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Eric,
I do think my Common experiences, other educational offerings, user groups,
and several
certifications have made a big difference in my career. Over half the time,
I have
had to fund this myself. It is a very tight market, and often it is the
education and certs that make that difference, and help justify my cost. I
have been more on the contract side of the business, but if applying for a
job, would try to negotiate the education up front. Asking a manager for an
extra week off and $3 - 5k in additional expense is hard to get if no
education budget in place.
I just think of this a continuing education, which is common in many
professional careers.

Jim Franz
IBM Certified Specialist

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "DeLong, Eric" <EDeLong@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'" <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 7:15 PM
Subject: RE: iSeries Education (was iSeries vs. zSeries)


> Hi Larry,
>
> Yeah, I'd have to agree that the state of affairs is pretty sad....  I'd
be
> hard pressed to qualify why the employers I've worked for have chosen to
> ignore education.  Perhaps its the geographical regions where I've worked
> (West and Central Texas, then DFW), or perhaps its the mom and pop culture
> in some of these shops...  Maybe it's just that they want something for
> nothing...  Undeniably, this has been one of the most frustrating aspects
of
> MY career.
>
> I've always driven myself hard to learn as much as I can about the things
> that affect my life.  As always, work related skills are paramount, since
I
> hope to be employable until such time as I choose to retire, so I've never
> had a problem with self-directed learning.  I do feel that most employers
> will gladly let me spend my own time, money, and effort to learn these
> things, even though this effort benefits the company (as well as myself).
>
> I wonder if modern life has erased the proposition of "education as
> investment".  In this day when you must have a degree to apply for a
> janitorial job, the focus isn't on "what you know".  It's just the diploma
> that counts....  Oh well, back to my corner...
>
>
>
> Eric DeLong
> Sally Beauty Company
> MIS-Project Manager (BSG)
> 940-297-2863 or ext. 1863
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Larry Bolhuis
> Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 2:05 PM
> To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
> Subject: iSeries Education (was iSeries vs. zSeries)
>
>
> Eric,
>
> Wow, that is sad...
>
> What is it do you think that makes your employers want to keep you in
> the dark? They must understand that IT is one of the fastest changing
> fields out there. Would they go to a doctor or dentist who still did
> things with 20 year old skills and tools? I think not. Yet they pay you
> and purchase hardware and software but don't want you to know how best
> to utilize those assets?  Managers and companies need to understand that
> COMMON, IBM Technical Conference, iSeries DevCon, Local Lugs, as well as
> distance learning opportunities are all Investments, NOT costs. Any
> investment is intended to return MORE than was put into it. All of these
> educational opportunities are just that.  Of course you would understand
> that there is a limited budget for this sort of investment as well.
> Other than those paid to speak I suspect there is nobody that attends
> all of these things every year or even in a given year.  Investment
> spread too thin does no good either, however NO investment guarantees no
> growth.
>
> Clearly there are those who attend events such as these who gain nothing
> from them. These folks can usually be found at the local attractions
> rather than in sessions. COMMON for instance during any given hour
> routinely counts only about 1/2 the paid butts actually in seats. Even
> counting expo, lunch, and volunteer positions some folks just aren't
> there for education, they're there for vacation. Discounting the
> 'vacationers' however I believe you and your management would be amazed
> at the positive feedback that nearly every other attendee would give
> from any of these events.
>
> I have been very successful in getting my customers to send their folks
> to COMMON. Clearly I do not take up the cause if the technical staff is
> not interested and of course I don't always succeed. However In the
> cases where I don't succeed the answer is nearly always the one that
> gets Admiral Grace Hopper out of her grave to smack them on the head:
> "We have never sent people to educational events we've always been this
> way."
>
>   - Larry
>
> DeLong, Eric wrote:
>
> >Not to beat this dead horse again, but I've never been in a position
where
> I
> >could attend COMMON.  I know I could use my personal vacation to attend
one
> >myself, but I'm not a member of COMMON, nor am I actively involved with
> LUG,
> >so the cost could be considerable.  I would certainly like to see what
it's
> >all about, but I can't easily justify the personal expenses involved.
> >
> >I suppose I fit in the "young" category (at age 37), but with 20 years in
> >midrange, my memory tells me that 1) I've never worked in a shop that was
> >affiliated with COMMON, 2) I've never worked in a shop that supported the
> >notion of sending anyone to COMMON, 3) most shops refuse to allow their
> >programmers to get involved in LUG, 4) only one shop has paid for
> >specialized education.  Its a lousy track record, and in my opinion, it's
> >only getting worse.  Bummer...
> >
> >In lieu of COMMON, I've come to see these mailing lists as my educational
> >salvation.
> >
>
> >-- 
> >
> >
> Larry Bolhuis                   IBM eServer Certified Systems Expert:
> Vice President                    iSeries Technical Solutions V5R3
> Arbor Solutions, Inc.             iSeries LPAR Technical Solutions V5R3
> 1345 Monroe NW Suite 259          iSeries Linux Technical Solutions V5R3
> Grand Rapids, MI 49505            iSeries Windows Integration Technical
> Solutions V5R3
>                                 IBM eServer Certified Systems Specialist
> (616) 451-2500                    iSeries System Administrator for
> OS/400 V5R3
> (616) 451-2571 - Fax              AS/400 RPG IV Developer
> (616) 260-4746 - Cell             iSeries System Command Operations V5R2
>
>   If you can read this, thank a teacher....and since it's in English,
> thank a soldier.
>
>
> -- 
> This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing
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>
> -- 
> This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing
list
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> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
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>
>



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