Hi, Billy ! How's it going, mate !

[HS Thomas]

We'll continue in this thread .

Originally posted by HS Thomas:
Yo Billy!
Sorry - lost connection for a while. How's it going , mate?

Please keep this thread on topic; feel free to start a new one.
--Mark

posted by Billy Tsai

I have given up on this country I have already got the airplane ticket I am leaving next week anyway the universities in this country are not that famous in the international stage.

regards

[HS Thomas]

Where are you off to next , Billy!
regards

[Billy Tsai]

I am moving to sydney australia, the only thing I regret leaving behind in this country is my dog which is part of my family I have her for more than 6 years and I miss her very much
I sold everything I got even my computer I am using a laptop.

[HS Thomas]

That's cool.
Sydney should have lots more opportunity.It's a pity about your dog ,though.
But I know the feeling.I had to leave a dog behind with very good friends.
My friends wrote that the dog never got over it and was broken hearted. Strange dog thought it was human. You can probably fly her/him over once you get settled. You are not moving that far from NZ.
What are your plans once you get to Sydney. Sorry I don't know anyone in Sydney. The best of luck.

regards
[ September 13, 2003: Message edited by: HS Thomas ]

[HS Thomas]

Check out the dress code and office tidiness in Oz, Sydney in particular.
Dress and Office code
Sydney has formal dress code at work.

regards
[ September 13, 2003: Message edited by: HS Thomas ]

[Billy Tsai]

I am going to study and take the Sun Certified Business Component developer exam when I am there, I will come back for my dog one day.

[Alexandre Ferras]

How about your family Billy ? They can help you to find a job !

[HS Thomas]

Go knock the socks off them!
Alexandre, I believe family are a bit non-supportive.
Makes me glad of my family but we give a little and take a little and hope it balances out! Though it doesn't always, who's counting.
regards
[ September 17, 2003: Message edited by: HS Thomas ]

[Alexandre Ferras]

Thomas,
I think family can help, if you have a relative, or even a relative's friend, working on IT field

[Matt Cao]

Hi Alexandre,
You probably new, Bill Tsai is a legend here. HS knows what he talking about.
Regards,
MCao
[ September 17, 2003: Message edited by: Matt Cao ]

[Alexandre Ferras]

Originally posted by Matt Cao:
Bill Tsai is a legend here

I know that
Billy, I hope you find a job in your new home !

[Billy Tsai]

my parents are retired and they have their own money problems, they wont support and help me. I am completely on my own

[HS Thomas]

Yeah! Retiring parents need their space.
Are you in Sydney now ? How are you finding it ?
Here's a few facts taken from a postcard. Excuse the talking down (The postcard was to a 5 yr old).
Different types of Kangaroos:
There are the grey, the brown and the red Kangaroos.the red kangaroo is the biggest of the kangaroos and is as tall as your daddy. The kangaroos that live in trees and are known as the tree kangaroos.We even saw some white Kangaroos.There are smaller types of kangaroo called the wallaby and the smallest type of kangaroo is called the paddymone.Then there is the koala that lives in the eucalaptyus trees.They spend most of their time sleeping and are awake for only 3 hours in a day.We saw the emu bird that looks something like an ostrich and the Cassowary bird which is the largest bird in Australia. Did you know that (for both of these birds) it is the daddy bird that looks after the young.Mummy bird just lays the eggs and dissapears.We saw the Dingo a wild dog that is known to eat small animals."

