Question Programming access as a career?

[JayJay00]

Hi Guys/Girls,

I'm new around here and have been part of an IT Apprenticeship for a year now.
I have been asked to create a database for managing our stock of ink/where it goes and jobs that each of the I.T team have to do.

I've enjoyed this task so much and i am constantly thinking i wonder if i can do this or that, reading up on it and giving it a bash.

I just wanted to know a few things about following a career in access programming, perhaps from people who do do it for a living either freelance/contracted agency.

What kind of qualifications specifically in access do you need?
Where can these be gained?

Is there a large demand for programmers?

If anyone has any web links that could help me here i'd be most gratefull

Cheers,

 

[the_net_2.0]

There is a huge demand for computer programmers everywhere, but unfortunately for America, the number of people that want/can do this kind of work effectively and professionally is extremely limited. That's one of the main reasons why these jobs are going out to people in India and the like. That is one, but the primary reason is, unfortunately, STILL the cost savings. Money is always reason #1.

Access programming for a living? One phrase: GOOD LUCK. If you really want the truth, the future is not Access at all. Not even for small business. It's not going to survive in the long run. Everything will cave in to online technology at some point in the future. Corporations are already there, and they have been for a while. As a matter of fact, the only corporations left in the world right now that even deal with older stuff like Access/Unix/IBM stuff are industrial-based businesses. Now, that's not to say that Access isn't still widely used as a user-friendly front end to a lot of server apps. Namely, vb.net, sql server, citrix, etc... Access is compatible with a lot of back-end apps.

The other thing that's unfortunate too, is that unless you have a large number of clients out there, you won't be to do either one of these just by working with Access:

1) make a decent living/salary
2) keep busy with work that needs to be done

So if you're in love with Access, learn online technology a long with it, because you don't have a change (long term) by just knowing Access and nothing else. But consider again, my first paragraph. Even though tech jobs are being outsource right now, a lot of the top level tech jobs/consulting type jobs are still being held by Americans. By believe on this is because Americans are probably still the most creative when it comes to making money and sidelining overly-quick progression and automation. No offense to Asian countries, or any other 3rd world country right now that's growing exponentially due to their excitement for prosperity, but overly-progressive growth by way of technology and automation is an extremely bad thing. That is no way to sustain prosperity for a country in the long run. It's only a short term "get rich quick" scheme. But that's the way people prefer to live.

Sorry for the story, but at any rate...combine Access with other things!

 

[JayJay00]

Cheers for the information. I live in the UK but the same applies over here as well. I've already spoke to a few people about access. My girlfriends mother works in a large bank and they still use access/vba for some stuff.
Also my mum works in a prison, apparently they've just spend millions (as in the entire prison service) contracting a company that have made them a new system which in the large part is access.
So i know its out there but i too knew access will eventually be undone.

So is there no specific qualifications needed? just experience and a portfolio of all you good work?

 

[Galaxiom]

Everything will cave in to online technology at some point in the future.

Very true. More true than almost anyone realises just yet.
Even Windows itself is going that way.

Microsoft recently announced that Windows 8 development platform will be built on HTML5 and Javascript.

You think I am joking don't you? Well read this:

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne...-8-leaves-microsoft-developers-horrified.ars/

 

[gemma-the-husky]

I am not sure, tbh.

on the other hand, people will always need special, differentiated applications. Generic solutions don't suit everyone, and a lot of firms will need special bespoke applications. So there will always be a need for people who can deliver those.

There will also be any number of legacy applications to maintain. For any company, changing from a proven, working platform to a new untested platform, needs an enormous amount of commitment. It isn't just a change in platform. The change in platform will need a complete system redesign, at great expense - and will be something that many companies will avoid.

There are still are many companies working on non-PC, non RDBS, based technology, just because the implications of redeveloping complex systems are too difficult and costly to contemplate.

 

[jonathanchye]

I've started my career as an Access programmer and slowly moved into database and network programming (with some website programming thrown in).

