June 7, 2011 at 2:57 pm
I've really taken an interest in MS BI development over the past few years and have been considering making a move into consulting.
I have about 3 yrs of MS BI Development (7yrs in the IT-field) and have just been on a tear to learn everything I can about developing big beautiful AS cubes...to me there really isn't anything sweeter than a perfectly designed and well-tuned cube (besides some hot sex).
What steps should I be taking to prepare myself?
What's the deal with all the IT staffing agencies that seem to make up 80% of the job postings?
What sites should I use/avoid for finding work?
I should mention that I'm currently employed in a very secure job...but I'm BORED. The "right-way" is constantly tossed aside in favor of the "quick-way". I spend too much time working with duct-tape than working on new projects. I'm interested in 3-12 month gigs...in and out, on to the next. I want to learn to sell my ideas and myself which I think is something I can pickup by moving into a consulting role.
Any advice is much appreciated.
Data Enthusiast | @SQLbyoBI | www.opifexsolutions.com
June 7, 2011 at 3:04 pm
wta306 (6/7/2011)
I should mention that I'm currently employed in a very secure job...but I'm BORED. The "right-way" is constantly tossed aside in favor of the "quick-way". I spend too much time working with duct-tape than working on new projects. I'm interested in 3-12 month gigs...in and out, on to the next. I want to learn to sell my ideas and myself which I think is something I can pickup by moving into a consulting role.
I'll think of answers to the rest of your questions, but I just wanted to get this out of the way now... as a contractor, invest in mental duct-tape. We're twice as expensive because of the overhead of the headhunting firms and they want FAST over PRETTY, about 95% of the time. Just an FYI.
Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.
For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
For index/tuning help, follow these directions.[/url] |Tally Tables[/url]
Twitter: @AnyWayDBA
June 7, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Ask HR if it's possible to take a sabatical so that way your job is safe (tell them it's for a trip around the world if they ask too much question... or any big project outside of work).
Then start the sabatical once you have secured your first contract... not before.
Then decide if it's a good fit for you.
Like craig said, you will get to be duct tape man... many not always but it will happen. So I wouldn't quit my dayjob just for that reason alone.
June 7, 2011 at 5:08 pm
wta306 (6/7/2011)
I've really taken an interest in MS BI development over the past few years and have been considering making a move into consulting.I have about 3 yrs of MS BI Development (7yrs in the IT-field) and have just been on a tear to learn everything I can about developing big beautiful AS cubes...to me there really isn't anything sweeter than a perfectly designed and well-tuned cube (besides some hot sex).
They're utterly pretty until a user gets near them. If you've been working in it for the last three years, you already know one of the axioms: "It doesn't matter how the data wants to be presented, it matters how the end users need to see it."
What steps should I be taking to prepare myself?
Even if you don't take the exam, reviewing the material for the BI Certifications from Microsoft will help you get better acquainted with anything you may have missed.
What's the deal with all the IT staffing agencies that seem to make up 80% of the job postings?
Contract work in particular will almost always be through a staffing firm. Even if you 1099 (self-employed subcontractor) the work, unless you are marketing yourself directly, these are where you'll need to go. The idea is that these shops screen for better candidates. My current woes show otherwise.
What sites should I use/avoid for finding work?
Anything you can get your grubby mitts on, is my personal credo. You're going to want to aim for very large companies as a BI specialist though. Most smaller shops either don't need them or are still trying to figure out what BI will do for them and aren't sure what they want.
I should mention that I'm currently employed in a very secure job...but I'm BORED.
In general, I *like* bored. Not bored intellectually, but any place that's not boring tends to be on fire. I could live without the stress... though the stressful jobs pay better, usually. 🙂
I'm interested in 3-12 month gigs...in and out, on to the next. I want to learn to sell my ideas and myself which I think is something I can pickup by moving into a consulting role.
