Do you think education matters?

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Do you think education matters?

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Dale Corey SSCrazy Eights Points: 9019 More actions · Answer 1

Dale Corey

SSCrazy Eights

Points: 9019

June 25, 2003 at 9:52 am

#463067

Hey, I appreciate all the postings and all points are well taken. Very valid.

All the best,

Dale

Author: An Introduction to SQL Server 2005 Management Studio

PBirch SSCrazy Eights Points: 8483 More actions · Answer 2

Steve, yes, you are right. It is emotional. I have found that it is always easier to hire friends of friends, or someone that one of my team members know, rather than someone off the street.

Not that the person off the street will be awful, but someone with a connection to the team already will probably fit quicker, and do more.

When I have had to hire cold I do go with my instinct and my emotions. Luckily it has worked most of the time. I have had a few duds.

One guy gave me this long song and dance about how inventive a coder he was, etc. When I looked at his code after three weeks it was just about what you would find in a book. You never know.

Dr. Peter Venkman: Generally you don't see that kind of behavior in a major appliance.

Patrick

Quand on parle du loup, on en voit la queue

K. Brian Kelley SSC Guru Points: 114532 More actions · Answer 3

I see education in the category "Nice to have."

I think of it like scoring a vendor. There are some items that are must haves. There are other items where a vendor can pick up some extra points, and these all have different weights. Education is for some extra points, but it's not a whole lot of points.

This strategy gives credit to the person for accomplishing the degree (that should be warranted), but doesn't rule out a candidate with better skills because they don't have the sheepskin.

K. Brian Kelley

http://www.truthsolutions.com/

Author: Start to Finish Guide to SQL Server Performance Monitoring

http://www.netimpress.com/shop/product.asp?ProductID=NI-SQL1

K. Brian Kelley
@kbriankelley

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 4

Hi Patrick,

quote:

It is emotional. I have found that it is always easier to hire friends of friends, or someone that one of my team members know, rather than someone off the street.

and what happens, when it comes to fire?

Cheers,

Frank

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Dale Corey SSCrazy Eights Points: 9019 More actions · Answer 5

Dale Corey

SSCrazy Eights

Points: 9019

June 26, 2003 at 6:47 am

#463220

Excellent point, Frank. That may be a good question to circulate in this thread.

"Is it a good idea to hire friends/family to work in the same department as you?"

All the best,

Dale

Author: An Introduction to SQL Server 2005 Management Studio

PBirch SSCrazy Eights Points: 8483 More actions · Answer 6

Firing sometimes happens. One of the times the person who recommended her came to me and said that it wasn't working.

It's always a risk. You just try and make sure the house wins (if you are the house).

Dr. Peter Venkman: Generally you don't see that kind of behavior in a major appliance.

Patrick

Quand on parle du loup, on en voit la queue

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 7

Hi Patrick,

quote:

Firing sometimes happens.

that's cool.

Of course, it happens from time to time, but don't things get complicated?

Here we have the policy not to hire family members, if it can be avoided. The only case I know of is the clean up personal, but that doesn't count, or?

For mysql would not recommend anyone of my friends to work here. Not because of the company, but for the implications that certainly will come when things go wrong. but I might be too anxious.

Cheers,

Frank

Should be reading For MYSELF....

Edited by - a5xo3z1 on 06/26/2003 07:14:53 AM

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Robert W Marda SSChampion Points: 13413 More actions · Answer 8

For those who don't know me. I am Robert Marda. My official job title is SQL Programmer. My tasks at work include many administration tasks on our production servers and I am basically the assistant (or backup DBA). I have no degree and only one certification (CNA - Certified Novell Administrator).

I don't believe much in going to a University or College. To me its all about learning things that you are likely to never use in the real world. True, you never know, but in many respects you will have an idea. For example, my knowledge of geography (or lack thereof) doesn't seem to effect my work performance. My lack of interest in sports (and physical education classes) has no influence on how well I perform my job. I have attended briefly a University and a college but my total credit hours is probably about 20 or 25. I learned Calculus in high school and doubt I've ever needed any of that high math outside of a University. I simply don't see the reason to take courses I doubt I'll ever need.

I enjoyed the courses I took at a technical school because they essentially were all about computers and at the end of the courses I passed the test and so got my Novell Certifiaction. I believe it helped me get my next job and launch my career into the tech sector, however I never used the specifics of what I learned. I was hired to set up networks using Windows NT 4.0 and did nothing with Novell.

I no I am talking a lot. I'll wind up. I hope I've portrayed that I am not against learning, simply against being forced to learn things I doubt I'll ever need. Almost everything I have learned over the past 4 years I have learned by trial and error, reading articles (and messages in forums like this), and listening to people talk about SQL Server. I am like the person mentioned in the post that started this thread. I believe I am just as qualified as someone with a degree to work with SQL Server. I of course have strong points and weak points, but I believe anyone just coming out of a University will also have strong points and areas where his/her knowledge is lacking with respect to SQL Server. Some knowledge is only gained through experience.

I guess that's my 5 cents (more than 2 cents since I wrote a lot).

Robert W. Marda

SQL Programmer

bigdough.com

The world’s leading capital markets contact database and software platform.

Robert W. Marda
Billing and OSS Specialist - SQL Programmer
MCL Systems

Dale Corey SSCrazy Eights Points: 9019 More actions · Answer 9

Robert, thanks for the input. To read your skills on a resume' (based on the skills you mentioned), would indicate that you have incentive to learn and continuosly improve in your area of expertise. That is a key indicator. The lack of those skills, with a resume' that indicates experience only, would be a bit harder to stand out. My thoughts...

All the best,

Dale

Author: An Introduction to SQL Server 2005 Management Studio

PBirch SSCrazy Eights Points: 8483 More actions · Answer 10

Frank, I did hire sisters once. It was a short term project (less than six months) and both brought different skills. They were fine.

All of the other times I hired friends of friends, not relatives. I would also talk with them for at least an hour in the interview. If I didn't believe that they would help the team I didn't hire them.

Dr. Peter Venkman: Generally you don't see that kind of behavior in a major appliance.

Patrick

Quand on parle du loup, on en voit la queue

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 11

Hi Patrick,

quote:

All of the other times I hired friends of friends, not relatives. I would also talk with them for at least an hour in the interview. If I didn't believe that they would help the team I didn't hire them.

Am I right, you're only doing project work and therefore hiring people only until project is done? If so, that's slightly different to hiring people for a full time job for unlimited time. And if so, I guess it's extremely important for your business to get your job done in an at least professional looking manner. That includes the people who come along with you. In such situation I would also prefer people that I know.

quote:

Dr. Peter Venkman: Generally you don't see that kind of behavior in a major appliance.

I know, Venkman is the code name of Mozilla's JavaScript Debugger, and I think I've heard the name before, but not computer related. Help me, who is Dr. Peter Venkman?

Cheers,

Frank

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]