SCJD as a follow up to SCJP

Sun Certified Java Developer (SCJD) is a specialty level certification for java programmers. SCJD is not as easy as SCJP. SCJD checks the individual’s skill to perform in the practical world. The applicant should be able to work on commercial web applications. An applicant should be proficient in Java programming language using Java Standard Edition (J2SE). This is the qualification that Sun requires in a programmer who is appearing for SCJD.

As a prerequisite, the applicant must be a Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) in any edition. In SCJD, you learn how to apply skills and language that you have learn while doing SCJP to solve practical problems.

There are two exams or assignments that are required for SCJD certification. First, CX-310-252A is a programming assignment type of exam. It takes a lot of time (at least several weeks) for completing this program. Second the CX-310-027 exam is an essay type. SCJD applicant must use custom file formats in his program for a detailed program. The program should be detailed in every aspect. Also, there is no strict limit for both these exam.

SCJD certification has become a global standard for many IT companies and the SCJD certified people are in good demand in the IT industry. The reason for this demand is that SCJD’s are assumed to be more competitive, confident & they have ultimate evidence to show that they can perform complex task or projects very well than a non-certified developer. The graph shown below provides an indicative measure of salaries which a SCJD certification leads to, although this is only valid for the US.

Median Salary by Job - Certification: Sun Certified Java Developer (SCJD) (United States)

CAREER TOOLS: Salary Calculator, Career Path Tool, Cost of Living Calculator, Meeting Miser

Source:Payscale

Related to: SCJA and SCJP

Train Now!

Rarely does a day go by without a friend or former colleague calling up to ask for a job. He’s either been asked to go or simply wants to quit because “the writing is on the wall”. And I tell them all to be patient. I also request them to take time off, plan their expenses and invest – not in stocks or real estate or gold; but invest in themselves.

How?! How does one invest in oneself?

So, be patient. And read on…

Yesterday, The Economic Times reported “India’s second-biggest software exporter, Infosys Technologies, has postponed its hiring plans for engineering graduates this year by almost six months, as the company seeks to cope with a lower demand for software services in its top markets of US and Europe. Next fiscal, Infosys will be interviewing potential employees by visiting top engineering colleges during eighth semester, and not sixth semester as before.”

Nothing new, you’ll say. This is the kind of bad news that appears every day and makes us want to stop reading the papers: ironical, isn’t it, that the pink dailies keep telling us our economy is in anything but the pink of health? But, think about it - isn’t there another message here that’s obvious if you choose to read between the lines? Isn’t it true that half-empty glasses are also half-full?

If Infosys and a hundred other sure-shot employers are going to defer their recruitment plans and then get really selective about who they’ll eventually hire, it means that life is going to get even tougher. Because it means that being good is no longer enough – to convert a CV into an appointment letter, you have to be the best. You have to be better trained, smarter, more confident. Actually, if you go deeper, you'll find Infosys saying so as well: read what they have to say in the part on Enhancing Human Capital here.

You have to invest in yourself - right now. Simple.

It may sound paradoxical but the best time to study and retrain yourself, upgrade your skills is now – when jobs are scarce. When the pressure of meeting deadlines, screaming bosses and political-minded, back-stabbing colleagues isn’t there. Take advantage of this time and do something productive – you’ll find that the return on this investment will last a lifetime. And when Infosys comes calling, you’ll be ahead of the queue ☺

And there are many ways to do it: enroll for a course at a physical centre/university. Or prepare for stuff like IT Certification online without losing the flexibility and free-time you have.

After all, the darker the cloud, the more silver there is in the lining.

Cheers!

Entry Level Java Certifications - SCJA and SCJP

There are four levels in Java certification. The first is the associate level, which affirms that you have a basic knowledge which enables you to get an entry into a career in Java application development. On the next level, the associates need to be trained on foundation set of Java skills, which confirms by becoming a Sun Certified Java Programmer. Thirdly, you have advanced or specialty training & certifications that helps in your career growth into more specific job roles that make you a very value asset for your organization.

Source: Java Certification Path

SCJA
Sun Certified Java Associate (SCJA) is the newest of Sun's Java Certifications. It tests your basic knowledge of Object oriented programming, UML (universal markup language) concepts, the Java programming language & general knowledge of Java platforms & technologies. By becoming a sun certified associate, sun confirms that you have a basic set of knowledge that helps you get an entry into a career in application development or software project management using Java technology. It is targeted at new-comers to Java who are not necessarily working in technical positions, such as project managers, students, or developers for whom Java is not a primary requirement. SCJA certified associates are great in demand by employers & clients.

