Re: How to confirm someone is an OCP?

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 Thu Jul 11 2002 - 11:20:09 CDT