushing to get certs.

I believe with my limited(:-) ) experiences that I learned in the classroom environment and the extra time I take on my own personal projects should at least get me in that door. I have been on a ton of interviews (going on 10 and i'm 0-9 🙁 ) and I don't believe my old resume as of last week was anything special(pm me if you want see it and laugh). However, I usually run into trouble during interviews, but that's a different issue and one that I am addressing.

Anyway ranting aside, I believe your article was very informative for a struggling dude like me, and this site has been detrimental for me staying on target and being motivated through these tough times.

Man there is so much I want to ask, but I'll uh, chill out. Anyway good article man.

Funny thing, the past few data analyst jobs I interviewed for asked me a lot about that. I see suites as something that is done on an "as needed" basis pertaining to the jobs function. It is good to keep that skill up, but honestly if I am going to spend most of my non-working time on something it will be on other aspects of the job that systems/data/report writer(analyst) etc... etc.. do that can be a bit more complicated and can't be answered with a youtube tutorial, at least that is how I see it from here, not to knock on any excel guru's or anything.