Transition

[jwdcfdeveloper]

I have been a Cold Fusion developer for the past 3-4 years. I want to get away from CF and get into Java and C++. I was recently laid off, and I am in a part-time computer science masters program. Do I need to get a Java Certification and/or MCAD (C++ emphasis)? I have 5 years of total experience, but not too much in Java/C++. Any ideas on the best strategy to get myself notice for these types of jobs? Is there another/better way than certifications (other than 5+ years of job experience ).

 

[CajunCenturion]

Conmplete your Master's Degree. That is worth considerably more than any certificate.

Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[unixtechie]

Ditto Cajun's remark!

 

[unixtechie]

I would like to note my company's Information Security Officer. This person has no experience in IT and was tasked with being the ISO, and thus has the GISO (GIAC Info Sec Officer) certification, which is a basic cert for those new to Info Sec, who need to "hit the ground running."

To highlight how baseless certs are: a paper has to be completed as part of the GISO, and this person was going to turn in the paper on the company network security - complete with the entire company's network diagram with IP addresses and everything else. Naturally when it got to someone high up in IS that was changed.

This person received a GISO cert and was going to turn around and publicly post complete company network information! Was nothing learned in the program?

Just kind of highlights the meaninglessness of certs.

 

[jwdcfdeveloper]

Thanks for the replies to all. I appreciate the advice.