Java Certification - worth the effort?

dangerstat · 16 Nov 2008 at 10:49

Hi,

Just a quick question, I'm going (well if it gets signed off) to do a "developing web applications with Java" course which (according to them) will enable me to get Sun certification (well with one additional course too). Just wondering if any of you have Sun Java certification (well via an exam) and whether it was worth the effort :confused:

Also I read a post on another site that indiciated some firms might look down on people with Sun certification???? Seemed a very strange comment to me?

Thanks

Dangerstat

JIMA · 16 Nov 2008 at 15:19

Hi,

I spent quite a bit of time doing the coursework for the SCJP course (Java 5). I think it's well worth the effort. It's a tough course and you learn a lot about Java, not all of which you'd necessarily pick up otherwise. I never got around to doing the exam du to work commitments etc. but plan to over the course of the next year.

Doing a certification shows commitment and dedication no matter what course was being studied - two things that employers would definitely not look down on. Seems to be a very strange statement.

Jim

dangerstat · 16 Nov 2008 at 16:57

It's tricky because I'm no way a specialist Java developer, basically I know enough to do what I want with it. So I've never thought about any certification in it. Moreover I dislike it! The course I'd be doing is taught (and given by the UK leaders in tech training), costs me nothing (company paying) and I just wondered I guess if it's worth my time continuing from the course to go for a certificate. TBH I need this course, because I need to be able to be confident developing web apps with Java - because "it's just the way we do it here".

The annoying thing with Sun is that the certification I'd actually want is SCWCD but for that you need to have SCJP. So it's just making it even more work!

Grrr why are things always more complex than they initially appear!

JIMA · 16 Nov 2008 at 17:27

That's the reason I'd need the SCJP too, in order to do the other Sun courses. I guess Sun want to know that people doing the later courses know their stuff. After all, if people passed the Sun certifications without needing to know what their doing then that devalues everyone that has passed the course. The tougher the cert is the more point there is in having it!

I must admit to disliking Java when I started. I think this was caused by my lack of understanding in some areas, misunderstanding things such as interfaces etc. As I studied the course I found myself liking Java more, being able to see why things are as they are.

Go for it, as you say it's free so you've nothing to lose.

Jim

Shoseki · 16 Nov 2008 at 18:55

I'd make the question shorter : Java, worth the effort?

I use to love Java, now I am involved in J2EE I hate it. Its a retarded language.

dangerstat · 17 Nov 2008 at 22:05

JIMA said:
That's the reason I'd need the SCJP too, in order to do the other Sun courses. I guess Sun want to know that people doing the later courses know their stuff. After all, if people passed the Sun certifications without needing to know what their doing then that devalues everyone that has passed the course. The tougher the cert is the more point there is in having it!

I must admit to disliking Java when I started. I think this was caused by my lack of understanding in some areas, misunderstanding things such as interfaces etc. As I studied the course I found myself liking Java more, being able to see why things are as they are.

Go for it, as you say it's free so you've nothing to lose.

Jim

Thanks again Jim. Aye I understand the point, I guess their point on insisting on the SCJP first, a guy at work had done the course I'm (now definitely) going on and he pretty much said that the level of Java knowledge required was basic at best. I think I'll do the course then consider whether it's better spending some time creating a "portfolio" of examples that I can use to demonstrate my skill, or work towards certification.

Shoseki Java's alright I guess. But i'll caveat that by saying
reaplytothread.getuser("Shoseki").agreejavaisannoying.tostring().wearoutperiodbuttom().getreallyannoyed().comtemplateheadbuttingkeyboard().giveupandusec++()

platypus · 18 Nov 2008 at 11:10

I'd run from Java given the chance, fortunately I was

.

Still, a Sun certification is good to have. I think the upshot is if your company is paying for the training, do it.