To SCWCD or not to SCWCD :)

[Tony Alicea]

After 1.66 years of continuos professional experience on Servlets and JSPs, I don't feel compelled to take this Certification exam.
But I committed myself at work to pass it by December 31 (as part of a "Cascade Transformation" of the Company) so I have no choice.
I am tempted just to go after a couple of days of studying, hopefully get a score in the 80s and be done with it.
From what I read, there's much memorizing to do of stuff which as someone else said, you can (and I do) look it up in the API documentation!
A lot of "cut and paste" helps too...
I got 98% in the SCPJ2 Certification exam, but at the time I had not worked professionally with Java and as such it helped me get two offers in one week of looking for work in Feb of 2000.
Now, I already have the job so... You get the picture.

[Sudhir Bangera]

Hi Tony,
I agree with you that this certification is not needed to do a good job. I am a servlet programmer for the past 2 years before getting certified and had no problem in executing my projects.
Since you have committed to giving this exam, I feel you should go ahead and do it because:
1. Its tricky but not difficult (like for SCJP if you know your concepts well then you should easily pass). To get high score, you may have to do some work on the Jsp syntax and exact deployment descriptor elements names and exact listener names etc. Working experience of Servlet and JSP helps a lot as our basic concepts are clear. One thing to look our for is use of SingleThreadModel which we rarely used in our professional projects.
2. Technically it is possible to pass the exam by studying for 2 days from the various notes available online (Miftah Khan, Michelle or Ken etc) . I am assunimg that you have browsed through the specifications during your professional work. You may consider giving atleast couple of mock tests to make sure you dont get confused on any topic.
3. By getting 98% in SCJP you have demonstrated your exam taking capability and your ability to avoid traps in various options of the answers...so you should be ok with SCWCD as it is marginally easier than SCJP2...
All the best to you..go for it...

Sudhir
SCJP2
SCWCD

[Ashik Uzzaman]

I agree with Tony in two contexts -----
(1) One who is already in a job need not bother very much for online certifications, be it any! Some exceptions may be if u get a free voucher, or the company tells u and may increase ur salary!
(2) SCJP2 is a very standard exam so far. Its a pleasure to know the ins & outs of Java Programming paradigms in the basics.
And my opine to Tony's exam is that if u have decided to appear the SCWCD exam then enjoy it! Prepare for the exam rigorously just to get a personal satisfaction....
And Tony, i m also appearing this within ur time frame...but at my own expense and interest...
------------------
Muhammad Ashikuzzaman (Fahim)
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java� 2 Platform
--When you learn something, learn it by heart!

[Carl Trusiak]

I had several freinds loss their "safe" jobs they have held for 10-15+ years. The job market in our area is getting tighter. Anything you can do now to improve your marketability if your suddenly released from your current job would be advisable IMO.
Go for it Tony, you could be the first reported 100!

[Tony Alicea]

Thanks to all for the encouragement! It made feel good reading your replies
And I had forgotten about Carl's point. I should place myself in a more competitive advantage just in case!!