Data Warehousing is a specialist skill.
The demand for people with Data Warehousing expertise is substantially less than for DBAs or any
Database skill.
Howver, it can be very well-paid.
The demand is highest for people with hands-on experience with specific vendor products.
We would recommend becoming a hands-on expert in a Data Warehousing
Product for which there is sizeable demand.
The major vendors,(IBM, Oracle and Microsoft), have excellent products, and there are
quite a number of niche players.
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Here are the Steps in the recommended Approach :-
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| STEP |
DESCRIPTION |
| 1 |
Start by becoming familiar with the area, by looking at this Page on
Data Warehousing.
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| 2 |
Choose three from this page of Vendors of
Data Warehousing Products.
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| 3 |
Go to
Monster.com or the
Recruitment Site of your choice.
Enter the names of your top 3 Products after choosing your location, and assess the demand for each.
Check the requirements for skills and experience, then use that for planning for your career.
Assess the training that would help you acquire the necessary skills.
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| 4 |
Approach your (maybe Top 3) chosen Vendors and go to their 'Partner Briefings' which are
always free.
Talk to the person in charge of Partner Relations, explain your
situation and choose the one which gives you the most positive response.
All of these vendors offer training and maybe you will find some which is free.
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| 5 |
By this time, you should know if you are going to be serious about becoming
a Data Warehousing professional.
If you are, then you should consider joining the
Data Warehousing Institute.
It's affordable, offers a tremendous range of facilities, and will reinforce
your commitment.
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| 6 |
Be flexible in what you demand, in order to get started.
By which I mean, offer to work cheaply, or do some small projects on your own PC.
You will probably be expected to have a laptop running Windows NT to give demonstrations.
You might find you get into a kind of game with the vendor where they want you to pay more up-front, and you want to postpone payment
until you can see some income from your new career.
Think of it as training for your future career as an independent Data Warehousing consultant.
One good option is to pursue the IBM Business Intelligence offering.
This means buying the book by Mark Whitehorn called 'Business Intelligence: the IBM way".
Then go for Certification in Subject 515.
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Finally, please let me know how you get on.
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