Demand trend
Salary trend

Let's talk about certification: SCJA

View more presentations from José maria Silveira neto.

Source: Slideshare

SCJP
Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) is an entry level Java exam and is a prerequisite for other Java related certifications. There have been a number of previous versions of SCJP. The current version, SCJP 6.0 is aimed at JDK 6.0 release of Java. It is basically for programmers interested in showing their skills in the fundamentals of the Java Programming language. It’s not necessary to be Sun Certified Java Associate prior to taking this exam. This exam tests looping constructs and variables, and does not cover specific technologies such as GUI creation, Web or network programming. It is designed as a fairly detailed test of basic knowledge of the essentials of the Java programming language. It tests looping constructs and variables, and does not cover specific technologies such as GUI creation, Web or network programming. In recent years, the SCJP certification has become a global standard for many successful IT companies.

Demand trend

Salary

How much are certifications worth?

Median Salary by Certification - Country: India (India)

CAREER TOOLS: Salary Calculator, Career Path Tool, Cost of Living Calculator, Meeting Miser

Use this handy tool from Payscale to understand how certifications can really boost your confidence as well as your wallet :) In fact, if your salaries are not close to these benchmarks, you better get certified!

All about Database Certifications

A collection of grouped information organized in such a way that a simple computer program can select the desired data according to the requirement, in IT terminology it is called database. It is an application that manages the data & allows fast storage & retrieval of data. There are different types of databases, but the most popular among all is relational database. It stores data in tables where each row holds the same sort of information. Relational databases are currently the predominant choice in storing financial records, manufacturing and logistical information, personnel data and much more. Oracle and SQL Server are popular commercial relational databases.

A database management system (DBMS) is software that has been created to allow the efficient use and management of databases, including ensuring that data is consistent and correct and facilitating it’s updating. For small, single user databases, all functions are often managed by a single program; for larger and multi-user databases, multiple programs are usually involved and client-server architecture is generally employed. Software database drivers are available for most database platforms so that application software can use a common Application Programming Interface (API) to retrieve the information stored in a database. Two commonly used database APIs are JDBC and ODBC.

Why every small, large multinational company need database administrator?

If you are a database administrator professional and you need to improve your skills or want to upgrade your resume, then you should go for certification in database administration. Perhaps you had just started your career in database administration & you like to make a mark in your field. Thereare various database administration certification provided by some popular database vendors.

Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) - It’s a certification designed for professional who implement, design & administer SQL databases. It’s appropriate for those individual who handles all the database related work starting from creating the database till managing the database. The job roles for Microsoft certified database administrator professionals include: database administrator, analyst, & developers. MCDBA is a part of previous MCP certifications.

Oracle

Oracle has introduced a wide range of certification programs for entry level to experienced professionals and for domains ranging from database administration, database management to programming, web development and other advanced technologies. For Database Administration related certifications are discussed in two parts.

Entry Level
Oracle’s OCA DBA 9i & 10g - They are designed to certify foundation skills in an individual for database administration. If you want to go OCP 9i or 10g exams, then you should be an OCA DBA 9i or 10g. There are no prerequisites for OCA DBA 9i & 10g certification; it would be helpful if you have experience working with SQL and Oracle database or other databases. OCA 9i & 10g certified professionals find appropriate job easily & get paid more.

Professional Level
Oracle’s OCP DBA 9i - OCP status prove that you have achieved a high level of oracle database design & implementation skills. As an OCP certified professional, your employers & customers will be confident in your knowledge, skills to design, develop & implement solutions. The prerequisite for OCP DBA 9i certification is the OCA certification. You have to take two tests to achieve this certification.

Oracle’s OCP DBA 10g - It requires skills that include implementing & managing complex Oracle Database 10g functions, recovering and tuning the database using advanced tools and technologies. The OCP DBA 10g is an advanced certification targeted towards DBAs having full experience on Oracle databases. The prerequisite for OCP DBA 10g certification is the OCA 10g certification. The OCP certification is highly demanded. Employers prefer professionals holding the OCP DBA 10g certification, as they can be sure that he has a solid foundation of skills needed for effective performance in the workplace.

