• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
programming forums Java Mobile Certification Databases Caching Books Engineering Micro Controllers OS Languages Paradigms IDEs Build Tools Frameworks Application Servers Open Source This Site Careers Other Pie Elite all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
Marshals:
  • Campbell Ritchie
  • Jeanne Boyarsky
  • Ron McLeod
  • Paul Clapham
  • Liutauras Vilda
Sheriffs:
  • paul wheaton
  • Rob Spoor
  • Devaka Cooray
Saloon Keepers:
  • Stephan van Hulst
  • Tim Holloway
  • Carey Brown
  • Frits Walraven
  • Tim Moores
Bartenders:
  • Mikalai Zaikin

interviews talking and certification

 
Bartender
Posts: 1111
Eclipse IDE Oracle VI Editor
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I have been unemployed for 1 year after having 3years java experience.
One reason for this is technical exams, i learnt my java by doing it, so i don't know the correct names for stuff,
or the silly language questions they ask in technical exams as they are silly things you would never code so i don't know if they are correct or not (i don't know if #3 is a valid variable as i have never tried to compile it as it is unhelpful and unmeanigful)

i was wondering id taking the scjp exam would help me, by teaching me the technical terms, but more importantly by showing interviewers that i may not interview well, but honestly i can do it?

i didn't put this in the certification forum as i wanted negative answers as well as positives, and everyone there would obviously say yes.

 
Marshal
Posts: 79177
377
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Go through the Java Language Specification and note the names for things. Look through books like Effective Java by Joshua Bloch or Java Puzzlers by Bloch and Gafter.

If people realise you say "overriding" when you mean "overloading" they will think you have never worked with anybody in Java, and cannot communicate with team members.
 
Author
Posts: 12617
IntelliJ IDE Ruby
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Wendy Gibbons wrote:One reason for this is technical exams, i learnt my java by doing it, so i don't know the correct names for stuff,
or the silly language questions they ask in technical exams as they are silly things you would never code [...] i didn't put this in the certification forum as i wanted negative answers as well as positives, and everyone there would obviously say yes.


*I* wouldn't; I don't use certifications as a qualifier.

But those "silly" language questions, and "correct" names for things, are how people communicate: without a shared vocabulary there is no way to communicate. I learned Java by doing as well--but I also know proper terminology for things, gained via reading, listening, watching.

Having an SCJP doesn't mean you can code either--but it *will* help you understand the environment you're working in, and how to talk about it with people that care about their craft. For me, *that* is the sure sign of someone I want to hire. People that don't bother learning about the environment they're working in are suspect.
 
Sheriff
Posts: 67746
173
Mac Mac OS X IntelliJ IDE jQuery TypeScript Java iOS
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I agree with Campbell and David. Having a certification is not going to be worth much in and of itself. Having a good working knowledge of the language and the associated vocabulary will. Now, if getting your SJCP is a good way for you to go about doing that, fine. Go for it. But you could also get the same benefit by other means. Take the route that works best for you.
 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 53
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I have experienced the same problem while i switch my Job, Mostly on Java vocabulary and technical terms and it made the communication gap between me and the interviewer. However after complete reading of SCJP1.5 book(Sun Certified programmer for Java 5) and practice i was able to communicate better in the interviews.

also, collect all the java topics like below(Sample) and prepare well with definitions.

Checked and Unchecked Exceptions
Custom Exception
Chained Exception
Error Class Machanism(error Code)
Assertion
Initilization Block(Static & Instance)

GOOD LUCK !!!
 
Wendy L Gibbons
Bartender
Posts: 1111
Eclipse IDE Oracle VI Editor
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
thanks for your replies. if i have paid for an exam it will actually force me to read and remember the book, so i will achieve the aims you all rightly say are important.

But now i understand the exam is just a motivator to me.

p.s. i learnt from reading code in the system i was working on, not by reading books.
 
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic