seeking advice and guidance from veteran and non-veterans

[vega]

Lets say there’s somebody whose an aspiring DBA and that this person wants to be trained using SQL Server and has an interest with business intelligence. This person has used lynda.com to get familiar with the DBMS and wants more practice all around, with app in general an with writing SQL. This person may even want to eventually sit for the MCSE certification.

What advice would you give such an individual?

 

[Rx_]

Sorry for the delay. Couple of big funerals to attend.
My best advice would be to join the Microsoft Partners Network (a.k.a. MAPS)
https://partner.microsoft.com/
You can do it as an individual and use it to network.
For each year membership: you and your network group can download software, lots of software. Goto site and see list. It is not unlimited, but plenty enough for many things.
You can find tons of free courses, seminars, and other professional development tools. Some are Virtual courses with the server set up.
You can take seminars, courses and get recgonized for knowledge in that area. Everything from sales, systems, to developer.
You can advertise your expertiese for hire.
You can network with other MAPS members.
I think (you will need to check) that they offer real discounts on the certification exams to offset the cost of MAPS.