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Jr. J2EE Employment Issues

 
Greenhorn
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Hi Everyone,

I recently got my J2EE Cert. in June '03 but have been unable to get my foot in the door as a Jr, Java, J2EE developer or intern. I have been working with Java and J2EE technologies for the last 2 or so years so I don't rust, transitioning from 3-4 years of the Microsoft world and working on my SJCP.

I am finding it extremely frustrating after an intense 6 month job search. I get the phone ringing and the interviews but I end up being underqualified for J2EE due to lack of hands on experience. How is someone suppose to get hands on experience when no one is willing to give you a chance?

I work on small web applications and projects I can round up, and have looked into open source projects only to get my proposals stolen or clients not following through. Does anyone have any clues on ways to land that software engineering position of your dreams after knocking yourself just about out w/the academics?

M Monroe
 
Ranch Hand
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you're not alone, and more specifically you're just one of many thousands of people looking for J2EE work most of which are more qualified than you are and willing to work for low pay just to have a job...

I should know, I was one of them until about a year ago...
 
Ranch Hand
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I am in the same situation as you are and I have even more frustrating experience than you do. I do not know how many people are out there like us because there is no way to do a survey.

See the other thread I posted just now under "I Must Vent It Out!"
 
M Monroe
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Hey Everyone...thanks for your encouragement! It is comforting to know I am not alone in this experience. I feel like I wasted a ton of hours none the less mass brain cells w/this pursuit. I never really thought about the fact that the more experienced would even consider working for less pay. I always thought the Sr. level folks were not having a problem w/the quest for employment and were able to command bank; no problem. But, how did they ever get to Sr. Level??! The less pay more experience senerio, I take it. I was thinking $30-35/hr. was low ball for a couple of years of Java/J2EE. Am I wrong?

I guess as disgusted as I am I'll be flipping those burgers (how de-meaning) hopefully for no longer than a bit and continnuing w/my best attempt at keeping up w/the tangle to see if I can somehow, one day manager to slide into an open portal. I mean, it must happen if I heard from those who have once been there. -Right? It is just so difficult to keep the "so resilent" outlook.

MM
 
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The folks with experience were hired when US programmers were in demand.

There are plenty of entry-level jobs for good applicants in off-shore subsidiaries of US companies.
 
M Monroe
Greenhorn
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Hi Mike,

I am not seeing much of any jr. level positions at all, especially w/in the J2EE sector. What do you mean by off-shore? Are you talking about moving to find an entry level position and that it is tough to get a break in the door because US programmers are no longer in demand?
 
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There's a Catch-22 anytime you attempt to break into an IT field. They only want to hire experienced people and the only way to get experience is to get hired.



I had this problem long years ago and it really annoyed me. It never goes away either, and won't, since even after you have experience, you find yourself dealing with people who want 5 years Oracle experience or 5 years WebSphere experience or...



Mind you, this is was a problem even when people were advertising software positions. I think it's been about 3 years since I've seen the local newspaper advertise for anything other than network tech, web page designer or back-office Visual Basic, so I don't envy you.

Then again, I spent over 2 years unemplyed recently, so I don't envy me all that much either.
 
Greenhorn
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You might want to try EDS (http://www.eds.com/usa/index.shtml). They've got quite a big project going with the Veterans Administration to help them completely rebuild their software system from M (MUMPS) to Java. They're in the beginning stages right now, and the whole project will probably go on for at least the next six years. You may have to move (although they do quite a bit of telecommuting) and may have to learn a little M (very easy to pick up). Hope this helps. Good luck!
 
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