This is MUCH harder when you're dealing with BI. If you don't have an intrinsic understanding of the underlying data, it's a lot more difficult to help with the analytics. You're the interface to the data for the sales and marketing teams at that point. You will need to understand it. It can take up to 3 to 6 months just to understand certain industries' lingos, never mind the finer points.
If you're going to attempt this, try to find positions that you can leverage the data knowledge in another position down the road. IE: All healthcare, or all financial, or all Widget#2... etc.
I wish you luck. 🙂
Never stop learning, even if it hurts. Ego bruises are practically mandatory as you learn unless you've never risked enough to make a mistake.
For better assistance in answering your questions[/url] | Forum Netiquette
For index/tuning help, follow these directions.[/url] |Tally Tables[/url]
Twitter: @AnyWayDBA
June 8, 2011 at 6:53 am
Craig Farrell (6/7/2011)
wta306 (6/7/2011)
I should mention that I'm currently employed in a very secure job...but I'm BORED. The "right-way" is constantly tossed aside in favor of the "quick-way". I spend too much time working with duct-tape than working on new projects. I'm interested in 3-12 month gigs...in and out, on to the next. I want to learn to sell my ideas and myself which I think is something I can pickup by moving into a consulting role.I'll think of answers to the rest of your questions, but I just wanted to get this out of the way now... as a contractor, invest in mental duct-tape. We're twice as expensive because of the overhead of the headhunting firms and they want FAST over PRETTY, about 95% of the time. Just an FYI.
This makes sense and perhaps could be an indicator that what I'm looking for doesn't exist. Thank you for the feedback.
Data Enthusiast | @SQLbyoBI | www.opifexsolutions.com
June 8, 2011 at 6:54 am
Ninja's_RGR'us (6/7/2011)
Ask HR if it's possible to take a sabatical so that way your job is safe (tell them it's for a trip around the world if they ask too much question... or any big project outside of work).Then start the sabatical once you have secured your first contract... not before.
Then decide if it's a good fit for you.
Thank you - this is actually a great idea that I had not even considered.
Data Enthusiast | @SQLbyoBI | www.opifexsolutions.com
June 8, 2011 at 7:09 am
wta306 (6/8/2011)
Ninja's_RGR'us (6/7/2011)
Ask HR if it's possible to take a sabatical so that way your job is safe (tell them it's for a trip around the world if they ask too much question... or any big project outside of work).Then start the sabatical once you have secured your first contract... not before.
Then decide if it's a good fit for you.
Thank you - this is actually a great idea that I had not even considered.
Hey I wish I had had that option when I started... would have been easier.
Also make sure to tell what types of contracts you want to the firms or clients so that you can start with a dream contract instead of just working because you need to eat. It might get to that point 1 day but it doesn't have to start there... then you just have to be smart about it and stay out of troubles!
June 8, 2011 at 7:17 am
Craig Farrell (6/7/2011)
wta306 (6/7/2011)
I've really taken an interest in MS BI development over the past few years and have been considering making a move into consulting.I have about 3 yrs of MS BI Development (7yrs in the IT-field) and have just been on a tear to learn everything I can about developing big beautiful AS cubes...to me there really isn't anything sweeter than a perfectly designed and well-tuned cube (besides some hot sex).
They're utterly pretty until a user gets near them. If you've been working in it for the last three years, you already know one of the axioms: "It doesn't matter how the data wants to be presented, it matters how the end users need to see it."
good point...and this definitely strikes a chord in my current position. Business groups come to me for help in translating their ideas into reporting/analytical tools. They typically have an idea of what they want to be able to do, and an idea of how it should be done. Occasionally, I'll offer a suggestion on what I feel is a better solution (making sure to list out the reasons why I think it might be a better fit for their goals -- these types could careless about scalability and flexibility...so I make a huge effort to discuss it in terms I think they'll understand)...but I always seem to get shot down...am basically just thought of as IT and should keep my ideas to myself and leave the analysis to the idiots with MBAs.
Craig Farrell (6/7/2011)
What steps should I be taking to prepare myself?
