It courses any recommendations
Discussion
Hello,
I am looking for some advice and recommendations with regards to computer courses more specifically in database courses. I have recently started a new job dealing with data and which has opened my eye to a whole new world of which I would never had thought of to deluge into. I would not say I have an amazing amount of knowledge with IT and my skill set is probably pretty basic in comparison of many. I am currently using in house programs and excel predominantly to generate reports and upload data to the national audit and research centre. I am up to speed with formulas in excel and can generate graphs and filters etc so the basics are all there. The job is great and colleagues are great, I think I have really settled in well and I am enjoying it more than I thought I would which has also been relayed to me from my manager. But unfortunately there is nowhere to progress is this company. I am not interested in leaving for quite a while but I would like to add some strings to my bow as to speak. I have not really got any qualifications and I think that while I am in a steady job this might be a suitable time to get some. I basically want to prepare myself for when I wish to find the next step in my career. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also I will be funding any further learning myself as well which I think has to be taken in to considerations.
Many thanks for reading.
I am looking for some advice and recommendations with regards to computer courses more specifically in database courses. I have recently started a new job dealing with data and which has opened my eye to a whole new world of which I would never had thought of to deluge into. I would not say I have an amazing amount of knowledge with IT and my skill set is probably pretty basic in comparison of many. I am currently using in house programs and excel predominantly to generate reports and upload data to the national audit and research centre. I am up to speed with formulas in excel and can generate graphs and filters etc so the basics are all there. The job is great and colleagues are great, I think I have really settled in well and I am enjoying it more than I thought I would which has also been relayed to me from my manager. But unfortunately there is nowhere to progress is this company. I am not interested in leaving for quite a while but I would like to add some strings to my bow as to speak. I have not really got any qualifications and I think that while I am in a steady job this might be a suitable time to get some. I basically want to prepare myself for when I wish to find the next step in my career. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also I will be funding any further learning myself as well which I think has to be taken in to considerations.
Many thanks for reading.
You can study for Microsoft certifications for free using Microsoft virtual academy. The MTA courses are aimed at beginners
https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mta-certi...
http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-co...
The exams come at a cost, as do test papers. There are also paid classroom courses if you want to go that route and have someone to ask questions face to face.
Most local colleges will also offer suitable IT courses.
https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mta-certi...
http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-co...
The exams come at a cost, as do test papers. There are also paid classroom courses if you want to go that route and have someone to ask questions face to face.
Most local colleges will also offer suitable IT courses.
Edited by oldbanger on Thursday 9th April 23:33
Thank you both for your replies. We do not currently use any SQL servers at the moment although the company are currently looking to change the programs we use and they may well be SQL
I have looked at both MySQL (MTA/MCSE course). I was a little dubious of these courses as I had never heard of them before. Are they a world wide recognised qualification? Would the recommended route be to start with an MTA then progress onto the next level once completed or will the basic course be for someone with no basic knowledge at all?
I have looked at both MySQL (MTA/MCSE course). I was a little dubious of these courses as I had never heard of them before. Are they a world wide recognised qualification? Would the recommended route be to start with an MTA then progress onto the next level once completed or will the basic course be for someone with no basic knowledge at all?
If you really want to learn sql from scratch then get any SQL RDBMS book and go through the basics like normalization and etc. MTA SQL book should be good. Before you buy one , try to find pdf online and see if you like it.
For online courses, google pluralsight website, its best for online courses.
For online courses, google pluralsight website, its best for online courses.
The MTA courses do assume a bit of prior knowledge. I have a GCSE in computer science, took various training courses and have used databases for many years, but there's no way I could have done the MTA database exam last year without studying.
MS Certifications are recognised, but as I have only ever done the MTA for personal interest this isn't something I looked very deeply into.
MS Certifications are recognised, but as I have only ever done the MTA for personal interest this isn't something I looked very deeply into.
Edited by oldbanger on Friday 10th April 23:32
It sounds like you are more on the analytics side than the IT side.
Unless you want to get into something like SQL or Oracle admin i'd probably look at the analytics side.
