Resume

[Dazed20]

I have previously gone from managing a single site restaurant to multiple warehouse/distribution management and now M.I.S. management. My aptitude is clearly in databases. However, it seems each company is pretty specific w/their software, and requirements. So, job searches are a little tough. I am currently toying w/the idea of building databases fulltime as a consultant (if there really is a market for this). However, my greatest draw back is credentials. I really can't say "Yeah, I am a Microsoft Certified Professional and I can do this for you". However, I don't feel that is exactly fair either. Most small business don't realize that a MCP could be from almost any Microsoft discipline and those that do know what it is look at a MCP as carrying as much weight as A+ certification. Is there any real specific Database certifications out there or is just the whole shooting match of a 4 year degree in software developement? Or one step further am I trivializing this & small businesses really don't care given the cost savings as long as it works & works well?

 

[MasterRacker]

From what I understand about the current market it's mostly skills based. Different companies put different weights on the values of certifications, but especially with smaller companies you should be able to sell yourself in a project oriented way. In other words, list specific examples of successful systems you designed and the technologies you used to create them, etc. <p> Jeff<br><a href=mailto: masterracker@hotmail.com> masterracker@hotmail.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[Zelandakh]

I have experience of both sides. I am a database programmer and I am also the IT Manager of a medium sized company that outsourced database programming.<br>
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The most important criteria is being able to do the job. Qualifications / certificates and so on are useless most of the time except that if you have them you know what you are talking about (hopefully).<br>
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I agree with MR (again), create a portfolio of stuff you have done; whether it is for personal or professional use. Do screen grabs and report prints. Create a Word document with pictures of your relationship structures (the more complex the better!) and create it into a project management document.<br>
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I have one that starts with an email of &quot;this is what I want to do&quot;, all correspondence between myself and the client, all the way through the development of the structure, tables, output, reports, a listing of the modules and so on.<br>
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Then, once you can show some of what you have done, all you need to do is advertise. I prostitute myself out for minor development work at silly money or even free because it is all word of mouth advertising. I create stuff in my own time to keep my hand in and also to create templates for stuff that will come up again and again.<br>
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There is a market out there for dbase developers. You just have to break into it.

 

[Dazed20]

Thank you both. 1) I needed to hear that 2) I can definitely utilize that strategy. I also was reading the other thread posted re: hired as a programmer. & that was also a very useful to read. Thanks again.