Certificates and industry

[Musab Al-Rawi]

Here is the thing, I have 2 years of experience as ERP developer/team leader (didn't use Java) Master's degree and since 2004 I have been teaching.
My goal is to get a more dynamic position (in the industry), as you know teaching is not that dynamic (don't ask why I started teaching in the first place please).

I am certified in Java and Oracle but it seems that my lack of experience in Java + latest experience is not helping in achieving my goal.

What do you suggest that I should do??
Since we are at it... can someone get me involved in some Enterprise project to practice my knowledge?

Thanks in advance
[ August 12, 2008: Message edited by: Musab Al-Rawi ]

[aleem khan]

I believe those who teach they have excellent knowledge as they know concepts clearly and can clear any interview... so don't worry , just practice few sample code which is available in google and be ready..all the best

[krishna bulusu]

Let me tell you clearly Having good knowledge is not enough for getting a Job.
Lets say, I know everything about Gun. How it functions, the mechanism every thing. But If I don't have any practicle knowlwdge of gun, I can't do anything with it.
And every company thinks why it should hire you. You have 0 Experience in java but have fairly good knowledge. I believe you must be some 28-30 years of old guy. So, you cannot be placed as a fresher as Age is also an IMP factor here.
Gaining knowledge is very easy task but use it in a proper way is very difficult. I can even say is that, doing certifications is waste of time. If I have fairly good logical and practicle knowledge of java its enough to get on. Its all business involved here in certifications.
I advice you to continue with your teaching profession as that is also a very good option.
All the best.

[Sudarshan Sreenivasan]

Hi,
The post important is to maintain self belief !!! Next try to put something up just by yourself make a website host it up.

Develop a general utility application

put this up in your resume this demonstrates that you have both practical & theoretical knowledge.

People who know both java+oracle are in great demand !!! I am sure you will do very well !!! Just get through these rough times. !!!

[Musab Al-Rawi]

Thanks all for participation.
I believe that you are all correct, technical teachers know a lot about how things run, so they tend to have a clean logic to solve problems.

krishna you are correct firms do look at experience more than certificate, especially at my age. Practical work gets involved in scenarios that you hardly come across if you just read stuff, I have seen this in the SCJD certificate.

Sid thanks for the advice, I always thought that I should do something to practice EJB but at the same time every time I think of a project I think that EJB would be an overkill, don't kill a fly with a gun. But what the heck I am gonna do it!

Thank you all again.

[Mihai Radulescu]

Hi

Here is my opinion about the value of certifications.

The certification proves that your understanding level has reach a certain acceptance level nothing more. If you posses this degree of understanding maybe you can apply it in practice easy(and faster) than some one that does not have this knowledge.

What I mean it depends on you what value you give to the certifications and how you can use it. You can apply for a job which fits to the certification profile and try to use the theory how good you can set it in practice.

By example : I have the scwcd and if you ask me which about a certain tag attribute (from the deployment descriptor) I must take a small look in some documentation - but I know where to search it and how to use it - this make me suitable (I hope) for a web based developing.

Regards
M
[ August 18, 2008: Message edited by: Mihai Radulescu ]