Hello,

I am a C++ programmer who just got an Associates degree. I went for an interview yesterday and did very well on a C++ technical interview. The company actually deals partly in recruiting and part application development. The interviewer told me that it would be a good idea to get a Sun Certified Java Programmer Certification and then I could be more marketable for a job being that things are geared more tword the internet now. They asked me to get back to them to let them know how soon I could get the certification.

I would like to know what the average time is to study for the Sun Certified Java Programmer Certification. Have any of you taken it?

Thanks again,

Andrew

Hi -

I would say that a list of projects you worked on would weigh more heavily than some "certification" you got just by answering a bunch of T/F and multiple choice questions.

When discussing projects, please don't discount school projects or volunteer work you might have done for a church or a club.

Having said that: Yes, I have an SCJP certificate, and No, the test wasn't that hard. You *should* know Java (although frankly, you can probably cram well enough to pass the test without knowing any Java). And the very best study guides (bar none! Honest!) are by Kathy Bates and Bert Sierra:

http://www.amazon.com/Certified-Prog...1082610&sr=1-2

'Hope that helps .. PSM

Thank you paulsm4 for the insight and the link to the study guides by Kathy Bates and Bert Sierra. I guess now I will contact the office and give them my time line.

I decided to focus specifically on C++ because it develops good programming habits/skills. I have read an essay written by an old school programmer who started way back with Assembly then got into C when it came out then moved to C++. He said that Java it a substantial language that is worth paying attention to. I agree as well.

I started to read 20 year old books on C because I heard that so many languages are based on C and learning it would help one migrate to other languages better, such as Java, which was syntactically based on C.

Thanks again,

Andrew