The demand in the UK is certainly there especially for smaller companies with growing demands. An Access DB is quick and relatively easy to build and would be more effective than simply relying on spreadsheets. A lot of people seem to think Access is just another MS Excel with fancy buttons but it is really much, much more than that. It also opens up gateways to other more profitable careers (ASP,SQL,Oracle etc...)

I wouldn't just market myself to potential employers as just proficient in Access though, perhaps solid proficiencies in MS Office products, VBA knowledge (C/C++ is a big bonus and I know personally that helped me a lot along the way), etc etc.

I've started job with BSc in computing and also a bunch of Microsoft Certified qualitfications (was thinking into moving into IT).

Overall its an exciting job for me as everyday comes with a different challenge and you are not locked into doing repetitive task day in day out.

Good luck in your job hunt!

edit: I am not sure what qualifications you have but would be good to have a main degree in a comp science related field or even IT qualifications. You can self study the Microsoft certified qualifications in the mean time...

Cheers for the information. I live in the UK but the same applies over here as well. I've already spoke to a few people about access. My girlfriends mother works in a large bank and they still use access/vba for some stuff.
Also my mum works in a prison, apparently they've just spend millions (as in the entire prison service) contracting a company that have made them a new system which in the large part is access.
So i know its out there but i too knew access will eventually be undone.

So is there no specific qualifications needed? just experience and a portfolio of all you good work?

 

[DJkarl]

The larger the corporation the slower they change their core technologies. Sure they will update their consumer facing tech frequently, web sites, customer portals etc, but the internal tech that drives finance...that stuff is SLOW to change. My company still uses a 30yr old mainframe to do the bulk of its financial processing...why? because it hardly ever breaks and they don't want to rock the boat. So though Access is not the future, there will be opportunities to support / upgrade custom and legacy apps for some time to come.

P.S. I would also recommend learning either some online programming skills, or get a solid education in SQL / DBA, a good DBA will have many opportunities.

 

[Lightwave]

The real benefit to Access for me is that it is a complete solution overwhich I have complete control. For high value complicated processes that is very advantageous. I hope one day that I may have as much control over an online technology. (Although I am aware that there are ways of getting Access databases online. (eg log me in / gotomypc))

I do think Access is a good way of learning the intracacies of application development. While delivery of applications may alter you will be well placed to program in other environments. Yes there will be a steep learning curve for the technical side of alternatives but all the principles of design / patterns etc.. won't change at all.

I think the computer industry lost its way for a period and it has taken things like Apple and the Wii to refocus industry back onto the idea that computers are only actually as good as the applications that they run and usability and ease of use should be central. It is no good having a great piece of technology if there are no applications for it.

I also hope that anything that replaces Acces is as friendly and as flexible. I would hate to think that future tasks will take longer than previous similar tasks.

For me obviously that would hardly be Technological Advancement!!

 

[plog]

You can work with Access and make good money, but not in IT. Access is something that other departments in companies use to get things done that IT refuses to do or refuses to do cheaply.

I've never worked in IT, I've always worked in spite of IT. What happens is the head of Marketing/Accounting/Customer Relations/HR wants to organize and simplify their system of spreadsheets, word documents, etc. and go to IT with an idea. IT either says its not worth their resources or quotes them an unreasonable amount. So instead, the head of the department finds its cheaper and easier to hire a new employee (me) to create and manage this system. When they see how simplified the system can be they keep adding features to it. Eventually another non-IT department within the organization needs access to some part of the system, I build an interface for them, they like it and have some data they would like me to organize. Wash, rinse and repeat.

There are tons of people who head non-IT departments that need Access gurus. The downside is there's usually no way to rise up in the company. The department that hired you has no position for you to rise to and IT doesn't want you because they either look down on Access or you made them look bad.

 

[JayJay00]

P.S. I would also recommend learning either some online programming skills, or get a solid education in SQL / DBA, a good DBA will have many opportunities.

Where would i need to look for these? Uni's? Online courses? Self Teach..?

