I'm I just kidding myself

[Everill]

Hi everybody out in Javaland,

I'm a 38 year old maths and computer science graduate with a third
class degree who has been bitten by the Java bug.
I presently spend as much time as I can learning this great language and
would serious like to start a career in computer programming.
The problem is where ever I have seen jobs advertised the employers are
always looking for graduates with first class degrees or post-graduate qualifications.
As much as I realise I will have to spend some money to do some sort of
course, even if it's just to solidify what I have learnt for myself, because
of commitments
to my family I cannot afford to take another year out to complete a post-graduate
course.
Is it still possible to realise my goal even with these drawbacks?
I am trying to stay positive, but I'm I just kidding myself?

Thanks

Everill

[John Timney (MVP)]

Given the shortage of programmers in general, many companies would still
welcome you through their doors, its true that many of the larger software
development co's have graduate programmes that require first or second class
honours, and more often than not a masters or postgraduate qualification but
not all of them. However, If I were you I would look at some of the smaller
companies who dont run graduate programs and still need employees, or even
think about contracting. Once you have some experience your qualifications
carry less weight than your skills.

Good luck.

Regards

John Timney (MVP)


Everill <ebarnswell1@netscapeonline.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3941ce03$1@news.devx.com...
>
> Hi everybody out in Javaland,
>
> I'm a 38 year old maths and computer science graduate with a third
> class degree who has been bitten by the Java bug.
> I presently spend as much time as I can learning this great language and
> would serious like to start a career in computer programming.
> The problem is where ever I have seen jobs advertised the employers are
> always looking for graduates with first class degrees or post-graduate
qualifications.
> As much as I realise I will have to spend some money to do some sort of
> course, even if it's just to solidify what I have learnt for myself,
because
> of commitments
> to my family I cannot afford to take another year out to complete a
post-graduate
> course.
> Is it still possible to realise my goal even with these drawbacks?
> I am trying to stay positive, but I'm I just kidding myself?
>
> Thanks
>
> Everill

[Mike]

Try learning how to spell first.


"Everill" <ebarnswell1@netscapeonline.co.uk> wrote:
>
>Hi everybody out in Javaland,
>
>I'm a 38 year old maths and computer science graduate with a third
>class degree who has been bitten by the Java bug.
>I presently spend as much time as I can learning this great language and
>would serious like to start a career in computer programming.
>The problem is where ever I have seen jobs advertised the employers are
>always looking for graduates with first class degrees or post-graduate qualifications.
>As much as I realise I will have to spend some money to do some sort of
>course, even if it's just to solidify what I have learnt for myself, because
>of commitments
>to my family I cannot afford to take another year out to complete a post-graduate
>course.
>Is it still possible to realise my goal even with these drawbacks?
>I am trying to stay positive, but I'm I just kidding myself?
>
>Thanks
>
>Everill

[programmer]

"Mike" <Mike@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>Try learning how to spell first.

Very nice response to some one with a real question!! You must be very nice
to your mother too!
Idiot!

[Sean Jorden]

Everill,

I'd first get experience by doing some "free" work and creating something
reasonably vast and complicated on your own (assuming you are currently employed).
Consider a data-driven web site developed with JSP/servlets/beans. I'd recommend
picking up on databases (and SQL) as well.

Self doubt leads to self pity leads to status quo.

regards,
Sean

"Everill" <ebarnswell1@netscapeonline.co.uk> wrote:
>
>Hi everybody out in Javaland,
>
>I'm a 38 year old maths and computer science graduate with a third
>class degree who has been bitten by the Java bug.
>I presently spend as much time as I can learning this great language and
>would serious like to start a career in computer programming.
>The problem is where ever I have seen jobs advertised the employers are
>always looking for graduates with first class degrees or post-graduate qualifications.
>As much as I realise I will have to spend some money to do some sort of
>course, even if it's just to solidify what I have learnt for myself, because
>of commitments
>to my family I cannot afford to take another year out to complete a post-graduate
>course.
>Is it still possible to realise my goal even with these drawbacks?
>I am trying to stay positive, but I'm I just kidding myself?
>
>Thanks
>
>Everill

[Matt]

Everill -

I personally have been programming (professionally) for 3 years, without
a degree. I got half way through when a offer came that was to good to be
true. Anyway, I had to program in COBOL for the first two years, and now
I'm in java. And I'm finishing up my degree with the help of the company.

