Dear SAS-L-ers,

SAS-L-smarty Mary posted the following:

> Mikkeee, > > I don't really think being SAS certified helps the > experienced SAS programmer get a job; I was recently looking > for a new job due to cutbacks at my university and those I > interviewed with did not seem concerned about a lack of SAS > certification, but were very interested in the fact that I > took 6 courses from SAS Institute not too long ago, so it is > more that one is keeping up with new developments that is the > concern rather than SAS certification (i.e., the recent > courses from SAS Instutite were important because it > indicated I was keeping up with new developments in SAS.) > > However, I found that it was harder to get interviews for > statistical jobs like "Biostatistician" than SAS jobs like > "SAS Developer", because I have a masters degree in > Management Science rather than statistics (despite my having > over 30 graduate hours in statistics, I found that having a > degree in Statistics or Biostatistics does matter in some > (but not all) jobs; actually more at academic jobs than in > private industry). > > For new students, however, having a certification in SAS > might matter to get > in the door if they don't have any experience. The online > Masters degree > program in Statistics at Texas A&M does include a track where > students are also required to get SAS certification, so it > appears that some universtities are recognizing that it might > help their graduating students get in the door, particularly > if they don't have any experience. > > Yes, all is well with me; I've secured a new job that starts > in two weeks. Michael, since the job deals with very, very > large SAS data sets, I am currently refreshing my skills on > one-pass solutions and SAS indexes (I've dealt with 50 > million+record datasets/database tables before but it has > been around 5 years), so your book is on the "to buy" list > with my first paycheck. Please watch for question on the > list, Mikkkeee, starting the week of June 15th. > > And look out Minnesota, HERE I COME!!! > > Mary, first of all; BIG CONGRATULATIONS on your new job!!!! It is always nice to hear when one of the "good guys" has such a positive outcome! Look out Lake Wobegone!

Secondly, I am pleased that you are considering ordering my book. Now, I can plan that trip to France:-)

Finally, I think that your information concerning the "real market conditions" out there in the job market is going to be very useful for other SAS-L-ers thinking of either jumping ship or climbing out of the water onto a new one. Perhaps other SAS-L-ers who have recently interviewed or taken a new job will post their helpful comments on their own experiences...

Lastly finally, I was not intending to weigh in on either side of the on-again-off-again SAS certification discussion in my post on this thread. Rather, I was simply letting possible interviewers know that there is a piece of documentation other than the SAS Institute web site that they may access to verify a person _REALLY_IS_ certified. BTW, I got the following private email from another well-known SAS-L-er:

"They stopped giving out the certificates this year. Instead they email you a PDF file and you print your own certificate."

...so ask for that PDF file folks:-)

Mary, best of luck in all of your SAS endeavors!

I hope that this suggestion proves helpful now, and in the future!

Of course, all of these opinions and insights are my own, and do not reflect those of my organization or my associates. All SAS code and/or methodologies specified in this posting are for illustrative purposes only and no warranty is stated or implied as to their accuracy or applicability. People deciding to use information in this posting do so at their own risk.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Michael A. Raithel "The man who wrote the book on performance" E-mail: MichaelRaithel@westat.com

Author: Tuning SAS Applications in the MVS Environment

Author: Tuning SAS Applications in the OS/390 and z/OS Environments, Second Edition

http://www.sas.com/apps/pubscat/bookdetails.jsp?catid=1&pc=58172

Author: The Complete Guide to SAS Indexes

http://www.sas.com/apps/pubscat/bookdetails.jsp?catid=1&pc=60409

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ L'etoile du Nord (Star of the North) - Minnesota State Motto +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++