Laid-off database admin in search of marketable skills ASAP

• After an unexpected departmental shuffling last week, I was laid off from my database admin job of four years. My DB knowledge is largely self-taught, and pertains mostly to a number of niche applications that have little direct use to your average employer. I need to learn how to translate my skills into those that are actually in demand in today's job market and I need to do it quickly. Details below the fold. My job was to administer internal and client specification and regulatory compliance databases for a large-ish food manufacturer. I established workflow for loading and maintaining several databases, oversaw large scale data merges, cleansing, and validation following a major competitor acquisition, and worked with clients and regulatory bodies to ensure interoperability between our systems and theirs. The problem is this... While I was very good at what I did, nearly all systems I was using were either proprietary or legacy systems. I learned them backwards and forwards, could write and automate queries and reports, and steam-lined the data loading/maintenance process, but the chances of me running into these programs in future jobs is very, very slim. I can use Access databases and manipulate their info as needed (often with the help of some googling), and I've made extensive use of an SQL database (http://www.esha.com/product/genesis) and its query scripting application (http://www.esha.com/product/esha-port), but I'm pretty much a beginner at actually setting up a complex database in SQL or Access. So, my question: I'm now unemployed, and want to use my time as efficiently as possible to teach myself actual marketable skills that build upon my experience. My criteria: * In demand by employers (I'm in the PDX area, if it matters). I'm 34 years old and recently engaged, and I'd like to acquire some skills that will advance my career instead of back-sliding into dead end data-entry. * Self-teachable. I'm happy to pick up some books, get a Lynda.com account, or take advantage of any other useful websites, but I'm going to be living unemployment check to unemployment check for the foreseeable future, so I'd like to keep costs minimal. * Good pay-off to time ratio. I'm hoping to rejoin the workplace as soon as possible, so something that would take a year of practice in order to land an entry level gig wouldn't work for me (although if anyone has suggestions for longer-term self improvement in this area, I'm very much open to advice). * No expensive software to buy. Again, I'm unemployed. Free is fantastic, cheap is good. I have a fairly modern desktop running Windows 7, a very old (2006) but functional Macbook running Snow Leopard, a Nexus 10, and a decent internet connection. My fiance has a copy of Adobe CS6 if it might be of any possible use. * I'm not really in a position to go back to school right now. * While databases are what I'm most experienced with, I'm absolutely open to peripheral suggestions (programming languages, web design, etc). * One thing I've seen much call for in the employment ads are people with EPIC experience in the healthcare sector, but it seems like entry-level training for this is mainly on the job, and all the entry-level jobs seem to require EPIC experience. If you have any advice about this conundrum, I'm all ears. * I test very, very well. Are there any entry-level certifications that actually impress hiring managers at all? I should mention that level-1 helpdesk IT positions aren't really something I'm interested in, but beggars can't be choosers. Ok, I think that sums it up. Thanks in advance; if you have any questions just let me know.

• Answer:

  Here are a couple of things I'd suggest checking out that have some really good free documentation and low price dead tree editions from O'Reilly and No Starch Press: - MySQL - R - Python - JavaScript D3 - WordPress If you're comfortable with the ETL (extract-transform-load) process (which it sounds like you were in your last position) picking up R and Python to accent that skill can open up a ton of doors for you if you're the least bit interested in going the analysis route instead of the system route. One thing you should do immediately is install MySQL and TOAD for MySQL and start building out some databases so you can start tooling around with the configuration and tuning of your install. You could go with some of the other dbs mentioned, but I really got into using MySQL about seven years ago and haven't found a convincing reason to leave it yet, even after Oracle took it over. If you decide you're interested in R, install R and RStudio, trade in a bunch of stuff you're not using and get http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1593273843/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/ immediately.