Career advise - java classroom training

[Carol Cory]

I was wondering how much value is placed on completing a course from sun. Such as Java Programming Language (SL-275-SE6). $2000 is quite a bit for me to spend at this time. My career has really hit a brick wall. I have a BS in computer engineering. Additionally I have work experience in assembly, C, and VBA.

[Amaru Shakur]

what do you mean hit a brick wall. i think alittle more insight would be helpful. maybe a masters or a mba might help you stand on top of the wall. certificans arnt the end all to getting the job you want theres alot of other things involved.

i know a lead software engineer who has 0 years of college 0 certifications and makes 150+k and used to make 3 times his salary as a consultant (family made him stop that the time away was too much).

imop its not who you know or what kinds of paper you have your name on, it is how well you know what you know,and how well you can perform.

[Carol Cory]

By brick wall I mean that I was laid off recently. I am having a difficult time finding a programming job. I was thinking that adding a certification or additional skill - programming language - would open more doors for me. I have been studying java through a free online course through sun. However I was wondering what I would need to get a foot into a "new" door.

[Henry Wong]

Well, I have never taken the Sun Java course, but has taken other Sun courses -- kernal internals, device drivers, etc. In every case, it was to get up to speed quickly on a topic, so that I may use it on a project.

I have never used it on my resume, or even mentioned it during an interview. After all, the length of the course was only a week. Finishing a course is hardly the type of "accomplishment" that is worthy of highlighting.

Henry

[arulk pillai]

was wondering how much value is placed on completing a course from sun. Such as Java Programming Language (SL-275-SE6). $2000 is quite a bit for me to spend at this time. My career has really hit a brick wall. I have a BS in computer engineering. Additionally I have work experienc

IMHO, all depends on individuals. There are myriads of tutorials, books and articles that can be used effectively to learn, if one is disciplined and highly motivated. Courses are useful if someone else is paying for you or you cannot discipline yourself to allocate time to sit down and learn. Since you are already in the computer field, it should not be that hard for you to self-study once you allocate some time to do it.

[Sunit Gupta]

I don't think Sun's course is the only way to get Java classroom coaching. I believe there would be institutes in your area offering courses at much lesser prices.

Such institutes could not only offer the courses in Java and related technologies but might assist you in placement as well.