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) - Specializations Available

CCNP Certification focuses on routing & switching of scalable networks including intranets & campuses. It includes building scalable CISCO networks, securing converged wide area networks. It is used by Cisco certified professionals as a step between CCNA & CCIE. This article goes beyond CCNP (Routers and Switches) to the other specializations in the area of design, voice, internetwork & security. We discuss what is involved in each, the career options and the demand trends for these certifications.

CCDP – It is a professional-level certification designed to reflect advanced knowledge in network design. After you successfully complete CCNA or CCDA certification, you are eligible to give exams CCDP. It is a direct entry into the professional world and a certificate that is recognized by the industry. It is crucial for you to invest your time and money in this certificate, by appearing for the CCDP exam. After you get CCDP certified, you can find jobs in the domains of network design and implementation, or optimization network performance.

CCVP - There is growing demand for CCVP (Cisco certified voice professionals) in the global market to integrate the VoIP (voice over internet protocol) system into the existing networks. To be eligible for CCVP, you must first pass the CCNA certification. VoIP system is integrated into the IP-based networks. CCVP is the worldwide recognized IT certification in IP-based networks.

CCIP - This is for those professionals who want to work, or are working in a service provider organization with competencies in infrastructure IP networking solutions. CCIP certified individuals must have a thorough knowledge & understanding of network technologies in the service provider arena. Demand for CCIP is great in the current scenario, and CCIPs command high salaries as compared to other professionals.

CCSP - It is designed for IT Professionals who are responsible for delivering self-defending networks that are integrated & adopted. CCSP ensures that a network professional should be actively involved in designing and delivering multiple levels of security departments. A CCSP can secure and manage network infrastructure to protect productivity and reduce costs. Either the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) or CCIP (Cisco Certified Internetwork Specialist) are prerequisites for CCSP.

Source: CCDP, CCVP, CCIP, CCSP Jobs

Related to: CCNA

Beyond CCNA Routers and Switches

CCNA Certification is a means to demonstrate one’s ability to work on medium size route & switched networks. The most popular variant of the certification is CCNA (Routers and Switches). This article goes beyond CCNA (Routers and Switches) to the other specializations in the area of security, voice, wireless and design. We discuss what is involved in each, the career options and the demand trends for these certifications.

CCNA Security - It meets the needs of IT professionals who are responsible for network security. It also confirms an individual's skills for job roles such as Network Security Specialist, Security Administrator, and Network Security Support Engineer. CCNA Security prepares you for new career opportunities in security networking. There is an immense rise in demand for CCNA jobs. The Salary packages have also increased with an in increase in demand for jobs

CCNA Voice - It confirms that an individual possesses required skill set for specialized job roles in voice technologies. Voice is becoming more & more accepted in today’s world & network admins who have certification in Voice will have an upper hand over those who don’t have a voice certification. There are various designations after this; an individual could work as a voice engineer, voice specialist & voice analyst. Employers are looking for voice engineers; demand is also on the rise for this position.

CCNA Wireless - It validates your skill and ability to implement, configure & support wireless LANs using CISCO equipments. Training is provided to students with information & practice activities to prepare them for monitoring, troubleshooting for basic tasks of Cisco WLan’s in small-medium sized business & enterprise networks.

CCNA Design(CCDA) - Cisco Certified Design Associate is certification for IT professionals who can design routed and switched network infrastructures involving LAN, WAN services for businesses and organizations. The CCDA has as its prerequisite the knowledge and skills to install, configure, and operate basic network infrastructures such as, Cisco Designer. As well, Cisco highly recommends holding the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate).There is an immense rise in demand for CCDA associates. Companies providing a good salary packages to certified associates. Demand & Salary Graph for CCDA.

Source : CCNA Jobs, CCDA Jobs

How to prepare for IT Certification exams

Generally speaking, what are the best resources to use when studying for your certification exams? This quick guide to study will help you organize your thoughts and decide what resources to use when preparing. We have considered various factors including your budgetary constraints as well as the amount of time you can devote towards training for IT Certifications.

Case I: You are quite comfortable with the technology in question and you have some finances to spare

Being comfortable with the technology you do not require hand holding class room sessions. You can do really well with online training such as that provided by Hyperlessons.com. This not only has authorized courseware but also provides expert chat sessions to clarify your doubts, virtual labs for hands-on practice as well as practice tests from Brainbench. To get more exam tips from other fellow learners you can supplement your learning by frequenting forums such as Microsoft, Cisco, Sun, Oracle, ProProfs. Top this up with authorized practice tests from MeasureUp (authorized by Microsoft) and you are on strong footing. If online learning is not your cup of tea, go in for O’Reilly and Amazon to purchase books on IT Certifications. Books are relatively cheap and some are specifically geared towards examination preparation. One piece of advice here would be to use authorized courses as these are updated constantly and with these you can never go wrong.

