In three years I went from a complete unknown to a popular blogger, speaker at PASS Summit, a SQL Server MVP, and then joined Microsoft.  Along the way I saw my yearly income triple.  Is it because I know some secret?  Is it because I am a genius?  No!  It is just about laying out your career path, setting goals, and doing the work. I'll cover tips I learned over my career on everything from interviewing to building your personal brand.  I'll discuss perm positions, consulting, contracting, working for Microsoft or partners, hot fields, in-demand skills, social media, networking, presenting, blogging, salary negotiating, dealing with recruiters, certifications, speaking at major conferences, resume tips, and keys to a high-paying career. Your first step to enhancing your career will be to attend this session! Let me be your career coach!

1. James Serra
Big Data Evangelist
Microsoft
JamesSerra3@gmail.com
Blog: JamesSerra.com

2.  Microsoft, Big Data Evangelist
 In IT for 30 years, worked on many BI and DW projects
 Worked as desktop/web/database developer, DBA, BI and DW architect
and developer, MDM architect, PDW/APS developer
 Been perm employee, contractor, consultant, business owner
 Presenter at PASS Business Analytics Conference, PASS Summit,
Enterprise Data World conference
 Certifications: MCSE: Data Platform, Business Intelligence; MS:
Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions, Design and Implement Big Data
Analytics Solutions, Design and Implement Cloud Data Platform
Solutions
 Blog at JamesSerra.com
 Former SQL Server MVP
 Author of book “Reporting with Microsoft SQL Server 2012”

3. Developer (perm)
Developer (consultant)
Developer/DBA (own company)
DBA (perm)
Architect (consultant)
Microsoft technical pre-sales

4. Agenda
 Build your brand
 Goal setting
 Always Be Learning
 Blogging
 Presenting
 Articles/Books
 Twitter/LinkedIn
 Certifications
 Interviewing
 Networking
 SQL Server MVP
 Consulting/Contracting
 Working for Microsoft/partners
 Hot fields/skills
 Salary negotiations
 Recruiters
 Resume tips
 Final thoughts

5. Don’t be a nobody!

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13. Databases
Data Warehousing
SQL Server

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23. Resume tips
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• Don’t have the time: Figure It the %$&* Out!

25. • http://bit.ly/zJ9Ztq
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• http://bit.ly/ztOfpz
• http://bit.ly/wJ7u5u
• http://bit.ly/yp9r3l
• http://bit.ly/2flbUn1

26. James Serra, Big Data Evanglist
Email me at: JamesSerra3@gmail.com
Follow me at: @JamesSerra
Link to me at: www.linkedin.com/in/JamesSerra
Visit my blog at: JamesSerra.com (where this slide deck is posted under “Presentations”)