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Better employment options: Microsoft Certificate in .NET or C# development?

 
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I know that a Java message board is probably not the best place to discuss VB.NET and C# certification options, but I couldn't think of a better place .

Essentially what happens is this: I used to work at a software company, got laid off, and now I can't find a job.

I recently found out that I might qualify for government assistance if I choose to pursue professional training. There are two training courses I am interested in, both offered by the same school.

One of the courses prepares you to obtain a certificate as a Microsoft VB.NET developer and the other one prepares you to obtain a certificate as a Microsoft C# developer. They both last about the same amount of time and cost the same amount of money

I have no preference for or knowledge of either language, save the fact that if I choose to pursue training, I'd probably aim towards the certification in the programming language that's more likely to help me find a job as soon as possible.

Can someone please help me decide which option to pursue?
 
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David,
You are correct that a bunch of Java (and related languages) developers aren't likely to know this. Maybe I'll be surprised and someone will. If that doesn't happen, one approach is to do a search in your area on a major job board to see which term comes up more often.
 
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Just to clarify, .NET is a platform for creating software and C# is a programming language.

The core programming languages "behind" .NET implementations are: Visual Basic, C++, and C#.

There are other programming languages that are also compatible with .NET Platform, e.g. COBOL, SmallTalk, Perl.

If you do not have any programming experience or knowledge, you should probably try to get the C# certification and then try to get the .NET afterwards.

If you understand programming and have a little experience, then you should try for the .NET certification.

The information that you learn in any certification program will help you in your job search.



 
David Sanz
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Jimmy Clark wrote:Just to clarify, .NET is a platform for creating software and C# is a programming language.

The core programming languages "behind" .NET implementations are: Visual Basic, C++, and C#.

There are other programming languages that are also compatible with .NET Platform, e.g. COBOL, SmallTalk, Perl.

If you do not have any programming experience or knowledge, you should probably try to get the C# certification and then try to get the .NET afterwards.

If you understand programming and have a little experience, then you should try for the .NET certification.

The information that you learn in any certification program will help you in your job search.





I apologize for the confusion. The two options available are C# and VB.NET.

I am not sure I understand what you mean by "if you understand programming". What constitutes understanding programming according to you? Does it mean having expert knowledge of the subject or mere familiarity?

Anyway, given the two options you gave me, it sounds like the VB.NET certification is the way to go.

However, is it really going to help me find a job or am I just going to write another line on my resume that nobody is going to care about?
 
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David Sanz wrote:
I apologize for the confusion. The two options available are C# and VB.NET.



Then basically... the first option will teach you C#, which is a language similar to Java, for .NET. And the second option will teach you Visual Basic for .NET., which is a language similar to... well... Visual Basic.

Henry
 
David Sanz
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Henry Wong wrote:

David Sanz wrote:
I apologize for the confusion. The two options available are C# and VB.NET.



Then basically... the first option will teach you C#, which is a language similar to Java, for .NET. And the second option will teach you Visual Basic for .NET., which is a language similar to... well... Visual Basic.

Henry



That makes sense. Which language is more marketable/desirable in today's economy?
 
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Well, locally, occasionally an SCJP may help, but I've never actually seen any adverts where .Net or C# certifications were required.

For whatever it's worth.

I think the major requirement actually is that you work cheap. But that's just my attitude problem showing again.
 
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VB.net is just as close to java as C#. VB.net is also practically a carbon copy of C#. They are the same "kind" of language and differ only in syntax and a few quirks. The main difference being you can't use unsafe code in VB.net.


But to answer the question, C# skills tend to pay more. C# skills are the SAME as vb.net skills so milk it for all it's worth. VB.net suffers from the "VB" perception of being a junk language for working with Microsoft office. C# has the letter "C" in it's name so people have the perception that is is cool and fast like C.





 
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Mike Isano wrote:. . . VB.net suffers from the "VB" perception of being a junk language for working with Microsoft office. . . .

By "perception" you meant "false and misguided perception", I presume.

But if people have a perception, however false and misguided, they will act on it.
 
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