There are some FANTASTIC videos of the sessions from SQLInspire New York 2011. I highly recommend that you check out all the videos, as I found some great career tips in all of them. As the site says “We’ve lined up … Continue reading →
Since I work mostly from home, video/voice conferencing and IM are of major importance to me, and using the right tools is vital to keeping me productive. The tools used for conferencing should have IM, presence indicator, voice and video … Continue reading →
Thanks for everyone who attended my presentation “How To Make a LOT More Money as a Consultant” at HASSUG. Here is the PowerPoint presentation: How To Make a LOT More Money as a Consultant How to make a LOT more money … Continue reading →
Are you a salaried employee looking to switch to a W-2 or 1099 contractor? (For an explanation of W-2 and 1099, click Consultants: 1099 or W-2?) If so, what hourly pay rate would you need to at least match your … Continue reading →
As a consultant or contractor, you can sometimes be faced with the decision when taking a new contract of whether to go 1099 or W-2. Essentially, the question is in what manner will you be paid by your client. Having faced that decision a … Continue reading →
Over the years, I have accumulated a set of questions that I usually ask the placement firm about a contract or consulting position (W2 or 1099) that I am looking at taking. Many of these questions will also apply if … Continue reading →
I take it for granted that everyone knows all about Microsoft certifications and Microsoft MVP’s. But a few years ago, I had no idea what they were. I had seen a few people list Microsoft certifications on their résumé, but … Continue reading →
Here is a tip that could make you much more productive: At home, I have a desktop computer with dual-monitors (via a HDMI connection and a DVI connection with 1920×1080 resolution. One monitor is 24-inch, the other 21-inch). I also have … Continue reading →
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego have published a list of job-market hotspots, and in the top ten is Data Mining and Analytics. The study is based on enrollment figures, national employment statistics and interviews with San Diego business … Continue reading →
I have been compiling a list of what things a person can do to become an expert, or guru, in his chosen field, whether that be in specific fields like SQL Server, BI, .Net, or in a broad field like career … Continue reading →
If you have been in the IT field for any length of time, I’m sure you have heard the phrase “Always Be Learning”. If you want to be successful and make the big bucks, you are going to have to … Continue reading →
While there are many DBA’s who do business intelligence, or BI, I believe there are even more who do not. After all, there is enough tasks for DBA’s to keep them plenty busy without dealing with BI. We have repurposed … Continue reading →
There are three job boards that I use: Dice, Monster, and LinkedIn. I prefer Dice by far, since it has a ton of IT jobs on it, and it is focused solely on IT. Monster is OK, but it does … Continue reading →