Database qualification to study

Manbatius · 22 Jun 2017 at 13:17

Hi all,

I am currently off work and my brain is getting bored so I am looking at a qualification to do, or minimum some reading.

I work in Performance so mainly use Excel and spend a lot of time analysing data. I also use Access, running queries to extract data.
In the future I will likely look to a new job as I cannot progress in my current role. I would like to move into working with databases further as I have found working with them very interesting!

Any suggestions of qualifications/reading? I am on the BCS website looking at some ITQ flexible qualification. I have in the past looked at doing a Master's course in computing (My degree is not in computing) it's just too costly though.

TLDR: recommend me some database qualifications/reading.

AHarvey · 22 Jun 2017 at 14:31

You could look at any of the Microsoft Virtual Academy courses for databases or SQL, or you could go the other way and study something such as "data analysis with Python"

https://www.analyticsvidhya.com/blog/2016/01/complete-tutorial-learn-data-science-python-scratch-2/

You would probably be better forgetting a qualification for now and just pushing your knowledge of various ways of working with data/databases. Find some local jobs in an area that you find interesting, make a list of qualifications or knowledge required and make a start

fretted · 23 Jun 2017 at 09:12

Nothing beats experience and learning on the job. Lots of places will offer you a junior role to improve your sql and pay a decent pay.

Also,i feel that learning sql is not enough nowadays. You really need to learn some BI tools like Qlikview, Tableau or PowerBi.

Gornall · 23 Jun 2017 at 10:15

fretted said:
Nothing beats experience and learning on the job. Lots of places will offer you a junior role to improve your sql and pay a decent pay.

Also,i feel that learning sql is not enough nowadays. You really need to learn some BI tools like Qlikview, Tableau or PowerBi.

Depends what you go in to. Small-medium companies it's very possible you'll need some front end/visualisation experience as you'll likely be sourcing data yourself.

Bigger more data focused companies you'll likely find that them roles are split and targeted. Taking the MS BI stack for example, you can make a career in any of them individually. We have out-and-out ETL devs in SSIS and PowerBi/Qlik/Tableau devs for the BI departments.

T-SQL is a very good start, it's the fundamental and probably most employable skill/language in terms of databases. Grab SQL Express, grab adventure-works or the StackOverflow database and write some queries. Think of some genuine 'business' questions you might ask:

How many customers do we have?
How many x did we sell?
Which customer has spent the most?
Which customer has made the most orders?
Distinct customers per month
Monthly orders

Manbatius · 23 Jun 2017 at 10:56

Guys, thanks for all the advice, certainly feel I have some things to look into now.

I'm not sure exactly what I want to go into, I have mainly worked in the public sector, I think I'm on job 8 in ten years!
The constant job hunting/restructures have been tiring, as are dead end jobs with 0 or 1% wage increases. The main thing is learning, once I am up to speed in a job, if there's no support or any chance of learning new skills I get itchy feet.

I just know I want more I.T. / database related than measuring all performance / stats in excel.

swillsy · 26 Jun 2017 at 19:54

Data analytics is massive at the moment - so concentrate on the MS stack = SQL Server, SSRS, SSIS and PowerBI and you can be looking at entry level jobs of plus 35k easy. I struggle recruiting for 43-50k currently for report writers!

OspreyO · 27 Jun 2017 at 17:47

swillsy said:
Data analytics is massive at the moment - so concentrate on the MS stack = SQL Server, SSRS, SSIS and PowerBI and you can be looking at entry level jobs of plus 35k easy. I struggle recruiting for 43-50k currently for report writers!

What qualifications do you look for. I've loads of experience but no qualification in the area. (I'm not in UK), I was just curious about the qualifications you seek though. I would like to get some paper behind my experience.

Rroff · 27 Jun 2017 at 17:49

swillsy said:
Data analytics is massive at the moment - so concentrate on the MS stack = SQL Server, SSRS, SSIS and PowerBI and you can be looking at entry level jobs of plus 35k easy. I struggle recruiting for 43-50k currently for report writers!

