Sun's Java Certification
Just wondering what y'all think of Sun's Java Programmer certification, whether it's worth going after, best ways to study/prepare. Anyone actually done it? Would working through something like Bruce Eckel's Thinking in Java be enough?
I interviewed with a large company for a "Jr Java Developer" position today and the interviewer (who was the head developer, not just a PHB) suggested I consider cramming and and trying to get Sun certification in the next few months. I believe the quote was something like "It would be great for you wherever you go because you put that at the top of your resume and I wouldn't even have to ask about your comfort level with Java or getting up to speed on a new language. That would be all we'd need to know." ...there was mention about it influencing salary for all levels of developers also.
I'm pondering it now because I've so often heard that certs are well, empty? worthless? a waste of time and money?
Any comments are appreciated. I'm still fairly new to Java and looking for a first development job (partly why the interviewer brought it up) but I'm comfortable in general with programming/OOP/C++ and currently sitting on an aging computer science degree that isn't otherwise doing much at present. *sigh*
-Mark
I interviewed with a large company for a "Jr Java Developer" position today and the interviewer (who was the head developer, not just a PHB) suggested I consider cramming and and trying to get Sun certification in the next few months. I believe the quote was something like "It would be great for you wherever you go because you put that at the top of your resume and I wouldn't even have to ask about your comfort level with Java or getting up to speed on a new language. That would be all we'd need to know." ...there was mention about it influencing salary for all levels of developers also.
I'm pondering it now because I've so often heard that certs are well, empty? worthless? a waste of time and money?
Any comments are appreciated. I'm still fairly new to Java and looking for a first development job (partly why the interviewer brought it up) but I'm comfortable in general with programming/OOP/C++ and currently sitting on an aging computer science degree that isn't otherwise doing much at present. *sigh*
-Mark
