May 11, 2012 at 9:20 am
3 years ago, my employer of 17 years cut my job. I decided then that I wanted to become a SQL Server BI expert. I'm well on my way, having taken technical training and getting enough hands-on experience with SSIS and SSRS that I think I'll be ready to take the MCTS certification exam by the end of this year. All part of my master plan, see? I figured once I earned MCTS that I'd become more valuable in the marketplace.
So far, my employer has been very accomodating towards my personal goal. They like what I've been able to do with the SQL BI tools. We are running SQL2008 on a Windows Server 2008 VMWare virtual machine. We are using SSIS to download data from the financial system, which has a Sybase back-end, and to generate reports using SSRS. I had hoped to start using SSAS soon, as I've taken a class on it, but haven't had the time to work with it yet.
Now, my employer is going to acquire a new financial system (Deltek), along with a reporting system based on Oracle and Cognos. Everything we have done with SQL is going to become useless. So I'm wondering...do I stay here and learn the new tools, and abandon my personal goals when I'm so close to acheiving them, or should I put myself back on the job market so I can stay on track with my SQL plans? Your thoughts will be appreciated!
May 11, 2012 at 9:23 am
there is no harm in looking at the market and seeing what options are available - even go for an interview or two ... you don't have to accept the job
MVDBA
May 11, 2012 at 9:46 am
Like previous poster said, keep your eyes open while you learn the new technologies. Having a SQL Server background along with some Oracle/Cognos knowledge could make you even more desireable in the market place. Who know, you may really like working with Oracle. 🙂
May 11, 2012 at 9:46 am
That is true, Mike...thanks!
One of my co-workers, who is not a SQL expert, but deserves credit for getting our current system up and running, doesn't think I should tie my career to a single tool. He thinks having Cognos on our resumes will be a plus. That may be true, but they're not going to pay me any more here because of it...
May 11, 2012 at 10:02 am
Thanks Robert...good advice! It can't hurt, right?
May 11, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Like the other posters it sure doesn't hurt to look, or you could take it as a learning opportunity. If you want to stick with the MS side and they are effectively going to be abandoning it, it might make sense to make a change. In the end do what you feel you need to do to protect your future and your family.
CEWII
May 12, 2012 at 9:27 am
The last position I held we were a SQL server shop with Cognos as our BI tool. I will definately tell you Cognos is a lucrative background to have. Cognos developers/admins are in such high demand that you can have minimal education and still make over 100k if you know Cognos. One of the girls on my team did not even have a bachelors degree but because she had like 10 years of cognos experience she was making 128k.
I also agree that having a wide birth of skills is a good thing even if you are a SQL server DBA. Personally, I hate Oracle but I find that having both SQL and Oracle makes me way more marketable. Many jobs I've had I had to be flexible in whether I developed in SQL or oracle. I also usually have to deal with getting data out of oracle and into my SQL server.
I'd definately say keep your options open and maybe put yourself out there but it could be a great opportunity to get some additional work experience with these other tools.
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