Re: How to confirm someone is an OCP?

Hey Pete (and Howard),

Forgot to mention one really really nice aspect of OCP, 'The Leather Jackets" !!

Regards

Richard
"Pete Sharman" <peter.sharman_at_oracle.com> wrote in message news:agkb7p0ovd_at_drn.newsguy.com...
> In article <KG8X8.32647$Hj3.98216_at_newsfeeds.bigpond.com>, "Richard says...
> >
> >Hi Sean,
> >
> >You have summed up perfectly what is good about the OCP program, so good
on
> >you. If it motivates you to go out and learn, and study and explore
> >different aspects of the database then that's all a positive. If at the
end
> >of the process you're better trained and qualified, then again that can
only
> >be a good thing.
> >
> >I worked for Oracle University for many years and I understand the
> >importance of training and getting the technical foundations right. And
if
> >OCP encourages people to be trained (or research and develop skills in
> >others ways) then that's a plus.
>
> Likewise, when I first did the 7.3 DBA tests (in beta) it was when I was
with
> Oracle Education back in Canberra. It got somewhat embarrassing to have a
> student say "Are you an OCP?" and have to say no. They seemed to think it
was
> important for an instructor for some reason. I actually had my publisher
pay
> for the 8.0, 8i and 9i upgrades because of the work I was doing on the
exam cram
> books.
> >
> >BUT note all the various issues and concerns regarding the obtaining and
> >relevance of the OCP status.
> >
> >One last point. Don't be embassressed by being an OCP. If you're a Kylie
> >Minogue fan yes,
>
> or a David Bowie fan! ;)
>
> >but not an OCP. Note I've been an OCP since it first come
> >out and I've upgraded ever since. Why, because work (Oracle) paid for it
and
> >because it was kind of expected from Oracle that I be certified. Am I a
> >better DBA or instructor as a result, not in the slightest but it does
mean
> >I can speak about this with some knowledge.
> >
> >The "Hi I'm Richard and I'm a OCP" line got me nowhere either. My wife
> >married me because of my good looks and charming personality (and the
blind
> >dog took a liking to me :)
>
> I always doubted Debbie's taste! :)
>
> Pete
> >
> >Regards
> >
> >Richard
> >
> >"Sean McKeown" <smckeownNO_at_BACKSIESearthlink.net> wrote in message
> >news:3D2D0DFB.8C5CA945_at_BACKSIESearthlink.net...
> >> "Howard J. Rogers" wrote:
> >> >
> >> > >*Oracle Certified
> >> > > Professional" strongly implies you are more than a possible new
comer
> >to
> >> > > Oracle.
> >> >
> >> > It implies you are a P-plater, with no more right to drive on God's
good
> >> > earth than an earthworm with wings. It implies you had more money
than
> >> > sense, or a generous and short-sighted employer.
> >> >
> >> > OK, sarcasm mode off. I truly wish we could put this one to bed.
> >> >
> >> > So, OK here goes for nothing.
> >> >
> >> > No-one who values their professional reputation would bother doing
OCP,
> >and
> >> > if they did it for the purposes of job hunting (where it might prove
> >useful,
> >> > because as we all know, there's one born every minute, and they're
> >usually
> >> > in HR), they'd keep very quiet about it when it comes to the business
of
> >> > exchanging technical know-how amongst other competent DBAs. There are
> >> > members of this very group who fit that pattern rather well, in fact.
> >>
> >> <begin 12-step program background music>
> >>
> >> Hello, my name is Sean, and I am an Oracle Certified Professional DBA.
> >>
> >> <after all, the first step is admitting you have a problem over which
> >> you have no control, right? ;) >
> >>
> >> I bothered doing OCP. I was young, I needed the money. No, seriously,
> >> my employer 1) paid for the courses, 2) paid for the tests, 3) heavily
> >> encouraged me to study and pass it. Why? Partly because they got a
> >> good deal on the courses/tests. But I think mostly because I was in
the
> >> Consulting arm of the company at the time and they liked to have X
> >> number of resumes plastered w/OCP at the top to show prospective
> >> clients, presumably to impress (no comment). Seemed like a OK deal to
> >> me at the time (this was shortly after the OCP program was announced...
> >> 4 or so years ago?).
> >>
> >> Do I typically announce my OCP-ness in dealings with other Oracle
> >> professionals? No. ("Hi, I'm Sean, did I mention I'm OCP?" - yeah,
> >> that'd go over real well.) But that doesn't mean I'm embarrassed by it
> >> either. If it comes up in conversation, I don't deny it. I still have
> >> it on my resume (but not highlighted at the top, mind you). I've never
> >> felt it has made me a black sheep in the DBA community (though reading
> >> this newsgroup has got me wondering...), nor do I feel it has helped me
> >> much job hunting. I don't think it's quite so terrible as many in this
> >> group make it out to be. It's just a test. I took it and passed it.
> >> Others didn't take it. Still others took it and failed. That's all,
> >> nothing more, nothing less. It doesn't mean I'm an expert at anything.
> >> But here's the real question: Did the process make me a better DBA?
> >> Yes. Yes it did. A *much* better DBA? No. But a little better, yes.
> >> Sitting through the classes and forcing myself to study the material
> >> surely did no harm, and definitely exposed me to some features and
ideas
> >> I would have otherwise not been exposed to in my daily work (at least
> >> not right away). OK, more correctly - the classes exposed me to the
new
> >> features/techniques/ideas, while studying for the tests meant I
actually
> >> *remembered* some of what I was taught.
> >>
> >> So. There it is. It's not so bad. But no, if it hadn't been free, I
> >> wouldn't have done it.
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >> Sean "P-plater" M
> >
> >
>
> HTH. Additions and corrections welcome.
>
> Pete
>
> SELECT standard_disclaimer, witty_remark FROM company_requirements;
>
Received on Fri Jul 12 2002 - 23:12:49 CDT