Experienced SAP R/3 CTC / ORACLE OCP

[hakort]

Hi,
if you are an experienced SAP R/3 system ad-
ministrator and ORACLE DBA but 50+ and in
need of a new job, is it really worth while
to invest into HP-UX CSA/E training or are
you quite simply out because of your 50+ ?
Do be so kind and let me have your opinion.
Kind regards
Hakort

[Hein van den Heuvel]

The way I understand it, the age discrimination is much more intense in Europe then here in the US and 50+ is a severe handicap. Crazy, but supposedly that's the case.
I believe the social security system over there plays a role in that, as the companies believe they pick up a long term liability (pensions, insurances, employment garantuees). Correct me if I'm wrong.

Here in the States some companies indicate they actuall
like 'old farts': more experience, not so likely to jump out for a dollar more. The pensions, what pensions?, are no longer a problem as they are often simply not being offered (replaced by enhanced 401K savings provisions.

Anyway, as far as training/certifications goes, I would suggest that SAP and Oracle sound like great base skills and that the platform ought to be largely independent/irrelevant/easy-to-pick-up.
From what little I know about your skills/situation and from the employment world in Germany I would suggest you look at broadening instead of deepening OS skills. Get some Linux, or heave-forbid.. Windoze on the resume rather than more/certified hpux. Just a hunch!

fwiw,
Hein (50+ in the USA :-)