Java Career Advice
Okay so I don't have a formal Computer Science Degree. I was studying Mechanical Engineering @ Berkeley when I withdrew with 1.5 years to go. I ended up getting BS in Information Technology from Univ. of Phoenix. I currently work as a Systems (Hardware) Engineer. I occasionaly write Java test drivers for some of our HW.
I have Java Certificate from Berkeley Extension and I planning on taking SCJP and SCJD. Will all this be enough to become a legitimate Java Developer?
I lack experience, but I'm trying to get a little at work. Is there anything else I can do to get experience. Should I go back and get a CS degree? I really can afford to do so....
Any advice will help.
Thanks!
[716 byte] By [
gatrejoa] at [2007-11-27 1:56:32]
All employers like everyone else wants the best bang for the buck.
If they can get a PHD for what a high school graduate costs, but trainning an employee is expensive. An new PHD with no experience is not going to stay in a burger flipping job.
That said persons with a post HS degree usually can command higher saleries and find more employment oppertunities that a simple HS degree.
The hard part will be finding people to give you a chance to establish a track record. Once you are established a degree or cert means very little.
The most important thing for you is to build a DYNAMITE resume. That will get you farther than a Comp Sci degree. People will disagree, but it's true. The resume is the first thing people judge you by, next your skillset, next your experience (sorry), next your degree, then other paticulars.... That's my take on it anyway.
