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What skills do I need to get an entry-level job?

 
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Are there any jobs for programmers who only know Java, or have just learned it or become certified?

If you had to pick three skills to start out in today's market, with no prior IT work experience, what would they be? Number one here is getting SCJP certified. What are two more that would help the most?
 
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Hi Jesse,

you should post this in the Job Discussion forum.

You dont provide that much information about yourself, so I'll
go ahead and assume that your under 30 and living in the USA or
in the EU.

I think it's gonna be very hard to find an IT job without any
prior IT expirience. If I should suggest one thing, it would be for you
to get an IT related education.

/Svend Rost
 
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moving
 
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- Need a bachelor degree for sure
- J2EE
- database knowledge.

Knowing w/out experience hardly get you an interview.
 
Svend Rost
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Originally posted by Edward Tse:
- Need a bachelor degree for sure
- J2EE
- database knowledge.

Knowing w/out experience hardly get you an interview.



Im not sure you need J2EE knowledge to get into the IT "world", this
is atleast the case in Denmark (Europe). There are lots of other areas
to work in, than J2EE.

I do agree with the "database knowledge" though. A student should get this
through their education, as any decent IT education should have a course
on databases.

I'd like to add, that while studying it's important to learn multiple languages/paradigmes.
Again, this should also be a part of any decent IT education.

/Svend Rost
 
Jesse Crockett
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I am studying for the SCJP exam. Since I won't have a B.S. degree, I want to get the most relevant, applicable skill set to get into this line of work. If J2EE and database knowledge are promising ways to go, would you be more specific about how to go about learning them, and/or which particular technologies will help me get the kind of skill set I need?

I'm taking a "database programming" course right now at the community college, which is mainly MS Access with a little VBA code. I'm borrowing a lot of money for school, so I need to be sure I'm getting the best skills to actually find work in the field. I'm banking on getting a decent job.
 
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I would say if you already know Java, then learn

1. J2EE basic knowledge: You can download either a Tomcat/Jboss application server and download some tutorials from the internet.

2. SQL/Database (you can download java based database --> HSQLDB or MySQL)
3. XML - basics.

I do not know about other places, but in Australia, even though certification is a good thing, it does not play a major role in finding a good job. When I changed my career from mechanical engineering to Java in 1999 - 2000, I had to choose between spending 3-6 months preparing for certification or spend 3-6 months learning enterprise edition i.e. JSP, Servlet, EJB etc. I chose the second option and it paid off for me. Certification looks good in your resume and gives you better chance of getting into an interview stage if you do not have much experience. If I were you, I would prepare for the certification and at the same time familiarise myself with J2EE and Database.


Good Luck
 
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Originally posted by Edward Tse:
- Need a bachelor degree for sure
- J2EE
- database knowledge.

Knowing w/out experience hardly get you an interview.



I'd like to put in my two cents on some of these.

* Bachelor's degree - I'm seeing an increasing number of ads that are looking for either the degree or experience. I think they're beginning to understand that not every good programmer's gone the traditional route and gone through school to get their paper.
* J2EE - This one is likely, but it all depends on what you're doing.
* Database knowledge - I'm seeing this more often as a desired trait, but not required. Certainly, one should understand at least basic SQL at the very least.

It's probably also advantageous to get up some experience with specific app servers - I'm seeing Websphere mentioned more prevelantly than Weblogic in my neck of the woods - as well as some of the more popular open-source APIs. Just food for thought.
 
Jesse Crockett
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Thanks for the helpful comments. I was hoping not to hear that I absolutely need a B.S., because for various reasons that just hasn't worked out for me, and probably won't.

I'm in a junior college career-based associate degree program that should keep me busy for another year or so, during which time I plan to get an SCJP certificate, and if things go really well, I guess maybe also the developer's certificate. I welcome any further comments about my certification plans & study while in school.


I am scheduled to take a database management course and an "Advanced topics in Java II" course. I looked at the texts for that course in the bookstore, and they were servlets and ejb, so I should be on the right track.

XML is another thing I've heard several times.
 
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