Did passing the SCJP exam improve your carrer prospects?

[Katrin Perry]

Hi,

I am currently preparing for SCJP 5.0. Congratulations to all of you that have already passed the test!
I would be really interested to know if passing the test had any impact on your career.
Specially did it make it easier to find a job as Java Developer?

Thanks
Katrin

[Deepak Bala]

Certain employers prefer a SCJP. A SCJP will not do harm to your resume. Employers either recognize your certificate or they dont. The sun java certifications give you a strong fundamental base and they teach you the boundaries of technologies. They dont necessarily certify that you can use a particular technology in the right place efficiently. They are worth the effort in my opinion. Good luck

[Katrin Perry]

Thanks for your reply, John.
I hope SCJP really helps. I am in a non-Java developer role at the moment, using mainly internal bespoke languages, though I have pushed the use of Java for certain tasks, so I do have some experience.
Experience with bespoke languages that nobody has ever heard of is impossible to market, though the skill of programming is there.

Anyway, I hope more of you, guys would share your career experiences, after passing SCJP or other Java certification exams. I hope they are good and it would really be great inspiration for us, who are working hard to pass the exams.


Regards
Katrin

[Theodore Casser]

As I always caution when it comes to certification exams - it's only worth as much as you and your potential (or current) employer feel it is worth.

I got my SCJP because my employer (at the time) mandated that I get one so they could say to potential clients that their developers were certified. In the time since then, I've mostly been doing it as a means of helping to highlight the variety of skills I have in Java, in the event I ever have to find another job... but you need to look at it for what it is, another method of standing out from the crowd, no more, no less. I have both seen where the certificate has helped and where it has hurt.

The best advice is to use it simply as an instrument to show possession of at least a given level of skill with Java. Don't let that be your sole programming credential, but rather look to contributing to open source projects, or working on little projects on your own, to broaden your skills for when you go seeking that job.

Still, your mileage may vary on all of that, so best of luck!

[Tim Holloway]

Go for it. It's not that big a deal and some employers use it as a resume screen the same way they do degrees. I should get one myself - especially since I was given a very good study guide gratis, but I never seem to find the time.

Last headhunter I talked to volunteered "SCJP helpful, but not essential", by which I would assume that given 2 equal candidates, the one with the cert would probably get the job.

While there's only 2 certs that truly impress me - CCNA and RHCE, both of which are based on demonstrating practical skills and not mere knowledge regurgitation - it's not me you need to impress, just the HR department and hiring managers.

[Jay Dilla]

I know IBM has jobs where the specifically require you have it.
Otherwise I never seen it mentioned in a job ad and I don't really know alot of programmers with it. It can't hurt tho. Plus you only need 60% right or something. Might as well go for it.

[Zip Ped]

YES

[Katrin Perry]

Kailash, is there any chance you could share few more details.
Thanks

[Mark Herschberg]

FYI, a search in this forum will reveal a number of threads on this topic over the years for additional points of view.

--Mark

[Rohit Nath]

I do not know if it helps by just having the certificate but it definately will help you while applying to companies especially if they have a written technical test. SCJP preparation plays a major part in preparing you for these written technical java test rounds!

So yes it helps a lot on this front!

Best Luck!

[Clark Johnson]

Originally posted by Jay Dilla:
I know IBM has jobs where the specifically require you have it.
Otherwise I never seen it mentioned in a job ad and I don't really know alot of programmers with it. It can't hurt tho. Plus you only need 60% right or something. Might as well go for it.

But an employer might not look as kindly upon someone with 60% right as he will look upon someone with 90% right....

[vjy chin]

I would say its a personal preference. If you want to be a consultant, then they might be more useful. But the certification alone will not help you much. but you can have a good base for other things.

Even if you dont want to take a certification, it helps to look and work through some good certification books.

[Katrin Perry]

Thank you. Even just for the benefit of being more confidend and prepared for the tests that we nearly always seem to be given during an interveiw, it would be worth it doing SCJP.

[william gates]

If you have the time to study everything you need to get a near perfect score, the money to buy books and pay for the exam, then go for it.

There are certain exams that cost thousands of bucks and just like anything, if your company pays for it, why not, but 1000's of dollars paying to pass and get some certificate isn't always worth it.

But that's not the case here.. Like I said, it's a certification. If you have the experience, it'll probably get you a couple extra dollars or interests. If you have none, maybe it'll get you an interview.

Don't expect it to make you go from 1 year experience at 50K to 1 year experience at 100K though.

[Katrin Perry]

I have lots of experience as a developer (over 10) But a lot of it is in using in-house bespoke systems. These skills are impossible to market. What I am hoping to achieve by doing the Java Certifications is to get into a Java role. I have some Jave experience but so far it hasen't been enough to get me a job. I am desperate to start a job where I will be using languages and systems that are widely used - like Java. Otherwise my future is to stay forever in the company where I am now (I have already been there for 7) on a very low salary and retire there. I would rather give up work.

[Jay Dilla]

Originally posted by Clark Johnson:


But an employer might not look as kindly upon someone with 60% right as he will look upon someone with 90% right....

How would they know?

[Katrin Perry]

They will know because I am being honest. I am not very good at not telling the truth so I avoid doing it. Apart from this, they could usually guess as soon as they start questionning what projects one has worked on.

One thing is puzzling me, you all seem to pride yourself with good results on the SCJP exam. But does it really matter if you get 60% or 99%. How would an employer know? Is it written in your certificate? Do you normally have to show your certificates to prospect employers? Because in the UK, nobody has ever been interested in me actually showing a document, proving that I have got certification, degree ...

Thanks

[Sathish Nagappan]

An Employer can find out if he wants to. Even if it is not written in your certificate, it is written in your exam report. And If it is written in your exam report, then it means that you can put it in your resume, since it can be proven if your employer asks for it.

As for certifications giving way to a Java career, I did find it useful to direct my career path to Java, by completing SCJP, SCWCD, SCBCD (Forget the sig, I have kept it that way for personal purposes). I was initially placed on an AS400 project (Real bullshit that technology was), After completing these certs, I was able to coax my Manager to release me. Now I am in a full fledged JEE project working on cutting edge technologies like Oracle ADF, TopLink, JSF's etc.

Certifications will direct your career path. Provided you also have the potential to market them effectively.

[Rahul Bhattacharjee]

It helps a lot.there are some companies where you do not need to give the first round of interview if you are a scjp certified.It helps.If you prepare for SCJp then also you learn a great deal of java that would definately help you to crack interviews easily.

[Pavel Kubal]

I work for my company as a lector besides my regular work. And when we're preparing a proposal for training (5-10 days) of custom java training, they always add up list of my certificates at the end. It sounds good although they usually don't know what exactly they represent.

That's my advantage over my collegues, because training is very good advertising and is well-paid as well.

[Rogerio Kioshi]

I must say that after I passed SCJP I got a job in a company which I've been trying to enter for many other times.

Although I passed the tests, they only called me after I sent a resume saying I was SCJP. They make a filter between the candidates (the ones which are certified and the others).

Besides the certification is something that belongs to you, not to the company. This gives you the chance to choose the company you wanna work for. After passing the test you stay much more confident about your job, too.

[Srinivasane Aravamudan]

hello, I'm new to java ranch. I just passed the SCJP exam..I'm doing my 3rd year B.Tech. Will this certification add value to my resume while i sit for a job interview?

[Sagar Rohankar]

Srinivasane Aravamudan wrote:I'm doing my 3rd year B.Tech. Will this certification add value to my resume while i sit for a job interview?

Ofcourse. Its an achivement for fresher or students. Write about the certification on the very first page.
And welcome to JR.