The problem with learning a specific product is that unless you are using it you forget and anyone hiring you for those skills will have an expectation of experience as there is of course a big difference between book learning and the real world.
If it's the analytics side then looking at something more generic like big data or analytical techniques or statistical analysis might be more useful.
I did a course via corsera.org recently, very good at widening your horizons.
Unless you want to get into something like SQL or Oracle admin i'd probably look at the analytics side.
The problem with learning a specific product is that unless you are using it you forget and anyone hiring you for those skills will have an expectation of experience as there is of course a big difference between book learning and the real world.
If it's the analytics side then looking at something more generic like big data or analytical techniques or statistical analysis might be more useful.
I did a course via corsera.org recently, very good at widening your horizons.
Local Universities sometimes run microsoft part time evening courses and they are not that expensive.
If you know the findamentals of RDBMS and SQL Query Language then you can work on any database whether it is Oracle or SQL Server or any other database. You will learn hell alot on job.
If you know the findamentals of RDBMS and SQL Query Language then you can work on any database whether it is Oracle or SQL Server or any other database. You will learn hell alot on job.
Thank you all for your replies, I have spoken to my manager and they are very keen for me to go on a SQL course as the new programme we are purchasing is a SQL based programme.
It will be a great advantage for me to have the knowledge of how to use the language to its full benefits before we have a whole new system brought in. I have been using W3school and pluralsight which have been very helpful with teaching me the basics and getting a general understanding of all the functions ie SELECT, INSERT etc. I have been told that there is someone in the department that has previous experience in SQL and they can offer me some training but I have been asked to do some research to find a course which members of staff can go on and be given a greater insight. Ideally once completion of the course is done it would end with a certification or something official.
Does anyone have any experiences or recommendations which I can look into, I have used Microsoft website to see any ‘partners locally’ but they all seem quiet some distance away from us (We are Southampton based.) Google is bringing up a few places locally but their websites don’t fill you with confidence many thanks
It will be a great advantage for me to have the knowledge of how to use the language to its full benefits before we have a whole new system brought in. I have been using W3school and pluralsight which have been very helpful with teaching me the basics and getting a general understanding of all the functions ie SELECT, INSERT etc. I have been told that there is someone in the department that has previous experience in SQL and they can offer me some training but I have been asked to do some research to find a course which members of staff can go on and be given a greater insight. Ideally once completion of the course is done it would end with a certification or something official.
Does anyone have any experiences or recommendations which I can look into, I have used Microsoft website to see any ‘partners locally’ but they all seem quiet some distance away from us (We are Southampton based.) Google is bringing up a few places locally but their websites don’t fill you with confidence many thanks
I can't offer any recommendations for courses since I ended up learning it the hard way :/
If you haven't already, you can download SQL Server for free to experiment with (http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/server-cloud/products/sql-server-editions/sql-server-express.aspx). Get that along with SSMS and you've got a very good starting point.
If you haven't already, you can download SQL Server for free to experiment with (http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/server-cloud/products/sql-server-editions/sql-server-express.aspx). Get that along with SSMS and you've got a very good starting point.
Following this with interest as sounds similar to my area.
Seen as you appear to be on the more analytic side like me (Management information analyst) Excel VBA may be a useful tool, if you get good it can make you extremely efficient as well as being fairly lucrative once you get very very good. I always described myself as an advanced user of Excel until I saw what things my colleagues could do with VBA.... Trying to learn myself currently and struggling but hopefully I'll pull through! The best thing is often just to try it yourself using online resources, then once up to a decent level do a formal qualification for it.
SQL is always good to know.
Seen as you appear to be on the more analytic side like me (Management information analyst) Excel VBA may be a useful tool, if you get good it can make you extremely efficient as well as being fairly lucrative once you get very very good. I always described myself as an advanced user of Excel until I saw what things my colleagues could do with VBA.... Trying to learn myself currently and struggling but hopefully I'll pull through! The best thing is often just to try it yourself using online resources, then once up to a decent level do a formal qualification for it.
SQL is always good to know.
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