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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 list > To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options, > visit: http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-l > or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx > Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives > at http://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l. > > > -- > This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing list > To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@xxxxxxxxxxxx > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options, > visit: http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-l > or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx > Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives > at http://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l. > >
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