Professional Association for SQL Servers
Professional Organizations are very important to a professional in the field. This is because these organizations offer multiple benefits to all the organization members for a fee. Some of these benefits may include scholarships as well as mentoring programs to the members (Anderson, 2011). Professional organizations will also provide help in finding internships and entry-level positions (Anderson, 2011).
Some organizations offer insight into how the industry works and how to navigate the field (Anderson, 2011). In addition to these benefits, some organization will offer development courses (Anderson, 2011). The great news is that a professional will find that there is a professional organization for every field (Anderson, 2011). One important benefit of a professional organization is its networking abilities.
The members will be able to network with established professionals in the field. Among the many benefits a professional organization could offer members, five may be consider important benefits. These benefits are Jobs Assistance, Mentoring program, Professional Development, Networking, and Scholarships (Anderson, 2011). For any data personnel, professional associations are also important.
SQL Professional Association
A professional association that specialized in database will be able to provide benefits to individuals in the data field. One organization that helps with providing services to the SQL community is PASS or Professional Association for SQL Servers (PASS Staff, 2014). PASS specializes in the Microsoft SQL Server Community worldwide. PASS mission is to empower data professionals in Microsoft technologies to connect, share, and learn via networking, knowledge sharing, and peer-based learning (PASS Staff, 2014).
PASS global membership is now more than 120,000 members (PASS Staff, 2014). This organization is also responsible for SQL Saturday (PASS SQL Saturday Staff, 2014). SQL Saturday’s are a free 1-day event worldwide for SQL Server professionals around the world (PASS SQL Saturday Staff, 2014). These events happen on every Saturday in a different city worldwide and contain seminars and talks in every single topic for Microsoft SQL Servers.
For a list of events, please visit the SQL Saturday site at http://www.sqlsaturday.com/. One of the best benefit of this organization is that the membership and the SQL Saturday events are free. However, if you do not have one event close to you then you may have to pay for travel, food, and lodging expenses. PASS is also responsible for the PASS Yearly Summit (PASS Summit Staff, 2014).
The PASS Summit is where over two thousand companies worldwide send staff members to receive training, technical tips, and tricks that will take the SQL Servers skills to the next level (PASS Summit Staff, 2014). More than 52 countries and 5,000 attendees, is the most focuses and most intensive conference for Microsoft SQL Server and BI professionals (PASS Summit Staff, 2014). The next PASS Summit 2014 will take place on November between the fourth and the seventh in Seattle Washington (PASS Summit Staff, 2014).
Conclusion
In conclusion, professional organizations are important to the professional because of benefits like networking, events, and training. Data professional should consider joining a professional association specific to the data professional because the benefits will be specific to the data field. A professional organization like PASS or Professional Association for SQL Servers will help the Microsoft data professional acquire this benefits specific in the data arena. In addition, being a member of PASS maximizes networking with other professionals in the field because of the sheer amount of professionals involved with PASS.
Over 52 countries and 2,000 attendees worldwide, makes a PASS event a mammoth. The sheer size of this organization will help maximize the benefits of a profession association like the networking potential as well as the ability of PASS to help train professionals. This makes PASS a strong professional association to consider if you are a Microsoft data professional.
References
- Anderson, L. B. (2011, June 16).
- PASS SQL Saturday Staff. (2014).
- PASS Staff. (2014).
- PASS Summit Staff. (2014).