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Understanding the Java/J2EE Key areas like

-- language fundamentals OO concepts
-- specification fundamentals
-- Threading issues
-- Transactional issues
-- scalability issues
-- performance issues
-- memory issues
-- best practices
-- development process like RUP, Agile
--Emerging technologies/frameworks like JSF, Spring, Hibernate, Tapestry, Ajax, JIBX, IoC, Annotations, AOP etc

etc and the right attitude towards work etc. Can anybody think of other strategies?

useful link: http://www.lulu.com/java-success
useful link: http://www.lulu.content/192463