How to hone designing skills?

[Santana Iyer]

Hello Everyone,

I have 4 years of experience with Java, J2EE technologies.

I have done SCJA, SCJP, SCWCD with 95%+ long back.
I am good with all these technologies.

Since last 2 years I am more info defect fixing and working on custom framework.

I am looking out for job now. I do very well with technical and fundamental
knowledge question. However I do not fair well with designing or scenario based questions
that are asked in interview. Problem is work I do is not meaningful.

I do get offers also from some place but not able to give excellent interview because of
designing, scenarios etc.

Please advice how can I improve upon designing and scenario based question?
How do I start, what should I do, books, resources.

[Joachim Rohde]

Hm... I would say: "experience". Try to develop an application in your spare time.

A few books which comes to my mind which might be helpful:
- Programming Pearls (2nd Edition) by Jon Louis Bentley
- The Practice of Programming by Brian W. Kernighan and Rob Pike
- Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction by Steve McConnell