James Serra is a Big Data Evangelist at Microsoft with over 30 years of experience in various roles including developer and architect. He emphasizes the importance of personal branding, continuous learning, and networking in the tech industry. Serra shares resources and advice for professionals looking to grow their careers in data and business intelligence fields.

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!

6. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

7. •
•
•
•
•
•

8. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

9. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

10. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

11. •
•
•
•

12. •
•
•
•
•
•
•

13. Databases
Data Warehousing
SQL Server

14. •
•
•
•
•
•
•

15. •
•
•
•
•

16. •
•
•
•
•
•

17. •
•
•
•
−
−
−
−
•
−
−
−
−
−
−

18. •
•
•
•

19. Working for Microsoft/partners
•
•
•
•
•

20. Hot fields/skills
•
•
•
•

21. Salary negotiations
•
•
•
•

22. Recruiters
•
•
•

23. Resume tips
•
•
•
•

24. •
•
•
• Don’t have the time: Figure It the %$&* Out!

25. • http://bit.ly/zJ9Ztq
• http://bit.ly/zDsnkj
• http://bit.ly/1nohdgS
• http://bit.ly/1nokwos
• http://bit.ly/X2vMrf
• http://bit.ly/1nokMnp
• http://bit.ly/z5sWIs
• http://bit.ly/1nol4KV
• http://bit.ly/1nolelw
• http://bit.ly/AhJv1k
• 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”)