[H-GEN] Re: [ajug-victoria] Java certification exam, worth it?

[David Wood]

Kai O'Yang wrote:
> Quite a few of my students are asking whether it is worthwhile to take Sun's
> Java Certified Programmer/Developer exam.
> 
> Can someone enlighten me whether the industry views this "qualification" as a
> criteria of employment? Or it's "nice to get, but not necessary"?

As an employer, I do not look for industry "qualifications".  Instead,
we focus on the following:

1.  A friendly, cooperative personality with a culture of continuous
learning;
2.  problem solving skills;
3.  evidence of completing what one starts (e.g. a university degree);
4.  desire to improve oneself; and
5.  solid background in the field for which we are hiring (though not
necessarily work experience).

For programmers, we like to see that they have a computer at home, that
they have used another operating system than Windows and that they have
and use an Internet account.  Evidence of hackery on their own time is
much more important than having passed a test.

All of that being said, if they pass the above test and have _also_ made
time to pass the Sun certification, then that would be viewed as a good
thing.

Regards,
Dave
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Those who do not understand Unix are condemned to reinvent it, poorly.
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