Voice of the DBA

Tag: career2

  • Salaries in 2013

    Training is a big reason people give for making more money.
    Training is a big reason people give for making more money.

    Salaries are looking good, at least in software development in the US. Windows IT Pro released a report (PDF) that came from over a half million surveys that were completed in late 2012. You can read the report, but the highlights were that more people were satisfied with their jobs (nearly 60%) with two thirds of the respondents saying their received a raise with about half getting bonuses. The downsides were that salaries and bonuses had trended downward from the last 4 hours, which shows that economic conditions in IT are not as great as we might like.

    I found the survey on Trainsignal’s blog, which isn’t surprising given one other highlight. Eighter percent of respondents said that training in 2012 was a positive investment for themselves and their company. Ninety percent of those people said they learned new skills that could be used in their job. That’s a great point, and one that I think is worth emphasizing to your management. Budgets are tight, and companies can be reluctant to invest in training, but surveys like this can help convince them the investment is worthwhile.

    However I wouldn’t just expect my company to train me. Many of you reading this don’t, since you are a member of SQLServerCentral and are trying to learn more about your field. I’d point out those investments, and include any monetary or time investments you make on your own. If you attend events, buy books, practice at home, showcase those to your management and task that they make some investment in you as well.

    Everything is negotiable, and if they are worried you might take the training and leave, ask for an agreement that you will remain with the company for xx months for $yy spent on training. It’s a good trade, and if you get a great offer to leave, pay back the company and call it an investment in your career.

    I think technology is still one of the best fields to be in for working conditions and compensation, if you enjoy the work. However you to succeed and enjoy a good career, you need to continue to work on your skills on a regular basis.

    Steve Jones

    The Voice of the DBA Podcasts

    We normally publish three versions of the podcast each day for you to enjoy. We have no podcasts today due to technical difficulties.

  • Inconsistency

    Being inconsistent isn't necessarily bad.
    Being inconsistent isn’t necessarily bad.

    Jeff Bezos has done an amazing job building Amazon into an amazing technology company. I still remember making my first purchase when they were just a bookseller. Now I buy a lot from them, and the various other vendors that use their platforms. While they are well known as a retail powerhouse, they might just as easily be seen as an incredible software company that provides a wide variety of platforms and services from the cloud.

    I’ve also followed the rise fo 37 Signals, and Jason Fried, who I think has built a company the right way. In many ways the things I admire about that company are also things I admire about Red Gate Software. These are companies that not only run successful and profitable businesses, but they do so in a way that inspires people and gives them more than just a paycheck.

    Recently Jeff Bezos stopped by 37 Signals and gave some advice. He said that the people he had found in his life that were “right a lot” about various subjects were those that often changed their minds. That’s a strong, but thought-provoking statement to me. As I think about it, it’s how I tend to view the world. I have some strong, well thought-out (I think) opinions, but I’m open to the fact that I might be wrong. Not because I don’t understand the problem or situation, but because I might not have all the information. I am very open to the idea that I don’t know what I don’t know about many subjects, especially databases.

    This week, I want to know what you’ve changed your mind about in your career. It could be something in databases, or technology in general, but I’m wondering:

    What strong opinion did you hold that has been changed over time?

    Please avoid political or socials issues and stick to something in technology that’s you have altered your standing on. And if you haven’t changed your mind on anything, perhaps that’s something to think about as well.

    Steve Jones

    The Voice of the DBA Podcasts

    We publish three versions of the podcast each day for you to enjoy.

  • The Work Life Balance for Men

    A great piece by LZ Granderson, and one that really make me stop and think a bit. Work and life is always a balance, and men certainly don’t have it easier. We make different choices, or we set different priorities. It’s worth the read, and as you do, before you dismiss it, consider this: how would work life look if women had been a part of business and work for all of history?

    I sometimes look at the way I do things, and wonder if I’m balancing too far one way or the other. Ultimately I don’t know if I’m doing it right, but I keep an eye on it.

  • Writing

    This was originally published on May 9, 2008. It is being re-run as Steve is at the Red Gate free Micro-Event for Database Professionals.

    One of the great things about SQLServerCentral.com is that so many of you in the community share your work with others on a regular basis. We get articles from all shapes, sizes, and skill levels of DBAs, on all manner of topics. And most of the time, these articles are inspired by things that actually happen in your jobs.

    They’re not contrived or made up examples, or situations that only mimic a portion of the real world. You’re writing about things in the real world.

    With that in mind, we have an easy poll for you this week:

    Why Do (or Don’t) You Write?

    I expect that if you don’t want to write articles you might not respond here, but I’m still curious to see what thoughts some of you have.

    For me, it’s an easy question to answer: I really enjoy writing. The challenge of coming up with new thoughts, new ideas, trying to explain things to people, getting feedback in comments, it is just very exciting..

    Often my wife will look up and see a goofy smile on my face after I’ve read some comment and ask me about it. I’ve even laughed out loud at times. And I’ve been ready to curse people at others.

    But overall, the thing that I hated most in high school has become the thing I enjoy doing most of the time. I think about writing all the time and spend almost every day working on some editorial here or there.

    So let us know why you write, or why you don’t. Maybe I’ll be able to convince a few more of you to participate and share your knowledge in the next year.

    Steve Jones

    The Voice of the DBA Podcasts

    Everyday Jones

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