Newbie Question

[Quehay]

I've been doing db and front development for several years and am constantly on the fence between development programming and data programming. I really prefer data but just don't see as many jobs (but the dev jobs are getting more scarce now).

Question 1: I never see SAS mentioned in career discussions in the various geek channels. Is this because it's too data-oriented to interest the true widget freaks? Is SAS a sought-after skill in any major city? Is it threatened by the free open source initiatives? (R+)

Question 2: I'd like to be able to demonstrate to an employer that I'm SAS-capable without having held a job of that nature previously. What certifications are useful (or are they), and what training programs/books have been helpful to any of you full-time SAS coders out there? I've got the student edition and Programming SAS by Example for starters.

Question 3: What places do you go for job listings?

Any help/guidance is much appreciated!!

Turn your headache into my project!
Jeffrey R. Roberts
Insight Data Consulting
Access and SQL Server Development

http://www.InsightDataConsulting.com

 

[klaz2002]

Jeffrey Roberts,

Question #1;
SAS is a statistics package (and perhaps dear I say it, beyond the level of geeks, Just Kidding). Its mainly used in three fields. Finance, Pharmacuitical (Drug Study etc.) & Academia (ie. research). There are SAS jobs all over the world as the many conventions that SAS makes around the world can attest to. In the US, most major cities will have some SAS positions available. Though NY & NJ (Banking & Pharma land) have many more of such positions. (not counting Cary, NC!!)

Question #2;

SAS has some courses and certification programs, though I question the use of a certificate with out real world experience.

Question #3:
Any On-Line job site (hotjobs etc). Just type in SAS as your search criteria.

Hope that this helps you. All in all programming in SAS should not be hard to pick up if you are fluent in another programming language.

Klaz

 

[Quehay]

Thanks Klaz! Yeah I've worked for pharmaceutical-oriented companies previously, which is what turned me on to SAS. Yes the old Catch 22: experience needed / experience wanted...

Turn your headache into my project!
Jeffrey R. Roberts
Insight Data Consulting
Access and SQL Server Development

http://www.InsightDataConsulting.com