I've been supporting MS access databases for about (3) years. I've very proficient at relationships, tables, queries, forms, and have written a lot of code and run some automation tasks. I'm certainly not very good and have difficulty understanding some of the hardest VBA code. I know HTML and CSS as well as SharePoint. There are limited roles in database support for localized access databases so it was reccommended that I change direction learning SQL Server. I've begun watching videos, reading books, setting up flash cards to study for Querying SQL Server Cert exam. It seems like SQL Server is so hard to learn and without on the job experience it is very difficult to secure a role. Can anyone offer any possible paths or suggestions so I can further my career? Thanks
Job/Career Question
- Thread starter JMichaelM
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Lie.
Learn all you can about SQL Server and then say you do have on the job experience with it. Don't lie above your abilities though. Simply say you were on a team that migrated one of your Access databases to SQL Server--you mostly helped with the Access side, but you did write SQL and helped in setting up tables/views in SQL Server.
There's usually 2 steps before anyone who knows anything sees your resume. Step 1 is a resume keyword search--the HR department looks for words on your resume that they have told need to appear on acceptable resumes. Get SQL Server on your resume and you pass that one. Step 2, HR calls you to have a brief chat about your resume. They still know nothing, but they are able to spot blatant liars who are truly incapable of the job.
Step 3 is an in-person interview with a knowledgeable person. If you make it this far, they know that SQL Server is simply a tool--the person they want has a good fundamental understanding of databases, not one specific tool. This is the person you tell about your strong database skills and your light exposure to SQL Server.
Depends what you want to do with SQL Server I guess.
Do you want to use it as a developer or configure it?
From a dev perspective there's actually quite a lot of similarity between Access and SQL server especially if you can write SQL - if you've been using Access for 3 years and don't know the language by now, why not?
And if you wanted to practice configuring a server, the express edition is a free download.
If I wanted to learn about setting up databases I'd probably be more interested in Oracle though.
Do you want to use it as a developer or configure it?
From a dev perspective there's actually quite a lot of similarity between Access and SQL server especially if you can write SQL - if you've been using Access for 3 years and don't know the language by now, why not?
And if you wanted to practice configuring a server, the express edition is a free download.
If I wanted to learn about setting up databases I'd probably be more interested in Oracle though.
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JMichaelM,
Steve Bishop has 70+ videos (free, youtube) dealing with Access vba.
The playlist is here.
It is a very well done series in my view.
If you have a good knowledge of Database concepts, analysis and design and perhaps data modelling, you may have a broader job market than Access. There are video tutorials on youtube on these topics that can serve as refresher or instruction/education to support/expand your current knowledge and skills.
Good luck.
Steve Bishop has 70+ videos (free, youtube) dealing with Access vba.
The playlist is here.
It is a very well done series in my view.
If you have a good knowledge of Database concepts, analysis and design and perhaps data modelling, you may have a broader job market than Access. There are video tutorials on youtube on these topics that can serve as refresher or instruction/education to support/expand your current knowledge and skills.
Good luck.
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