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What next?

Last post 08-14-2008, 15:13 by Bertie. 11 replies.
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  •  08-12-2008, 20:49 13978

    What next?

    Hey guys and girls

    New developer here.

     So I have my last exam for Introduction to C# .Net in August. I now don't know what to go study for next MCAD.Net? maybe Diploma in Programing? SQL 2005? Anyone have some advice for me on this, it would be greatly appreciated.

    Regards

    Bertie

  •  08-13-2008, 9:21 13987 in reply to 13978

    Re: What next?

    Welkom.
    It depends on what your goals are for your career. Can you study full-time or only part-time (i.e. do you work)?
    Full-time: Do a degree or diploma (it helps with your "pay grade" later on)
    Part-time (i.e. already working): Do something quick like an Advanced course in C#. Or just throw your self in at the deep end by learning on the job (like the most of us, that can call them programmers, do anyway).

    Just one note on your post above: If you decide to go the SQL route (which is not a bad idea), as a newbe, rather study SQL 2008. Its the new kid on the block...

    Good luck.


    Any way you look at it, some day you'll know I was right... well... I'm not left...
  •  08-13-2008, 9:46 13988 in reply to 13978

    Re: What next?

    Hi there!

    Welcome to the community of hard work, blood, sweat and tears!

    To answer your question, I agree with Mot's opinions above. The truly best training you can get is on the job training. Take it from me, being a lecturer until about 2 years ago, I may have "known" everything about C# (actually, the textbooks, which were actually very basic Wink), I realised I actually knew nothing until I got out and started development. The first 2 weeks in my full time dev job, I learned more than in 1 year at my old job.

    The stuff like MCAD, etc, will only help you later when you move to bigger companies that could give you a better pay grade, look at any job advert on the NET and you'll see the big paying jobs usually require some sort of MS qualification, but then they also want more experience (at least 2 years' worth or more).

    Yes, do some sort of SQL course, it will help you immensely in your job. In my 2 years' worth of development, I've only done 1 project that did not require a SQL database (it used XML). Read up on how to use Stored Procedures, User-defined functions, Joins between tables, etc. These are all very important skills to have in the industry.

    Hope this helps somewhat,

     

    The H................................

     


    The Question is the Answer, and the Answer is the Question!
  •  08-13-2008, 23:00 14005 in reply to 13988

    Re: What next?

    Hey Guys

    Thanks for the welcome. To answer some questions I do work at the moment as a Network administrator which is only temporary as my Main focus is programming. I do juggle my job with my studies, I wouldn't like to go full time studying again I’d prefer working and part-time studying as I m doing now. Another thing I’d like to add a lot of people I've been talking to told me to go for SQL either 2005 or 2008 as it would help me a lot. Do I need to learn visual basics for SQL? Sorry I’m a noob when it comes to SQL I have been playing around with 2005 and "wow" I love it. I also am a little scared because I'm "book smart" and not "industry smart"  so my other question if I decide to go for a developer job to get me use to how things are really done do I go for a programming job or a software tester job?

    Thanks guys

    Regards

    Bertie

     

  •  08-13-2008, 23:05 14006 in reply to 13978

    Re: What next?

    A little bit of SQL knowledge is very valuable, even if it's just to stop the DBAs from swearing at you. Wink A good understanding SQL will go a long way to making you very valuable. Far too many developers (present company excluded, of course Smile) don't consider a DB anything more than a dumping place for data and hence don't learn to use it well.

    Most important question is, what are you interested in? Want to do web development? Interested in databases and data? Intrigued by the idea of 2D and 3D graphics in applications? Fascinated by distributed applications?
    Gail Shaw - SQL In the Wild
    SQL Server MVP
    --
    Chaos, panic and disorder. My job here is done!
  •  08-13-2008, 23:15 14009 in reply to 14006

    Re: What next?

    hey

     2D and 3D graphics in applications definatly intrigued by it and maybe web development.

    Ragards

    Bertie

  •  08-14-2008, 8:39 14012 in reply to 14009

    Re: What next?

    Bertie:

    hey

     2D and 3D graphics in applications definatly intrigued by it and maybe web development.

    Then perhaps consider looking at ASP.Net (if you want to stay in the MS world), Windows Presentation Foundation and Silverlight. The latter two are fairly new and, from what I saw at TechEd, 'cool'

    How in demand they are in the industry, I don't know though. 


    Gail Shaw - SQL In the Wild
    SQL Server MVP
    --
    Chaos, panic and disorder. My job here is done!
  •  08-14-2008, 11:11 14018 in reply to 14012

    Re: What next?

    Hey

    Thanks everyone for your advice. I think I'm going to look for a developing job and study advance C# part-time.

     Regards

    Bertie

  •  08-14-2008, 12:09 14020 in reply to 14018

    Re: What next?

    Hi Bertie,

    Good idea. Any experience counts. Just remember, working full time and studying part time is hard, believe me. So make sure you plan ahead. In  my experience, I found the weekends were the only good times I could study without interruptions.

    Good luck!!!!!!!!


    The Question is the Answer, and the Answer is the Question!
  •  08-14-2008, 13:24 14025 in reply to 13978

    Re: What next?

    MCAD is old now...

     Unfortunately microsoft have decided that Technology specific certifications arent enough... you need an Certain Year of Technology.

     
    THUS! the wonderful, yet, comfusing.... MCPD MCTS arrived... too replace the MCSD and the MCAD....

     
    Microsoft Certified Professional Developer.... google it....

     
    Ps. You get MCPD WEB Based and MCPD Windows Based....
     


    "That's the thing about people who think they hate computers. What they really hate is lousy programmers."
    Greg - Software Development
  •  08-14-2008, 13:46 14029 in reply to 14025

    Re: What next?

    Software-development:

    MCAD is old now...

     Unfortunately microsoft have decided that Technology specific certifications arent enough... you need an Certain Year of Technology.

     
    THUS! the wonderful, yet, comfusing.... MCPD MCTS arrived... too replace the MCSD and the MCAD....

     
    Microsoft Certified Professional Developer.... google it....

     
    Ps. You get MCPD WEB Based and MCPD Windows Based....
     

    The MCAD Exams are expiring in March 2009 as it is focussed on Framework 1.1. However the certification itself will remain valid. It is also a quick way to receive an MCP and then do the upgrade to MCTS/MCPD.

    Microsoft has changed the certification with regards to Framework 2.0/3.5. Developers can now specialize in a particular field, ie. Web, Windows and Enterprise development. This allows training and certification within a certain technology stack, and also improves the changes of individuals within certain employment scenarios. I have previously blogged about the different Certifications for developers extensively

    The complete breakdown is available from the official Microsoft Learning Site here.


    Supplying the masses with useless information since 1996

    The views, comments and opinions expressed in this post is that of the poster alone unless otherwise indicated

    Diago.co.za
  •  08-14-2008, 15:13 14040 in reply to 14029

    Re: What next?

    Hey guys

    I am up to speed about MCAD falling away and MCPD being the replacment. I was just thinking that new courses wouldn't be used right away. 

    Heratio: Studying and working is hectic I also mainly studied on the weekends as I got more work done then in the week. I was thinking of taking the new course right away and while I study I could look for something in developing, I know finding a position in C# wouldn't be easy as I don't really have any experience.

    Regards

    Bertie

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