Even if you don't take the exam, reviewing the material for the BI Certifications from Microsoft will help you get better acquainted with anything you may have missed.
just got my MCTS to polish off the resume. Considering going for the MCITP in early fall to close that out.
After that, I'm a little torn between...
1. knocking the dust off of my programming skills (I have a programming background so it wouldn't take much to ramp up on VB/C#.NET.)
2. working on the database development track to fill in the holes which I'm sure there are a ton (not really interested in the DBA thing)
3. focusing on some statistics and data mining. This interests me the most, but I think it might be easier to get over into consulting by working on 1 or 2 first.
Craig Farrell (6/7/2011)
What's the deal with all the IT staffing agencies that seem to make up 80% of the job postings?
Contract work in particular will almost always be through a staffing firm. Even if you 1099 (self-employed subcontractor) the work, unless you are marketing yourself directly, these are where you'll need to go. The idea is that these shops screen for better candidates. My current woes show otherwise.
gotcha - and pretty much figured this would be my only shot since I haven't developed a brand.
Craig Farrell (6/7/2011)
What sites should I use/avoid for finding work?
Anything you can get your grubby mitts on, is my personal credo. You're going to want to aim for very large companies as a BI specialist though. Most smaller shops either don't need them or are still trying to figure out what BI will do for them and aren't sure what they want.
good point on the big vs small shops. probably make it easier to cut my consulting teeth at a big company.
Craig Farrell (6/7/2011)
I should mention that I'm currently employed in a very secure job...but I'm BORED.
In general, I *like* bored. Not bored intellectually, but any place that's not boring tends to be on fire. I could live without the stress... though the stressful jobs pay better, usually. 🙂
lol - don't get me wrong...things are "on fire" a lot here...which I attribute to doing things "quick" instead of doing things "right". I'm bored because I'm tired of patching shitty applications...and want to do more ground-up type work. My goal in a few years is to be managing BI projects with small teams.
Craig Farrell (6/7/2011)
I'm interested in 3-12 month gigs...in and out, on to the next. I want to learn to sell my ideas and myself which I think is something I can pickup by moving into a consulting role.
This is MUCH harder when you're dealing with BI. If you don't have an intrinsic understanding of the underlying data, it's a lot more difficult to help with the analytics. You're the interface to the data for the sales and marketing teams at that point. You will need to understand it. It can take up to 3 to 6 months just to understand certain industries' lingos, never mind the finer points.
Good point...I've got a background in SupplyChain and CallCenters...so perhaps focusing there would be a easier sell to potential employers.
Craig Farrell (6/7/2011)
I wish you luck. 🙂
Thank you - I really appreciate the feedback/input. See you around.
Data Enthusiast | @SQLbyoBI | www.opifexsolutions.com
October 13, 2011 at 11:10 am
just a quick update...
In early September (after a VERY frustrating August), I decided it was time to make a move...so I sent my resume out to 4 local MS BI consulting firms. I guess there's no exaggeration when you hear that BI is hot right now, because after 4 wks (and 3-4 rounds of interviews) I had received 2 very generous offers.
I made a decision and will be starting my next gig as a MS BI Consultant focusing on DW/SSAS dev in November. Super pumped! :w00t:
Data Enthusiast | @SQLbyoBI | www.opifexsolutions.com
October 15, 2011 at 2:53 pm
iPolvo (10/13/2011)
just a quick update...In early September (after a VERY frustrating August), I decided it was time to make a move...so I sent my resume out to 4 local MS BI consulting firms. I guess there's no exaggeration when you hear that BI is hot right now, because after 4 wks (and 3-4 rounds of interviews) I had received 2 very generous offers.
I made a decision and will be starting my next gig as a MS BI Consultant focusing on DW/SSAS dev in November. Super pumped! :w00t:
Do you mind sharing the range of what you called "generous offers"?
December 21, 2011 at 2:02 pm
removed
Data Enthusiast | @SQLbyoBI | www.opifexsolutions.com
Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply