Reply to: Struggling to get to an interview...

[SpontaneousOrder]

For legacy projects yes (which, incidentally, is what I got my Java contract for), but for greenfield projects absolutely no chance.

That's a good point. Any chimp could do my current gig so long as they passed the test which is one of the harder ones i've done.

[DigitalUser]

I hire a lot of devs. Unless I knew you or someone I trusted knew you - you wouldn't get a second look - 4 years experience for a java dev isn't enough - it took me 3 years to get my training wheels properly off and 7 before I could run. Sure, there are people who can smash it in 6 months - 1 year and they stand out so much that they never need look for work, it finds them.

Keep plugging away whilst doing your permie job and you may get a contract, but I'd have an eye on the longer term, you are more likely to start hearing things back once you've got 5-6 years.

EDIT - actually , looks like you left your permie job? Didn't read the complete thread....

I got my first contract as a Java developer after 4 years of being perm. Two years on, I've moved into team lead/coaching type roles - the point I'm making is that what you're trying to do is entirely possible, and there is growth if you're smart and continue to develop personally, but I also was lucky that an agent (who is also quite young) took a punt to put my CV forward as no one else had got in touch up to that point.

Do I think I was good enough to compete in the contract market? For legacy projects yes (which, incidentally, is what I got my Java contract for), but for greenfield projects absolutely no chance.

[eek]

So does the OP need more certs? Which ones?

Keys 101 - radiators
Roman history 101 - Live Entertainment for the masses
Food condiments 102 - testing Chutney

[speling bee]

Not even close if we are talking about contracting. You are missing a fundamental understanding of a client/supplier relationship . What the client wants, why he wants it, what you have to be to deliver it and so on. If you understood that better you would know, for example, that a certification just won't cut it.

That lack of understanding is probably why you can't get the interviews because you are just not delivering what the customer needs.

So does the OP need more certs? Which ones?

[northernladuk]

I would not be asking if I knew 100%. I'm still trying different things

Not even close if we are talking about contracting. You are missing a fundamental understanding of a client/supplier relationship . What the client wants, why he wants it, what you have to be to deliver it and so on. If you understood that better you would know, for example, that a certification just won't cut it.

That lack of understanding is probably why you can't get the interviews because you are just not delivering what the customer needs.

[misterpingu]

I would not be asking if I knew 100%. I'm still trying different things

I hire a lot of devs. Unless I knew you or someone I trusted knew you - you wouldn't get a second look - 4 years experience for a java dev isn't enough - it took me 3 years to get my training wheels properly off and 7 before I could run. Sure, there are people who can smash it in 6 months - 1 year and they stand out so much that they never need look for work, it finds them.

Keep plugging away whilst doing your permie job and you may get a contract, but I'd have an eye on the longer term, you are more likely to start hearing things back once you've got 5-6 years.

EDIT - actually , looks like you left your permie job? Didn't read the complete thread....

[rashm2k]

You really don't understand what you are doing do you?

I would not be asking if I knew 100%. I'm still trying different things

[Batcher]

Honestly, I wish you all the best luck possible but you do not seem to have a grasp of how this works.

He's going to keep going until someone says "Yes, certification will lead to numerous interviews and untold riches."

I've never been asked to show any certificates I have in interviews and, when interviewing, have never asked to see any. Hands-on experience is the only driver when trying to get someone in to hit the ground running.

[MyUserName]

I expected as much - certifications aren't really worth it. ^^^ Perhaps though they will at least get me to the interview stage, like they did with the architect!

I do find the java certification is good - you tend to really solidify your knowledge (emphasises knowledge you didn't know you knew), and learn areas of the language you haven't touched at all.

The real question is would it sway a client given I have 3-4 years dev in Java.

Doubt it tbh

Your lack of certifications is not the issue. It is either your lack of experience or your cv does not do a good enough job of showcasing you.

Honestly, I wish you all the best luck possible but you do not seem to have a grasp of how this works.

[northernladuk]

I expected as much - certifications aren't really worth it. ^^^ Perhaps though they will at least get me to the interview stage, like they did with the architect!

I do find the java certification is good - you tend to really solidify your knowledge (emphasises knowledge you didn't know you knew), and learn areas of the language you haven't touched at all.

The real question is would it sway a client given I have 3-4 years dev in Java.

You really don't understand what you are doing do you?

[rashm2k]

I expected as much - certifications aren't really worth it. ^^^ Perhaps though they will at least get me to the interview stage, like they did with the architect!

I do find the java certification is good - you tend to really solidify your knowledge (emphasises knowledge you didn't know you knew), and learn areas of the language you haven't touched at all.

The real question is would it sway a client given I have 3-4 years dev in Java.

[kal]

If you are identical in every other way to another candidate, then it might sway some people your way.

All a certification shows is that you can pass the exams - for example, I have an Oracle certification, but a client would have to be absolutely bonkers to offer me work in that area because I have no experience other than doing the training and passing the exam.

+1 I once worked with an 'architect' who had every Java Certification going, but couldn't decompile a Java class...

[TheFaQQer]

Do you think a java certification would be enough to at least get me to the interview?

If you are identical in every other way to another candidate, then it might sway some people your way.

All a certification shows is that you can pass the exams - for example, I have an Oracle certification, but a client would have to be absolutely bonkers to offer me work in that area because I have no experience other than doing the training and passing the exam.

[MyUserName]

Do you think a java certification would be enough to at least get me to the interview?

Doubt it tbh

Your lack of certifications is not the issue. It is either your lack of experience or your cv does not do a good enough job of showcasing you.

[eek]

Do you think a java certification would be enough to at least get me to the interview?

nope. Paper certificates aren't worth the electrical atoms they nowadays are written on...