Re: Certified MySQL Associate (CMA) certification value
Thanks for the input, everyone. I've gone back and am now leaning towards a VCC (Vancouver Community College) certificate: Database Developer Certificate (DDC) http://www.vcc.ca/cs/_printable-datesort.cfm? area=CSCOMPUTERprog=DATABASE#CSCOMPUTERDATABASE What I like about this is the cumulative effect of formalised learning with, I hope, job placement help from VCC. It's, I think, an outrageous price, but is fast and gives me something tangible. I don't mind paying the cash, but if it's not worth much more than: Associate (CMA) Certification http://www.mysql.com/certification/ it wouldn't make sense in a cost/benefit analysis. Just curious what others think of this program. -Thufir -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe:http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Certified MySQL Associate (CMA) certification value
Well, it sounds like something you can learn a lot from. But nobody's ever heard of it. And if you're looking to learn about MySQL in particular, I suspect you won't get much out of this; it will mostly be general knowledge. So if you're looking for a job as a MySQL DBA, I suspect this won't do a whole lot for you. On Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 3:34 AM, Thufir [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks for the input, everyone. I've gone back and am now leaning towards a VCC (Vancouver Community College) certificate: Database Developer Certificate (DDC) http://www.vcc.ca/cs/_printable-datesort.cfm? area=CSCOMPUTERprog=DATABASE#CSCOMPUTERDATABASE What I like about this is the cumulative effect of formalised learning with, I hope, job placement help from VCC. It's, I think, an outrageous price, but is fast and gives me something tangible. I don't mind paying the cash, but if it's not worth much more than: Associate (CMA) Certification http://www.mysql.com/certification/ it wouldn't make sense in a cost/benefit analysis. Just curious what others think of this program. -Thufir -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe:http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe:http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Certified MySQL Associate (CMA) certification value
So I can relate a little personal knowledge about this. In July of last year I had someone approach me and ask how they could get a job as a DBA. After talking for a bit, it turned out that he had no database experience. He actually use to be a lawyer and decided to make a change. I told him to set up a database on a Linux computer and start playing around with it. The next month he said that he had done so. What next? Well, MySQL AB had just released the CMA exam. As Baron mentioned, it makes a great baseline to show your knowledge when you approach companies. I told him to start studying for the test using the MySQL Certification book (a subset of it covers the exam material). We met twice over the next few months to study a bit and then in December he took the test and passed it. Monday he actually started as our part time junior DBA. Is he making a lot of money? Nope. But, it is a good chance for him to get experience in a rapidly growing production environment and in another nine months or a year he *will *be able to get a decent job. So can you do it? Sure. Do you need a college degree? Not really. He certainly had one, but it had nothing to do with databases. What does it take? Desire, work and reasonable intelligence. That's all. I doubt you will make much at your first job, but learn from the experience and do everything you can to learn more. Once you get done with the CMA start working on the CMDBA exams. Unlike some other cert programs these aren't fluff. I am not sure of the statistics listed on MySQL's website, but there just aren't that many certified DBAs. And you won't find many jobs listed as jr dba. Don't sweat that. Approach companies that already have dbas and tell them you want a chance to learn. Show them through the CMA that you are serious. Working for peanuts. If it were me, and I was just starting out, I would pick what company I wanted to work at and if they wouldn't hire me for eight or ten dollars an hour I would offer to work for free. Just remember it is only temporary. Good luck. Keith Thufir wrote: On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 1:51 PM, Baron Schwartz [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: [...] In my opinion there is a tremendous shortage of qualified DBAs for MySQL. The certification may establish that you have at least a baseline of knowledge. If you're looking for a job, you could hardly go wrong with it, IMO. [...] Yeah, I think that I'm going for the certification, although I can't imagine what kind of job I could land -- junior DB admin? I don't have a college degree :( -Thufir -- B. Keith Murphy, CMA Paragon Consulting Services http://www.paragon-cs.com http://blog.paragon-cs.com (850) 637-3877 -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe:http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Certified MySQL Associate (CMA) certification value
Hi, On Feb 20, 2008 6:13 AM, Thufir [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm considering studying for: Certified MySQL Associate (CMA) http://www.mysql.com/certification/candguide#t21 At first glance, it seems to follow: http://www.mysql.com/training/courses/introduction_to_databases.html I can hit the bookstore to find out more, of course. But, what I was wondering was: what's the value of this certification for me? What doors will it open? In my opinion there is a tremendous shortage of qualified DBAs for MySQL. The certification may establish that you have at least a baseline of knowledge. If you're looking for a job, you could hardly go wrong with it, IMO. Take a look at one person's perspective: http://mysqldatabaseadministration.blogspot.com/2008/01/mysql-dumped-oracle-loaded-whose-fault.html And then, http://mysqldatabaseadministration.blogspot.com/2008/02/fotolog-seeks-mysql-dba.html I think those are the doors you can expect to open. Cheers Baron -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe:http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Certified MySQL Associate (CMA) certification value
On Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 1:51 PM, Baron Schwartz [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: [...] In my opinion there is a tremendous shortage of qualified DBAs for MySQL. The certification may establish that you have at least a baseline of knowledge. If you're looking for a job, you could hardly go wrong with it, IMO. [...] Yeah, I think that I'm going for the certification, although I can't imagine what kind of job I could land -- junior DB admin? I don't have a college degree :( -Thufir -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe:http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
