Re: Advice on learning Oracle?

On Mon, 09 Apr 2001 01:17:00 GMT, gteets_at_rr.cinci.com (Greg Teets) wrote:

>What programming background do you have, if any? Math background?
>Although math is not an absolute requirement, it gives you a
>structured, logical way of thinking.

The programming I've done was really limited to Pascal many years ago. Basic before that. So, nothing really relevant or recent. Math isn't a problem. I have an Associates degree, and stalled out about 18 hours short of my BS in Math, focusing on statistics. (Working full time combined with a college that offers no upper division math courses in the evenings. Frustrating as hell.)

>Give me your background and I can give you my thoughts if you are
>interested. I can suggest books at a couple of different levels? How
>did you happen to select Oracle and Java?

I've worked in the insurance and brokerage industry for the past 10 years. Primarily working with estate planning, insurance, customer service, money managers, etc. Was never interested in being a broker or agent, I've always preferred problem-solving, so I've kept my carrer as much back-office as possible. I've discovered however, that it's a path that tends towards specialization and dead-ends. I'm looking for something related to the field that has more of a future to it. I also like working with computers, and enjoyed what programming I've done in the past.

>If someone is telling you that you are going to make a lot of money
>really quickly (maybe the place that wants your $5,000), the bloom is
>kind of off the big earnings for new people right now.

He seemed fairly upfront about it. He says they've taken people with little technical background and managed to place them with salaries from the mid $30k level. He felt with my background, I should be able to do about $10k better than that. It's a slight enough pay-cut that I've thought it might be worth looking into. It certainly has better future potential than what I have now.

I've discussed the topic with several people I know in the field, and with a few of the high-tech firms in the area (Austin, TX), and their opinion was that his estimates weren't out of line.

It's a matter of figuring out how to get started. I have no illusions of quick or easy wealth...just in shifting my career path at some point.

>I really enjoy Oracle. I came from an accounting background and
>switched careers at the age of 39 and am now 45 and really am glad
>that I did.

I'm currently 37. It's a decision I wish I had made a few years earlier.

Tom Bagwell
Austin, TX Received on Mon Apr 09 2001 - 00:22:15 CDT