Career in computer programming/ program design

Hello

Bit of a serious question this one, well it serious for me anyway.

Basically I have always liked computers and at uni I took database technoloies and got a good classification. I did quite a bit of programming at uni, SQL, PHP a bit of JAVA and SQLJ. I know a lot of people dont see this a serious programming and I am looking to push my skills forward. I have always been most intrested in the Database/ERP type stuff, modeling process and looking at how datawork and the best way to make the most of it.

My current job has been helping merging two companies computer systems into one and although I have learnt a lot about work, and how to deal with people/projects the computer side has been pretty dull, basically reformatting data and I would much prefer to be improving the computer systems not be a glorified secretry.

I have got access to take the Oracle level 1 dba course which I am planning to take soon, however I dont really want to be a DBA. What I really want to do in the long term is get into is designing big computer system.

Whats peoples advice, I was tempted to look at the SAP route and get trained up to a decent level at which point I could look at starting to do so real fun thinking stuff. I would also be happy to work at the intesting end of programming inventing new stuff etc, not just churing out code. Antoher area I am very interested in is data warehousing.

If the above makes any sense has anyone got any advice about what career path to take, decent regonised training schemes etc.

I dont mind doing some low paid graft as long as it will pay off.

Many Thanks

[fizzwheel]

Half the problem at our place is that the programmers don't know chuff all about how databases work so they code any old toss and then the DBA's chuck a fit because of table locking, poor coded stored procedures etc etc.

You might not want to be a DBA but I think a little knowledge might help you code better, if the training is free then I'd take that Oracle course, can't do you any harm.

SAP seems to be the buzz word at the moment though...

Cheer for the reply fizz,

I think one of my strengh is that I do see how systems should work, and I have a good theroriacal knowledge of databases (well for a graduate anyway) If i could find a junior DBA position that also had some coding of middleware applications I would love to do it. I also think I am pretty good as seeing things from a user point of view, I have met many bad programmers at uni and in the work place who doing seems to think end results through, e.g. our new computer system prints 50 page picklists for 30 line orders, they are a nighmare to print and handle in a waehouse enviroment.

The oracle course will cost less than a ton, because all i have to pay for is the exam.

The only problem is I think that I need to quit my job to go training job hunting full time.

Can you get sponsered SAP training? Or is the best way to find an employer willing to invest?

[tigersaw]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

SAP seems to be the buzz word at the moment though...

Its a swear word where I work.

It should be written in basic:

10: Input A$
20: print "you are not authorised for this transaction"
30: goto 10

Banbury's not *that* far from Cheltenham, well, not commutable really but not a huge relocation. As such I'd be tempted to look at GCHQ. The pay is civil service, so not great but they are a good employer round here, lots of training courses, and (assuming the skeletons in your closet aren't too scary) you'll get at least SC clearance sorted, which opens up a lot of career opportunities later on.

They tend to have a fair number of software engineering type jobs. If you're not that far out of Uni it might be worth contacting your old uni for a contact as they often trawl universities looking for candidates for grad-track employment.

I work as a Business Objects consultant, and my work is usually quite varied (depending on client requirements).

In some, I've just been doing Business Objects report changes/formatting (a good knowledge of HTML/CSS has helped immensely in this).

In others, I've actually been responsible for coding stored procedures for data loading, and assisting in designing databases specifically for reporting purposes.

And in others, I've had to do small amounts of DB work.

In my time, I've worked as Computer Operator, Technical Support, Lotus Notes Admin, Lotus Notes Development (including spending 3 years developing/maintaining/supporting an intranet - based on Lotus Domino technology and HTML/CSS/Javascript/J2EE), and now Business Intelligence (specifically Business Objects, but with varying back-end DB's or DW's - Teradata, SQL Server, and Oracle).

A lot of the work is fairly mundane (compared to building an intranet and programming web applications using J2EE) ... but it's what I have become accustomed to now ... and occasionally I do get a good deal of satisfaction and enjoyment out of it (sad innit?! LMAO).

My advice would be to find a good employer who is willing (in fact, KEEN) to send you on as many training courses as you can wangle. However, make sure you can actually USE the stuff you learn on the courses otherwise it just isn't worth it IMO.

Pete

I'm a dba/programmer for an Adv/Recuirtment/new media co.

Predominately sql 2005 & .net. We do all the stuff front & back end so we need to know:

Full project life-cycle
OOP
ADO.NET
C#
SQL (db design)
T-SQL
.NET Framework
html/css

Older systems rely on VB6 & SQL 2000 & asp/html
Older systems still: MS Access (vba) outlook (vba), excel (vba)

Qualifications will help yo get your foot in the door i.e. MS SQL Exams - they'll also help you to talk the right jargon.

There aren't as many jobs around at the mo as there were 3 months ago - then I put my cv forward for one job & the phone was ringing at least once a day from the recruiter offering me other roles. In hte last week I've applied ofr 5 different roles at 5 recruiters & only been contacted twice.


Having said all that I'm thoroughly unhappy in my role & looking at an exit strategy.

[timwilky]

Firstly most large companies have got out of developing their own code and tend to buy it in. So if you want to cut code you need to be looking at niche market software houses. You then have the ongoing debate as to the technologies and therefore the skill sets required.

For my company, the tools of choice are Oracle, Java, J2EE, Websphere, to a lesser degree tomcat. Then Domino.

All this sutff I want to learn and i've been doing IT for 8 years.

Think yourself lucky you know it all, i'd love to understand half of it

Originally Posted by MiniMatt

Banbury's not *that* far from Cheltenham, well, not commutable really but not a huge relocation. As such I'd be tempted to look at GCHQ. The pay is civil service, so not great but they are a good employer round here, lots of training courses, and (assuming the skeletons in your closet aren't too scary) you'll get at least SC clearance sorted, which opens up a lot of career opportunities later on.

They tend to have a fair number of software engineering type jobs. If you're not that far out of Uni it might be worth contacting your old uni for a contact as they often trawl universities looking for candidates for grad-track employment.

Do you/ have you worked there. It was something that I though about doing but the long lead time to get the job sort of put me off, I'm 2 years out of uni so probaly in my last year of looking into graduate schemes