career advice

[Pyrrhus Epirus]

Hi all,

I worked at a bank for 5 years, last december I quit it. I am trying to be a java developer. I have engineering back and two MS degree, one from IT(mostly on Java Technologies) and other from Computer Engineering. I have no professinal experience at programming but I developed some stuff by using Java EE, hibernate, EJB and some small Android Apps. I dont like but I know some SQL and UML. And I know some C and Python. And I am good at matlab/octave.

I have some questions in my mind, heavily bothering me:

Can Oracle certs help me to find a job?
OR
Should I go on or give up and back to banking?
AND
If I would like to go on, what sould I do to increase my knowledge more properly and suitable for IT industry?

Thanx.

[Henry Wong]

Pyrrhus Epirus wrote:
I worked at a bank for 5 years, last december I quit it. I am trying to be a java developer. I have engineering back and two MS degree, one from IT(mostly on Java Technologies) and other from Computer Engineering. I have no professinal experience at programming but I developed some stuff by using Java EE, hibernate, EJB and some small Android Apps. I dont like but I know some SQL and UML. And I know some C and Python. And I am good at matlab/octave.

I have some questions in my mind, heavily bothering me:

Can Oracle certs help me to find a job?

An engineering degree? and two technology masters degrees too? That should be more than enough paper qualifications to get you interviews.

IMO, if you want to get the certification, as part of your learning process -- so that you have more knowledge to pass the interview, then by all means, go for it. However, if you are looking for certifications for your resume, I am not sure that it would help, as you already have an "over-qualification" amount of diplomas.

Henry

[Pyrrhus Epirus]

Hi Henry,

I am in 32 and I have no professional experience. I think because of those I couldn't find a job. I thought maybe certs can help?

Thanx.

[Ulf Dittmer]

In lieu of professional experience, other kinds of relevant experience would help - participation in an open source project, or a project of your own you can show off, or IT/software things you have done for a local charity, basically anything where you have shown that you know your stuff.

[Henry Wong]

Pyrrhus Epirus wrote:
I am in 32 and I have no professional experience. I think because of those I couldn't find a job. I thought maybe certs can help?

Yeah. I kinda figured that out.

You do have some options that university freshers don't have, perhaps you can use those.

1. You have finance domain experience, and lots of it. You may be able to leverage it during interview.

2. You have a professional network (from the last 10 years) that may help. Granted they are mostly in finance, but they should still be able to help... especially, if any of those contacts become managing directors...

Henry

[Pyrrhus Epirus]

Ulf Dittmer wrote:In lieu of professional experience, other kinds of relevant experience would help - participation in an open source project, or a project of your own you can show off, or IT/software things you have done for a local charity, basically anything where you have shown that you know your stuff.

Hi Ulf,

Actually I have been looking for an open source project for a while. Mostly I search in SourceForge.Net, but not yet found for a non-experienced one. I think I dont know where to start. Have any suggestion?

Thanx.

[Pyrrhus Epirus]

Henry Wong wrote:

Pyrrhus Epirus wrote:
I am in 32 and I have no professional experience. I think because of those I couldn't find a job. I thought maybe certs can help?

Yeah. I kinda figured that out.

You do have some options that university freshers don't have, perhaps you can use those.

1. You have finance domain experience, and lots of it. You may be able to leverage it during interview.

2. You have a professional network (from the last 10 years) that may help. Granted they are mostly in finance, but they should still be able to help... especially, if any of those contacts become managing directors...

Henry

Thanx for your suggestions Henry.

You are right and maybe they can help me to get a job opportunity.

[Ulf Dittmer]

Actually I have been looking for an open source project for a while. Mostly I search in SourceForge.Net, but not yet found for a non-experienced one. I think I dont know where to start. Have any suggestion?

My usual advice is to pick one you're using and liking already, and which is missing features you'd find useful, because that makes it easier to stay interested long term. Getting involved in something you don't particularly care about has a higher risk of setting yourself up for failure. (And just in case your reaction to that is "I don't use any particular open source library/software/package enough for that." then my response would be "Then you haven't programmed enough to make it as a professional.")

[Sooraj Rajagopalan]

With five years experience in Banking sector and degrees and two MS, you could be a very valuable asset in the IT management. Is it the management or the developing that you really want, think again??

[Pyrrhus Epirus]

Sooraj Rajagopalan wrote:With five years experience in Banking sector and degrees and two MS, you could be a very valuable asset in the IT management. Is it the management or the developing that you really want, think again??

Actually, after five years in Banking sector i realized that i don't like to manage something or someone.

[Jan de Boer]

Pyrrhus Epirus wrote:I am in 32 and I have no professional experience.

Hi Pyrrhus,

It will take some effort but you can get your first job.

I was 27 when I left the university. I studied a lot. I could stay a student for a long time since I had an inheritance. It also took me a very long time to get my first programming job. So, if it helps, I had the same frustration and finally got out of it too.

But if you want to better you chances, I would try to get experience. If you cannot get paid work, try voluntairy contributions. Perhaps to open source projects, or voluntary work. I am not sure what the possibilities are in your area. I was a system administrator for a charity organization, I voluntary gave lessons in computer use at my local neighbourhood computer club. And I managed to do two non paid internships after getting my college degree. Normally these were part of your studies in college but I did two after getting my diploma, extra, to show experience.

Would there be anything like that possible for you?

[Pyrrhus Epirus]

Jan de Boer wrote:

Would there be anything like that possible for you?

Hi Jan,

Thank you for sharing experiences.

I am trying every oportunity, but not yet get one.

nowadays I am preparing for oca, it is better than waiting idly and wasting time, at least I think so.

[Denis Lansdell]

Hello ...
As you have good degrees then this is beneficial for you in any sector...
Banking is the best option as today Banking sector is rising by changing manual work to machinery work... Go for this and work hard..

All the Best..

[Campbell Ritchie]

Denis Lansdell welcome to the Ranch

[Pyrrhus Epirus]

Denis Lansdell wrote:Hello ...
As you have good degrees then this is beneficial for you in any sector...
Banking is the best option as today Banking sector is rising by changing manual work to machinery work... Go for this and work hard..

All the Best..

Hi,

Thanks Denis.

and welcome to among these great guys of this great forum