Help - What to do??

JP Mulvano

Guys,
probably the wrong place for this threrad but the only other place I can think of is in Work. Anyways, I tryign to expand my programming and development skills and I've got no one sponsoring me so I'm wondering whats the best road to take. I was thinking of C#. I have a good grounding in C, C++ and java and have been told C# is fairly simlair to them both.

I'm basically looking to make myself more attractive to propective employers as I'm currently stuck in a support role (not that theres anything wrong with it, just not for me) and would like to break into development.

I know my way around C++, java, SQL, Oracle, Network protocols, Apache, Visual Basic, Perl, COBOL, Lotus Script and a few other internet technologies.

Any advice here would be greatly appreciated. thanks

JP Mulvano

any advice on what MCSD/MCP i should do would be greatly appreciated.

McGintyMcGoo

I'm basically looking to make myself more attractive to propective employers

Have a shower and get your hair cut before the interview


Seriously though, there's no point in adding anymore technologies onto what you have listed already. The more that you list, the more likely that you do not specialise in any of them. Concentrate on specialising on C++ or Java fro example, seeing that you have listed them already!

scoby

Brush up on OOP and design patterns / methodologies
that can be applied in many of those languages.
Work on some open source projects or develop something useful on your own
and put it on the web.

clearz

You do not need to learn any more languages. I would look at the J2EE and/or .net platform(s) and try to become proficient in these.

JP Mulvano

clearz wrote:

You do not need to learn any more languages. I would look at the J2EE and/or .net platform(s) and try to become proficient in these.

that was the other road of was thinking of taking. Have to back and start digging out my old college notes on UML and the software development lifecycle, ahh joy of joys back to study for me.

Any other advice on MCSD's? I was thinking it would be a good idea to have a recognised qaulification as I've got a few months expirience in the workplace and I thought it might help. how do employers regards these? i know the old saying you can never be too well educated.

jessy

JP Mulvano wrote:

I was thinking of C#. I have a good grounding in C, C++ and java and have been told C# is fairly similar to them both.

I am learning C# myself at the minute, and it takes the best parts from all of the above three languages.

In my opinion C# is one of the best languages that I have seen.

I'm thinking that a .NET language would look good on a CV.

Hobbes

jessy wrote:

I'm thinking that a .NET language would look good on a CV.

With the Web Services camp your going to see a lot of splitting away from MS. I know of a few corporations that are in the process of moving totally away from MS stuff.

That's not to say the knowledge will be useless. Btw, you would be better going for certification if you don't have experience beyond just learning it.

jessy

Thats seems to be some good advice Hobbes, but if not a .NET language than what, Maybe somthing like J2EEE.

RossFixxxed

.NET platform, J2EE and Java Struts. Also get proficient with several IDEs and software tools. Most employers just want someone who can do 'the same as the last guy'.

Ross