Too late to change?

[goth_nerd]

Hi Guys,

I don't know if this is the right thread, if it is not can this please be moved to the correct one. So I have a couple of questions:-

I currently have 2 diplomas, one from Rosebank College for programming and one from City and Guilds for Software Development. I want to further my studies but my question is, is it a good idea to do a Bsc in Computer Science or should I just do certification course? Do companies still value a degree more than certifications?

Currently I am a C++ developer, I don't know if I hate the language I'm doing or I just hate where I work. Anyway I was thinking of doing something like being a DBA. When I started my learnership at my current company a few years back I did a bit of DBA work and I really enjoyed it. Can I please get advise on how I can become a DBA (courses I can do and institutes where I can do them), how is the work, is it worth the change or not, etc?

I have been job hunting for the past year and I have been unsuccessful, not many companies are looking for C++ developers and those that do expect someone with 10+ years experience. And with the little experience I have with other languages, C# and HTML for example I know it's going to get harder. Hence I was looking into being a DBA and start from there.

What do you guys think? Good, bad or terrible idea?

 

[Randy_The_Squirrel]

C++ is horrible mate.
Yup they want the degree and they also want lots of experience.
Unfortunately Java and all its shiny toys are where its at, at the moment (Node.js, Spring, etc)
But since you have done C++ you shouldn't have a problem picking those up, for one thing you have the advantage over me that you probably have solid OOP knowledge, and its not exactly that hard for me to get interviews.

 

[goth_nerd]

C++ is horrible mate.
Yup they want the degree and they also want lots of experience.
Unfortunately Java and all its shiny toys are where its at, at the moment (Node.js, Spring, etc)
But since you have done C++ you shouldn't have a problem picking those up, for one thing you have the advantage over me that you probably have solid OOP knowledge, and its not exactly that hard for me to get interviews.

Yeah it looks like I'll have to do the degree.

 

[Randy_The_Squirrel]

Yeah it looks like I'll have to do the degree.

Not necessarily
Python, Java and a few other skillsets are in high demand
Here is what you do:
1. Tell them your situation upfront
2. Offer to do a little project for them to evaluate your skills. That's what I did

 

[Pho3nix]

DBA work or working with SQL and data analysis?

As for a way forward, speak to Unisa. The City & Guilds certification has some NQF credits so you should get a jump start.
If you have that certification as well, most corporate will look at that as a perk in some regards. Keep looking, knowing C++ means you'll grasp Java quickly which is the flavour of the year, apply and explain the situation honestly.

 

[Batista]

You dont really need a degree.You would get bored with being a DBA, if you are a fluent programmer then moving to C# wont be so difficult.

 

[goth_nerd]

DBA work or working with SQL and data analysis?

I can say both, is there an advantage or disadvantage of doing one and not the other? Doesn't a DBA also do some data analysis?

As for a way forward, speak to Unisa. The City & Guilds certification has some NQF credits so you should get a jump start.
If you have that certification as well, most corporate will look at that as a perk in some regards. Keep looking, knowing C++ means you'll grasp Java quickly which is the flavour of the year, apply and explain the situation honestly.

I'll contact UNISA with regards to the credits. And I will look at maybe doing some online Java courses.

 

[goth_nerd]

Not necessarily
Python, Java and a few other skillsets are in high demand
Here is what you do:
1. Tell them your situation upfront
2. Offer to do a little project for them to evaluate your skills. That's what I did

I never really thought about that. Maybe I should suggest maybe doing an assessment should they have any doubts.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Don't just look at a degree as something that will get you a good job now, look at it as something that will take you far in your career.

You don't need one to get a good job now, but you will need one as you climb up the ladder. Certs will only take you so far.

In the short term moving from C++ to C#/Java is probably your best bet, but if you have a chance to do a degree then grab it with both hands. It's an opportunity that not a lot of people have...

 

[Pho3nix]

I can say both, is there an advantage or disadvantage of doing one and not the other? Doesn't a DBA also do some data analysis?


I'll contact UNISA with regards to the credits. And I will look at maybe doing some online Java courses.

DBA is mostly query optimizations, setting up boxes.. like maintainence and support.

BI is more the analysis of the data within the databases and presenting it to business with nice graphs etc.

Kinda underselling it but I was a BI dev and enjoyed it. Digging into sql and massaging the data to give it to you the right way was a good learning experience.

New thing is Big Data but that's a story for another day.

Speak to Unisa

Look into the MS dev essentials package, you get 3 months access to PluralSight which should help you with getting the Java feels in.

Wish you luck

 

[cguy]

Don't just look at a degree as something that will get you a good job now, look at it as something that will take you far in your career.

You don't need one to get a good job now, but you will need one as you climb up the ladder. Certs will only take you so far.

In the short term moving from C++ to C#/Java is probably your best bet, but if you have a chance to do a degree then grab it with both hands. It's an opportunity that not a lot of people have...

^ this. As said above, you don't need a degree to make the next step, but it could definitely help take you further eventually. Also, apart from the "piece of paper" benefits, there is a lot you will actually learn if you approach it in the right way (especially if you throw in some maths and/or stats courses for data analysis and such). One of the other benefits of a degree is that it often opens up "more interesting work" as a possibility, which sounds like an issue you may be having right now (developers hardly ever really hate languages as such, it's more that they hate what they're doing with it).

 

[goth_nerd]

DBA is mostly query optimizations, setting up boxes.. like maintainence and support.

BI is more the analysis of the data within the databases and presenting it to business with nice graphs etc.

Kinda underselling it but I was a BI dev and enjoyed it. Digging into sql and massaging the data to give it to you the right way was a good learning experience.

New thing is Big Data but that's a story for another day.

Speak to Unisa

Look into the MS dev essentials package, you get 3 months access to PluralSight which should help you with getting the Java feels in.

Wish you luck

Thanks hey... Lol 2 years later and I still owe you hotwings....

 

[goth_nerd]

Don't just look at a degree as something that will get you a good job now, look at it as something that will take you far in your career.

You don't need one to get a good job now, but you will need one as you climb up the ladder. Certs will only take you so far.

In the short term moving from C++ to C#/Java is probably your best bet, but if you have a chance to do a degree then grab it with both hands. It's an opportunity that not a lot of people have...

I see what you're saying... Yeah I think making a change to either C# or Java is the way to go... Thanks, this made a lot of sense