Lessons From a Chassidish Computer Whiz
I recently had my computers serviced by a chassidishe fellow from Boro Park who does computers. Not only did he know what he was doing, he was more knowledgeable than the technicians from the software companies that he spoke to on the phone while working on our systems.
Microsoft makes a very sophisticated and powerful database software called SQL. It is so complex that there are specialists whose entire job is to be a database adminsitrator who can properly manage the databases and the tables, where the average salary for a good database person can top $110,000. This fellow tells me that without taking any classes, he was able to pass 2 of the very difficult Microsoft exams on SQL, which he took “just for the fun of it”. (None of his heimishe customers would know or care if he is Microsoft certified).
Here you have someone who never went to college, never went to any vocational school, doesn’t have a high school diploma, but who is making a nice living setting up computer systems for businesses of all sizes, from small to medium to large enterprises. How did he get there? By applying his intelligence (which we all have) and drive to succeed (which we all should have) to a skill, he became an expert in what he does. An expert in any kind of field, whether it is law, construction, medicine, or even kriah remidiation, becomes the “go to” person that can make a nice living whatever it may be.
So next time you find yourself saying, “But what can I possibly do to make a living?”, just learn the lessons from this enterprising fellow (and the many others just like him). Believe that you can do it, and then get about the business of doing so.
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Filed Under: Career Advice • Inspiration
Just a minor point: the Microsoft product is called SQL Server. SQL is an acronym standing for Structured Query Language which is used by Mirosoft SQL Server and other database products (DB2, Oracle, etc.)
That being said, I can tell you that what you wrote is absolutely correct, because I am actually living proof of it. I am a database developer and I use Microsoft SQL Server every day.
I was working as a customer service representative for a large electronics store. It wasn’t a bad job, but I knew that I was going to need to improve my skills if I was going to earn a better living.
Unlike the person in your example, however, I did attend classes. I spent a year in a certificate program at Baruch, learning client-server programming. In the end, I never really ended up using much of the programming that I learned, but I did end up using the database skills I picked up. I earned back the cost of the course in the first year and have seen my salary increase after that.
Database development and administration is not rocket science. You do, however, need to have a good deal of common sense and the ability to understand technical issues.
Zev Steinhardt
Lo L’Chachomim Lechem.This blog makes it sound like it is so easy for anyone motivated to find a Parnossah to do so.The real world doesn’t work that way.Yes many people were successful at start up businesses but the majority of those who attempt to do so fail.I strongly identify with the stated purpose of this blog:to help make the transition to the working world but please be more realistic and speak to the majority of (average)people in the future.IMHO the reason so many burnt out people stay in kollel is because they don’t have a realistic way of making more money then to programs give them.Give some realistic advice to those people.
“This blog makes it sound like it is so easy for anyone motivated to find a Parnossah to do so.”
Yes, because it’s true. The rest of your comment is just complaining. Burnt out people hanging out in Kollel don’t get jobs not because they can’t find one, rather because they are not motivated. If you’d be motivated you’d either be becoming a big Talmud Chocham or finding a job.
There are realistic ways of making money (maybe not millions or to be rich…But a Jewish person doesn’t need that much, just what he needs to live, take care of his family, then learn the rest of the day.) There are many people and programs out there, anyone motivated will find them. Or can send an email to the one in charge of the blog and he can in turn email me and I will give him the information (at least for those living in Eretz Yisrael.)
Don’t forgot many of our Grandfathers and their parents came to America with nothing and look how so many of them and their children and grandchildren turned out!! (While fighting bigger battles back then, to keep Shabbos, etc.) My friend told me his Grandfather had 52 jobs in one year (he was fired every week on Friday afternoon because he said he wasn’t going to come in on Shabbos.) Finally after that he started his own business.
I agree with Zahava. Being “motivated” will not help by itself. Too many motivated people start businesses which fail. 50 years ago it was relatively simple to start and maintain a business- you had to sell something for more than you bought it for and make sure there was no local competitors.
The problem is that today in a global market, many businesses will have competition from around the country/world due to online trading. The only way to garauntee a respectable income is through educating yourself to the level that makes you employable.
“The only way to garauntee a respectable income is through educating yourself to the level that makes you employable.”
Also true! (And with motivation…) All these things are attainable. My brother started out in a low end job at a company now he works in the IT department of the same company with people UNDER him! (no college education — although he then started going to a community college and is still there as he moved up in the company and was promoted many times.) All the knowledge he obtained until now has been on his own pretty much. Now he is working on started his own business he hopes to leave the company soon and focus on that full time (again the business came from his own knowledge and experience.) He already has customers (some family and others people that he knows that had a desire to use his services — he hopes to build up with this now to more customers outside of his “local” network.)