And I thought the Cassowary bird was extinct ! Unless there used to be an even bigger bird. Previously I thought Australia only had Roos and koalas.
regards

[Billy Tsai]

yes I m in sydney now, I am gonna study for SCBcD soon after I have settled in here, I dont think its any easier to find a job here than NZ however the opportunities here are several times more

[HS Thomas]

Good Luck with the SCBCD !
Here is a link to an exam simulator.
Whizlabs -SCBCD Simulator
And there are other Whizlabs simulators for the SCEA as well, IBM UML.
Why not consider doing a vendor-implementation exam ?
BEA WebLogic or one of IBM's.
They tend to cover a broader range of subjects and employers may recognise that better.
"Didn't we just buy a server from IBM / WebLogic?
Here's a guy with IBM/WebLogic qualifications."
Sydney sounds like a hip happening place.
The wild life does include the two-legged variety and I'm not talking 'Roos only!
Agencies could help with giving an indication of what skills are in demand where, but I believe they are rather overwhelmed by job-seekers, so you have to extract that information from them somehow.
regards
[ September 21, 2003: Message edited by: HS Thomas ]

[Tina Williams]

Hi Billy,
Instead of spending your money on certification, take an internet connection and learn the tools used in industry like ant, Junit, struts and JBOSS and try to do some web designs or go to sites like rentacoder and do some real projects eventhough you don't bid for it. I am sure it will boost your confidence and land you in a job. Certifications are good but that alone is not enough to get a job

[Al Newman]

Good point, Tina.
The most magic moment in an interview is when you can grab the white-board marker and say "Here's how you do that....".
That comes only from working with the tools themselves. Not from any certification ever written.....

[HS Thomas]

Still, Certifications do have their value. The three tracks as I see it seem to be.
SCJP and SCJD - for programming and design
SCJP, SCWCD, SCBCD - for component development (hopefully there will be a practical exam for this track eventually)
SCEA, UML - for Analysis or Project Management (plus experience in Analysis and managing a project)
Along with these, add *tools* to your kit.

IDEs, application servers (usually vendor specific certifications help here) , presentation skills (as Alfred pointed out you also need to be able to demonstrate what you have learnt and be able to put it in the right context ), interviewing skills (selling your skills (i.e. you).
Nothing like job hunting to polish these up between certifications!

regards
[ September 23, 2003: Message edited by: HS Thomas ]

[HS Thomas]

SCJP, SCWCD, SCBCD - for component development (hopefully there will be a practical exam for this track eventually)

The SCCDD The Sun Certified Component Development Design -
the options would be to use EJB or AOP or anything else that might surface.
I started thinking that the SCJD would evolve into this certification
but not everyone needs components, so I guess the SCJD would stay.
This is pure guesswork but I wouldn't be surprised ! 2 years doon th'leen.
regards
[ September 26, 2003: Message edited by: HS Thomas ]

[Billy Tsai]

I am working as a technical consultant at a software company now
but actually my job duties include everything like programming,drawing UML, teaching ppl, talking to client, fixing computer , learning new stuffs, writing html pages and javascripts etc....

Best Regards

Billy Tsai
Technical Consultant
-------------------------------------------
Professional Service Division, W&Jsoft Inc.
Email: [e-mail]
Web: http://www.wnjsoft.com
Tel: [phone] extension 36
Fax: [phone]

[Rufus BugleWeed]

Billy's alive.

[HS Thomas]

...and working
With the most certifications I have seen on anyone.
Billy are you planning on doing anymore certifications ?
Are you still in Australia ?
Did you watch the Rugby World cup ?
You are in Taiwan !
[ December 04, 2003: Message edited by: HS Thomas ]

[Billy Tsai]

i watched the rugby world cup Australia beat NZ.
and yeah my company will provide the training for the Ecommerce platform/tool for us when we finish this project and will also let us take the certification for that product(the company pay for the exam )
it is called Intershop Enfinity EMS,MCS,EMC.
Intershop Certified Professional

[Tim Holloway]

Originally posted by Billy Tsai:

but actually my job duties include everything like programming,drawing UML, teaching ppl, talking to client, fixing computer , learning new stuffs, writing html pages and javascripts etc....

Don't we all?
Congratulations on gaining an income!

[Billy Tsai]

its not going to well right now its 4am and i am still in the company working

[HS Thomas]

That's what we like to hear!
What are you looking for next ?
A social life ? Sleep ?