ADVICE TO A GREENHORN

[Guest]

Hi Everyone,
There is a jungle (of technologies) out there! To say that I am not
thoroughly confused would be an understatement. Yet, from time to time, some
people look up to me for advice on what steps to take next.
The question is this: what line of study would you recommend for someone who
wants to take up database programming as a future career?
Will he have to know morethan one line of technology (for example being an
expert in a Microsoft-based line as well as another one like Oracle) to
succeed?
What courses, books etc would you recommend?
Thanks.

 

[Larry Daugherty]

You pays your money and you takes your choice... paraphrase.

Job security lies within you rather than in any particular line of
technology. You have to look at as much of what's out there as you
can see and make a judgement. That's an iterative process, not
once-in-a-lifetime. Things are changing at an ever increasing rate.
There is no safe haven.

The one certainty is that immediately after earning your daily living
comes continual learning. Believe it or not, that's all positive.

If you hope to be more in charge of your own destiny then start
preparing yourself early on to become an independent business
proprietor. There are more risks and more rewards. Learn all you can
about how small business runs. Learn all you can about prospective
employers and clients.

The MS technologies are great horses to ride because they are widely
marketed and the customer base is huge.

For most of us in the tech fields the hardest thing to internalize is
the importance of marketing.

HTH