Career track?

[Erik Heyl]

So I'm going through head first Java and loving it! I;m new to the language (but have php/ajax experience) and tried to learn it in university many moons ago but it was dry and boring and not explained well. I love the book and am considering learning to get certified. Once I've got my base certification which would make me more employable, EJB or WEb compnents, or both? I'm in tech support for xbox 360 and really would like a new/higher paying career.

SO, I really need advice, what other books after head first should I get? I'm going the self taught route

thanks Erik

[Marcus Green]

There are many jobs that require JSP without EJB, but fewer jobs that require EJB and no JSP, so on balance you might be best going for the JSP (SCWCD) exam. But of course having both would be even better.

[Watsh Rajneesh]

Originally posted by Erik Heyl:
SO, I really need advice, what other books after head first should I get? I'm going the self taught route

thanks Erik

I read the following:
Servlets & JSP: Head First Servlets & JSP
EJB: Mastering EJB by Ed Roman
With both WCD and EJB in hand you may want to first learn the basics of one good appserver. I am about to read a JBoss At Work from Oreilly which will put your above learning together.

Then you can graduate to learning desing patterns:
Head First Design Patterns
Core J2EE design patterns

Then you read about some web framework:
Core JSF or Struts: The complete reference.

Lastly, you may want to read Expert one-on-one J2EE design and development and Java development with spring framework.

With the above readings and the necessary practice you will be a learned person for sure.

[Deepak Bala]

I am going through the head first JSP book right now. Its a great piece of work. It looks just like the head first java book and its just as wacky.