Guess what I'm trying to say is that it might be worthwhile to take/consider
a job where the opportunities of advancement lead into Java. And if you still
want to work for a higher degree, companies usually compensate that. Anyway,
just getting some skills under your belt will help a long way.

Hope this helps,
Matt




"Everill" <ebarnswell1@netscapeonline.co.uk> wrote:
>
>Hi everybody out in Javaland,
>
>I'm a 38 year old maths and computer science graduate with a third
>class degree who has been bitten by the Java bug.
>I presently spend as much time as I can learning this great language and
>would serious like to start a career in computer programming.
>The problem is where ever I have seen jobs advertised the employers are
>always looking for graduates with first class degrees or post-graduate qualifications.
>As much as I realise I will have to spend some money to do some sort of
>course, even if it's just to solidify what I have learnt for myself, because
>of commitments
>to my family I cannot afford to take another year out to complete a post-graduate
>course.
>Is it still possible to realise my goal even with these drawbacks?
>I am trying to stay positive, but I'm I just kidding myself?
>
>Thanks
>
>Everill

[Brian Burridge]

I have been in the web development world for five years, developing in Java
for a little over a year. I have only an AS degree, but am getting very large
salary offers because of my skills and experience. My team currently has
two Java developers that were hired without degrees, and had previously hired
three other Java developers without degrees who have all since moved on to
jobs where they are being paid around $80,000. the other Internet department
here has several Java programmers without degrees. I have at least 15 friends
all doing web development, most in Java, and only two have a degree of any
kind. If you look at salary surveys you will see that a very large percentage
of developers do not have an high level degrees. They earned their job by
proving they could do it.

If you want to develop Windows apps in Java for a company like IBM, then
you will need a degree. If you want to develop web sites in Java, you just
need to be able to prove you can do it, and creating your own site would
be best. If you need information on Java Server Pages (which I would recommend
to you because it is Java in a web page) and want a list of places that host
JSP sites (so you can put up your own examples), see my jsp site at http://www.burridge.net/jsp.

Brian N. Burridge
Internet Architect
Cox Target Media

"Everill" <ebarnswell1@netscapeonline.co.uk> wrote:
>
>Hi everybody out in Javaland,
>
>I'm a 38 year old maths and computer science graduate with a third
>class degree who has been bitten by the Java bug.
>I presently spend as much time as I can learning this great language and
>would serious like to start a career in computer programming.
>The problem is where ever I have seen jobs advertised the employers are
>always looking for graduates with first class degrees or post-graduate qualifications.
>As much as I realise I will have to spend some money to do some sort of
>course, even if it's just to solidify what I have learnt for myself, because
>of commitments
>to my family I cannot afford to take another year out to complete a post-graduate
>course.
>Is it still possible to realise my goal even with these drawbacks?
>I am trying to stay positive, but I'm I just kidding myself?
>
>Thanks
>
>Everill

[JohnDoe]

"programmer" <prog@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>"Mike" <Mike@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>Try learning how to spell first.
>
>Very nice response to some one with a real question!! You must be very
nice
>to your mother too!
>Idiot!
>

Well come on, this is the Java forum. Only idiots would be here anyway.
"Java is a wonderful language"??? Get real, Java is Sun's cruelest hoax
on the world. And degrees? Who needs them. Prove you can do it, and you'll
get the chance.

[TomP]

Mike:

Try getting out of your US-Centric mindset

"Mike" <Mike@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>Try learning how to spell first.
>
>
>"Everill" <ebarnswell1@netscapeonline.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>Hi everybody out in Javaland,
>>
>>I'm a 38 year old maths and computer science graduate with a third
>>class degree who has been bitten by the Java bug.
>>I presently spend as much time as I can learning this great language and
>>would serious like to start a career in computer programming.
>>The problem is where ever I have seen jobs advertised the employers are
>>always looking for graduates with first class degrees or post-graduate
qualifications.
>>As much as I realise I will have to spend some money to do some sort of
>>course, even if it's just to solidify what I have learnt for myself, because
>>of commitments
>>to my family I cannot afford to take another year out to complete a post-graduate
>>course.
>>Is it still possible to realise my goal even with these drawbacks?
>>I am trying to stay positive, but I'm I just kidding myself?
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>Everill
>

[Mike Reilly]

Mike:

Please do a search for netiquette on your favorite search engine. Remember
that the message is more important than the spelling (not that the original
post had poor spelling really). Generally it is not polite to go around
flaming people for spelling mistakes.

Regards,
another Mike

Mike wrote in message <3946ce7e$1@news.devx.com>...
>
>Try learning how to spell first.