 

[DJkarl]

Well you could google for DBA, there are different platforms of course, I listed Oracle and SQL Server below. The basic SQL is the same across platforms, but the functions and capabilities of the individual platforms are a little different. I won't recommend one over the other, they are both useful, and of course there is also DB2, mySql, and potentially other platforms that could be used. Tons of free online tutorials, of course if you want to do this professionally you may want to take a class and/or get a certification in a specific area. I know Oracle and MS both offer certs for their products.

www.oracle-dba-online.com
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms167593.aspx

 

[SmallTime]

I would think twice about an access only career simply because Ms aren't keeping pace with changes. They're obviously having a great deal of trouble making access work on the net as it exists now and unless you think Ms will make the leap with access and develop it to keep pace in line with emerging technologies it's going to die a death in the not too long future.

On the other hand if Ms do invest and evolve Access to become more robust and internet compatible (not just on their own platform) then I think Access guru's are in for a windfall, with massive demand. But it's a BIG if.

SmallTime
Chucking in his twopence worth

 

[JayJay00]

Thanks for all your insights

I think from what i've read i'll keep my learning and programming for my spare time.

Thanks again

 

[Lightwave]

Bearing in mind that I'm not very familiar with web development the following is my take on things. I've been listening to quite a lot of podcasts recently from Channel 9 the MS podcast channel. It does come across that there's a real variety of subjects and themes going on in MS everything from database design through to silverlight XBox , Kinnect, Bing Maps and Application development. They do seem to have a lot of "evangelists" in a lot of different areas really gunning for their particular projects.

What does look quite promising is the azure development platform. Sharepoint is a complete non starter for a lot of people and very much a step backwards for me. I would like to see focus on the idea of enabling a single person independent of an organisation's structure being able to publish an application to the web and manage pretty much the whole process without requiring permissions from anyone really is the fundamental idea behind Access / Filemaker Pro and certainly within my organisation that is true. And it would be great for it to be a really fully featured application design environment as well. Now bearing in mind my unfamiliarity Visual Studio and Azure seems like it might offer something towards what I m talking about.

Whatever MS does I would like if they maintained this idea. A single IDE that allows control of end to end development including both design and management of published application. And we want to be able to design applications that will be supportable for as long as the requirement for them continues.

After all, no one wants to build a house that they have to rebuild from scratch in 5 years time. Designing systems is all well and good and great fun but it's time consuming and complicated and I think there's a limit to how "simple" you can make the process without losing flexibility after all its the running of the applications that brings in the value and puts a roof over our heads.

There's a massive overhead associated from re-designing old systems. You can probably quadruple (even more for me) that when you have to start from scratch with new technology. Hence why many companies stick with what they've got.

 

[Lightwave]

You can work with Access and make good money, but not in IT. Access is something that other departments in companies use to get things done that IT refuses to do or refuses to do cheaply.

I've never worked in IT, I've always worked in spite of IT. What happens is the head of Marketing/Accounting/Customer Relations/HR wants to organize and simplify their system of spreadsheets, word documents, etc.

This has very much been my experience. I was looking for advice the other day from an IT type and unfortunately he seeemed to be saying that two tier client systems were a dead technology and why didn't I handle everything through the Digital Records Management software.... Hmmmmmm a sales ledger with no entries... just lists of pdfs invoices. Maybe client systems are old hat but the alternatives IT departments are offering just aren't up to the job.

I may have picked him up wrong but I found that quite disappointing.

 

[Abdhul]

Yes i agreed and thanks for your information about oracle, can you suggest some best oracle training tutorials helps my career to shape..

 

[jumbotrano]

Agree with the second poster, there is a demand, however a lot of the jobs get outsourced to India for cost-saving purposes:/

 

[DevTycoon]

Yes i agreed and thanks for your information about oracle, can you suggest some best oracle training tutorials helps my career to shape..

Pluralsight.com. Sign up for a Microsoft developer visual studio membership and get free plural sight training...


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[DevTycoon]

Agree with the second poster, there is a demand, however a lot of the jobs get outsourced to India for cost-saving purposes:/

You get what you pay for.


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