Money can be good in these areas even today - but you will likely need to devote quite a bit of time on your own volition staying abreast of software development, potentially some package certification and paradigms, etc. in the long term in the industry which can be quite a bit of work of its own and one of the reasons I got out of that area of work despite the pay.

tom_e · 27 Jun 2017 at 18:10

swillsy said:
Data analytics is massive at the moment - so concentrate on the MS stack = SQL Server, SSRS, SSIS and PowerBI and you can be looking at entry level jobs of plus 35k easy. I struggle recruiting for 43-50k currently for report writers!

I will snap your arm off! Spend my life in SQL server/SSIS/Oracle/Crystal/SSRS and other bits and bobs and I'm not even tickling 30k

swillsy · 27 Jun 2017 at 23:11

trust sent

JustBen · 29 Jun 2017 at 13:38

Depends what part of DB work you want to do but i for Admin side of it the qualifications are not really required. On the job experience and a few books will get you quite far.

fretted · 29 Jun 2017 at 20:18

tom_e said:
I will snap your arm off! Spend my life in SQL server/SSIS/Oracle/Crystal/SSRS and other bits and bobs and I'm not even tickling 30k

You need to decide when is a good time to move jobs. I have been working in sql for ten years and already had three jobs but now specialise in Qlikview for one of the big four accounting firms.

Gornall · 9 Jul 2017 at 21:43

I started as a BI developer 'on the side' at a collections company. Developed over the past 7 years with some great employers and some well timed moves to new pastures.

Wages started at around 20k as a junior, then 30k, 40k, 48k as I got more qualified.

Few jobs later and I'm now Data Architect for a FTSE 250 company. The potential and career opportunities in the field are brilliant. Data science, analytics and general lift and shift are all very big at the moment.

OspreyO · 10 Jul 2017 at 15:55

Gornall said:
... as I got more qualified.....

What would you say are the qualifications

sigma · 10 Jul 2017 at 22:30

Gornall said:
I started as a BI developer 'on the side' at a collections company. Developed over the past 7 years with some great employers and some well timed moves to new pastures.

Wages started at around 20k as a junior, then 30k, 40k, 48k as I got more qualified.

Few jobs later and I'm now Data Architect for a FTSE 250 company. The potential and career opportunities in the field are brilliant. Data science, analytics and general lift and shift are all very big at the moment.

You've gone from dev on the side to data architect in 7 years?

sigma · 10 Jul 2017 at 22:32

swillsy said:
Data analytics is massive at the moment - so concentrate on the MS stack = SQL Server, SSRS, SSIS and PowerBI and you can be looking at entry level jobs of plus 35k easy. I struggle recruiting for 43-50k currently for report writers!

50k for just writing reports? Please elaborate.

Gornall · 11 Jul 2017 at 12:14

sigma said:
You've gone from dev on the side to data architect in 7 years?

Yes, wouldn't say it was monumental trajectory? I appreciate it was likely faster than most though.

Gornall · 11 Jul 2017 at 12:15

OspreyO said:
What would you say are the qualifications

The qualifications I got were supplementary to the experience.

I did the Microsoft Certifications, but they aren't really get you in the door certs at entry level. They typically require on the job experience.

mid_gen · 11 Jul 2017 at 19:44

sigma said:
You've gone from dev on the side to data architect in 7 years?

Within 8 years of graduating I was earning six figures in an architecture role after working through various BI developer positions (consultant/lead) etc.

Had to jump at some opportunities that came up and relocate but it's easily doable. It's one of those jobs that is very easy to demonstrate your ROI in. A report you knock up in an hour can save a business millions.

swillsy · 11 Jul 2017 at 22:52

sigma said:
50k for just writing reports? Please elaborate.

As per the above its working with SQL and SSRS however its a hybrid role involving business analyst skills too, if you're interested I'll send the advert in trust.