Re: Questions: costs & training...

In article <sjstokesD04F5u.MyD_at_netcom.com> sjstokes_at_netcom.com (Scott Stokes) writes:
>
>I have been working as a hardware/software tech for about 3 years now. I
>have a strong interest in the Database and programming area of
>computers. Although it has been easy for me to purchase and learn such
>end-user programs like Visual C++, Access, and Paradox, I have been
>searching for a while now on finding a realistic way to get into the
>Oracle world. I am hoping that someone with Oracle experience would be
>kind enough to share some of thier secrets with me as to how they worked
>themselves into the Oracle environment.
>

The best way is to finagle your way into a job where you use Oracle. Best is if you can find a place that uses what you know now and will be converting to Oracle. Oracle training is very expensive, but there is other training that has crossover value. Since you have the strong interest you probably know your local colleges that have courses in relational db's. Once you understand the theory the rest is all details. From what I've seen, people who go through Oracle training get the plum jobs. An alternative route I've seen is to get an MS and go to work for Oracle (and have them put you through their own training). The hard part is getting somebody else to pay for your Oracle training.

My personal history is I learned another relational database and went through a college series (after a BSc and a technical computer school), then was able to pick up Oracle really fast when it was thrust upon me by a new manager. But that was 1982, when things were much simpler. Nowadays, I would strongly recommend the training over doing it yourself. But there's still no substitute for experience. Once you can legitimately put a couple years of Oracle on your resume, you're in fat city.

Good Luck!

-- 
Joel Garry           joelga_at_amber.rossinc.com            Compuserve 70661,1534
These are my opinions, not necessarily those of Ross Systems, Inc.
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