Which certification?

G-Money

I'm currently considering doing some training and possibly getting certified via the Sun Certified Java Developer exams or the Microsoft .Net equivalent.

I was wondering what are people's thoughts on these? Especially from a marketablity standpoint. This idea behind this would be to help me switch jobs in the not too distant future. I already work in software but not as a developer and I want to give myself more options than I currently have.

Was just wondering which certification gives the better career opportunities? I already have a tiny bit of C# experience but mostly from just messing around writing a few tools here and there. I am missing tons and tons of knowledge. Currently I've no real experience of Java but I would be willing to learn it.

Sorry if this post is a bit rambling. Just trying to work out which certification route is best (if any) and which gives the most options to get a job at the end.

Thanks.

selfdiy

The only advice I can give is on the Java certification. As I have no experience of c#.

You need to know the programming basics, as the exams gets into very gritty detail on syntax and language fundamentals.

There is one book which covers the whole exam, if you can answers the questions at the end of each chapter then you'll be ready to take the exam.

There is allot of Java work out there at the moment. If you were certified it would help you answer any java related questions in an interview.

I would think there is more java then c# work out there at the moment from talking to recruiters etc...

dsrckiyisvddht

selfdiy wrote: »

There is one book which covers the whole exam, if you can answers the questions at the end of each chapter then you'll be ready to take the exam.

What book would this be? Thanks

G-Money

wxzk1c7nd9opei wrote: »

What book would this be? Thanks

I'm guessing he means this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Certified-Programmer-Study-Guide-CX-310-065/dp/0071591060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303222074&sr=8-1

selfdiy

Yes thats the book.

G-Money

Started reading it last night. It's harder than I thought it would be and does assume the reader has a certain amount of programming knowledge. I think I need to go over the basics before starting it.

G-Money

I was also looking into the Microsoft certification. The developer certification seems to require you to take 3 or 4 exams, at €140 a pop. Is that normal? From what I can see the Sun certification is about €270 and is only one exam?

selfdiy

The sun one is only one exam, multiple choice questions under a time limit.
I though it was less then that but its a few years since I done mine.

You do need some programming knowledge for the java one, but I found that book is good a teaching some of the principles also.

henryporter

Who does the Sun Certification for €270? and how often is it done - wouldn't mind doing it soon although looking at the book it'll be the end of the Summer before I can give it a lash.

selfdiy

Prometric do the exams, they have a place in Athlone, I'm sure there available in other locations to.

I think they are available to do at regular intervals, you buy a voucher and then schedule a date you want to do it on.

Not sure if things have changed since oracle bought sun out...