[PJUG Javamail] Advice on Java certification

[Joe Hoffman]

Great comments Richard. I totally agree.

For myself, getting certified was interesting and educational.  I'm glad 
I invested the time and I learned about parts of the technology (Swing) 
that I otherwise never have dealt with, as I work only on server 
side/web stuff.

My certification has never been relevant to a job discussion.  I've 
never been asked "are you certified".  However I have been asked many 
times about what I've done, what I've built,  how I handed XYZ., etc.   
While some of this experience might come from a certification program,  
employers and peers are looking for real live experience.  I would not 
rely on a certification to accomplish these goals.  It's just not enough.

good luck

joe

Richard wrote:
> Cole Harper aks:
> "  For someone without a CS degree, is the Java Certification
> " route a way to get a job as a Java developer? 
>
> The best route I've seen--with or without degree--is to have a body of coding 
> experience.  For some reason (go figure) managers like to see a track record 
> a whole lot more than they like to see a degree (for the most part.)  
>
> To get the experience:
>
>  - do the whole Sun tutorial
>  - do all the exercises in "Thinking in Java"
>  - write a couple of interesting programs or web sites for yourself
>  - get involved in one or two open source projects and genuinely contribute
>  - come to many PJUG meetings and get to know us
>  - find a specific area of Java that you enjoy, and then repeat all these, in 
> that area.
>
> The good news for you is that you're already employed.  That gives you the 
> staying power to accomplish this goal.  We have lots of bright and taleneted 
> people here in PJUG who'll likely be more than willing to help you along the 
> way.
>