| There is no doubt that there are plenty of career | | | | to a private accrediting agency which can be |
| opportunities in the database field these days. Job | | | | troublesome if you want to use the credits/units |
| search websites abound with endless opportunities to | | | | earned at a vocational school and apply them to a |
| make a great deal of money as a Database | | | | traditional four-year college or university. These types |
| Administrator or Database Developer. If you are an | | | | of institutions can be very expensive, and being that |
| aspiring database professional without a fair amount of | | | | the credit/units you have earned cannot be taken with |
| experience or someone who is looking to jump into a | | | | you to another institution, in most cases, can be a |
| new career within this particular field, then you may be | | | | disadvantage. Nevertheless, Vocational Schools can |
| wondering where to start. There are usually three | | | | help you enhance your skill-set, just as with anything |
| choices, certification, vocational school or college. | | | | else, you get out of it what you put in. Vocational |
| Certifications can be useful in most instances but are | | | | schools usually offer classes that are accommodating |
| not the be all and end all of what you will need to be | | | | to people who work, the schedules are set and |
| successful, but they will definitely help! Certifications | | | | consistent through the program, the programs offered |
| demonstrate, or are supposed to demonstrate, a | | | | are often shorter than traditional junior colleges and |
| thorough knowledge of the subject for which you are | | | | they also provide job placement and help with filing for |
| certified. A certification such as the MCTS: SQL | | | | financial aid. |
| Server 2005 (for people interested in databases) is an | | | | You can never go wrong with going to a traditional, |
| entry-level certification, meaning that it is the first of | | | | regionally accredited Junior College, four-year College |
| three needed to achieve the MCITP: Database | | | | or University. People who usually circumvent the |
| Administrator or Database Developer designation. The | | | | traditional route usually due so because of perceived |
| first exam in this particular series, Exam 70-431, can be | | | | or actual time constraints and the scheduling conflicts |
| very challenging, especially for someone who is just | | | | that may be involved. Traditional post-secondary |
| looking to break into the field. However, with a lot of | | | | schools offer the familiar coveted degrees: |
| studying, using various tools, such as, university | | | | Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. etc., which |
| extension courses, computer based training programs, | | | | hold their value indefinitely. Traditional schools are now |
| books and practice exams, it is very possible, and very | | | | more than ever tailoring their class schedules to |
| rewarding, to pass the exam. However, is it enough to | | | | accommodate working adults. However, trying to |
| make the big money? Well, without a history of | | | | secure financial aid, figuring out a schedule, registering |
| documented work experience, probably not right | | | | for classes can be quite daunting and time consuming. |
| away, but it can be done! With a certification and no | | | | If you have the time and can make the commitment |
| practical hands-on experience you may have a few | | | | then the traditional post-secondary school route is the |
| years ahead of you to get to that all illusive six-figure | | | | safest and surest bet to accomplish your career goals. |
| salary that you know you deserve. Realistically, | | | | If you couple traditional school with a relevant industry |
| certifications may enhance your resume and help you | | | | certification then your marketability does go up |
| stand-out over some of the other candidates with | | | | considerably! Vocational schools may be a good |
| whom you are competing with, but once you get into | | | | alternative for those who are looking break into the job |
| that interview room, all you have is your skill-set and | | | | market right away in an entry-level position. With |
| relevant knowledge. In almost all things, but especially in | | | | college, university or vocational schools chances are |
| interviews, knowledge is king. Interviewers have a | | | | you will incur some student loans, well, to that I say, join |
| knack for being able to discern what you really know, | | | | the club! Look at it as a cost of opportunity. You'll |
| and how it compares to your resume. Certification | | | | probably get decent enough salary bump after finishing |
| without an actual understanding of the subject at hand | | | | school to more than cover the cost of the student |
| relegates your certification to just another piece of | | | | loan. When looking to land a job, remember that |
| paper and a line or two of ink on your resume so | | | | experience is key and if you go the certification route it |
| study hard. And as for brain-dumps, just say no! | | | | is just to objectively demonstrate your abilities and get |
| Vocational schools can be a way to gain some | | | | face time with an interviewer by standing out more |
| practical experience and demonstrate a commitment | | | | than the next person. Also remember, that any of the |
| to learning. However, Vocational schools are more | | | | three routes that you take a better than taking no |
| often than not-not regionally accredited. Most subscribe | | | | route out all. Pick one and own it! Good luck! |