Java Architect Exam...is it worth it?

[Heidi Golledge]

Do you think it adds to your annual income?
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[This message has been edited by Heidi Golledge (edited February 05, 2001).]

[John Wetherbie]

In my case, yes, but that is because my company gives us small salary increases when we get Java certifications. In general, I have not seen having a certification equate to having/getting a higher salary. Companies still seem to focus mainly on experience.
John

[Luiz Antunes]

Hello,
I think it really adds to your salary. I've been told at a company that my salary could be 20% more or that I could be eliminated form the selection if I didn't have the certification (they wanted ANY Java certification by Sun). I guess it's worth it...
Luiz Antunes

[Adrian Yan]

Certification means you have achieves the skill recognized by the vendor. How does it translate to salary? Well, it definitely helps your chances. However, I think you are missing the important point, and that is: the skill you need for success won't come from a piece of paper, but from you.
May the force be with you!!!
Java On, dudes!

[John Wetherbie]

Luiz,
Would you be willing to tell us what company you were talking to?
If you aren't its no problem but I'm intrigued.
Thanks,
John

[David Roberts]

I do a lot of interviewing and hiring. Basically we get so many resumes this is how I usually weed them out:
1. Remove all resumes that are unreadable or more then two pages. If they can't figure out how to write a resume, then they probably can't figure a lot of things out.
2. When looking for MS System Engineers, we require MCSE.
3. When looking for programmers, MCSD, SCJP2 will most likely get put in the interview stack.
4. Experience
5. Stated Skills
6. Education.
As you can see, at our company, for a developer; if you have a cert, at least you got your foot in the door.
We refer to some people as "Cert Weenies". Those who have a lot of certs but no experience.
SCJP, SCEA are very well respected.

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David Roberts, SCJP2
[This message has been edited by David Roberts (edited February 16, 2001).]

[madhesh raj]

Hi Guys,
Since there are too many programmers out there now, i think Sun Java Architect Exam is a ideal tool to seperate the wheat from the chaff.
Architects are the guys required now. As more and more components are readily available, a programmer's job has been reduced to mere customization. In the due course of time all these customization tasks will be automated thereby reducing the need for manual programmers.
Architect Exam is the thing to have if u need to go places.
This is just my view.
Madhesh

[Angela Poynton]

Well to answer the question asked in the topic header "is it worth it?" well that really depends on what you consider makes it worth it. Personally I don't go for certification because it'll get me more money (well not instantly) I do it because I want to learn new things, and working towards certification helps me to structure that learning .. and at the end I get a certificate that says I know this stuff. Eventually that may lead to me getting a different position .. which may mean more money, but ultimatly that isn't the goal! So my answer .. yes it IS worth it, but money has very little to do with it!

[Ajith Kallambella]

Also, many companies hire based on whether you have the required skill(s) to do the job. Certification is just an accredition of that skill that you claim to have.
jobs are not necessarily given to people with certification. Certification doesn't necessarily mean you can do it or you'll get that $$$ job. IMHO a good combination of practical experience and certification is the killer recipe for earning $$$$.
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Ajith Kallambella M.
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java�2 Platform.
IBM Certified Developer - XML and Related Technologies, V1.

[Jeff, Carlson]

Thinking only in the terms of money is the wrong frame of mind. The time and dedication it takes to develop the skills necessary to pass this certification and others like it will pay off ten fold. As you learn, your job gets easier and your code gets tighter and more polished. If your only goal for studying is to try and make more money and not to make your code better and your job easier, then you might be in the wrong profession. I love programming and I love solving problems, and that�s the main reason why I study. I am a SCJ2P and I am currently working on beefing up my skills so I can take the Developers and Architect exams. The certification might get you more money. It most likely will help you get your foot in the door and it is definitely a form of personal accomplishment.

[faisal mahmood]

I don't know if it adds to annual income.
I have completed Programmer Certification and informed my employer and they did not say anything about pay increase.
But, having such certifications e.g. SCJP, SCJD and SCEA are probably useful for the next job.
From employment agencies I had a feeling that these are required for entry level jobs,
Faisal

[Majid Khan]

I think the architect exam would add to ones pay packet in the long run. As completing are three parts would definitely make u a better java nerd.
Besides it would give better job openings to others.
if not anything ,then at least the exam is going to be
very popular .
Regards
Mac

[Gregg Wachter]

Like others who have replied, I would agree that the certification will be what you make of it for salary purposes. But, indirectly I would expect that the additional knowledge and confidence that you carry with you from completing the exams will be noticed and eventually translate into $$.

[CyberHeidi Golledge]

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