Case II: You are NOT comfortable with the technology

Here the recommendation would be combine some online learning with instructor led classes such as those from NIIT. For students outside India there are other instructor led training options available. Also, there are options such as video lectures offered by players such as Testout. This combination ensures clarity in concepts and helps you succeed with certainty. All supplements help – for example, knowledge gained through forums, mock tests etc.
After learning online or from books depending on your preference it is advisable to keep abreast of exam changes by visiting popular forums for certification preparation, maintained by top experts & certified people, Hyperlessons, Microsoft, Cisco, Sun, Oracle, ProProfs. There are some general forums also like Cert Guard. Several sites offer chat rooms geared towards helping students with their certifications. Visit these chat rooms, Microsoft chat rooms, Hyperlessons, Cisco and Test Out.
Supplement these with authorized mock tests and you are prepared to take on the certification exams!
It is always important to keep abreast with general knowledge on IT Certifications. You can have these on general certification forums where experts and fellow learners share their knowledge on certifications. Handy links to some common ones are here - Cert Cities, ProProfs

Following the steps above with concentration and honesty will ensure that you do well on the D-Day. A general advice – never reply on brain dumps. First and most important, it does not lead to actual skill development and second you can be deceived (more often than not) when questions you have mugged up do not appear.

All about IT Security and related Certifications

In the computer industry, security refers to techniques which ensure that data stored in a computer cannot be read or compromised by any individual without authorization. Most security measures involve data encryption and passwords. Data encryption is the translation of data into a form that is unintelligible without a deciphering mechanism. A password is a secret word or phrase that gives a user access to a particular program or system.
IT Security is a vast domain and has various subsets as listed below:

Application Security
This encompasses measures taken throughout the application's life-cycle to prevent exceptions in the security policy of an application or the underlying system (vulnerabilities) through flaws in the design, development, deployment, up gradation, or maintenance of the application. Certification for application security: GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT).

Computer Security
This is a branch of technology known as information security as applied to computers. The objective of computer security can include protection of information from theft or corruption, or the preservation of availability, as defined in the security policy.

Network Security
This consists of the provisions made in an underlying computer network infrastructure, policies adopted by the network administrator to protect the network and the network-accessible resources from unauthorized access, and consistent and continuous monitoring and measurement of its effectiveness (or lack) combined together.
A video on network security certification

Internet security
When a computer connects to a network and begins communicating with others, it is taking a risk. Internet security involves the protection of a computer's internet account and files from intrusion of an unknown user. Basic security measures involve protection by well selected passwords, change of file permissions and back up of computer's data.
Providing full security to the network and its users is the job of internet security professionals. The description of their job position: First, the internet security professionals design security protocols that should be followed by every user in the network; second, they work with network professionals to ensure network security through proper network design; and third, they work with application developers so that the application would be implemented according to the network’s security measures.

Important Certifications in the Security Domain (According to International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC2)).

Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) - If you plan to build a career in information security – one of today’s most visible professions – and if you have at least five full years of experience in information security, then the CISSP® credential should be your next career goal.CISSP certification is not only an objective measure of excellence, but a globally recognized standard of achievement.

Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) – ISC2 introduced the Systems Security Certified Practitioner certification in March 2001. This intermediate-level certification is meant for IT security practitioners with a minimum of one year of PROFESSIONAL experience in the field of information security. SSCP is ideal for those working towards positions such as Network Security Engineers, Security Systems Analysts, or Security Administrators.

RSA Certified Security Professional - The RSA Certified Security Professional Program offers technology professionals the knowledge, skills, and credentials necessary to deploy and maintain reliable enterprise security systems.

Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) - The CCSP certification is an advanced network security certification. With CCSP certification, a network professional demonstrates the skills required to secure and manage network infrastructures to protect productivity and reduce costs. Candidates for the certification are tested for advanced knowledge of various Cisco security products
Brainbench Internet Security Certification (BIS) - This credential identifies individuals with a good working knowledge of Internet security practices, principles, and technologies.
Brainbench Network Security Certification (BNS) - This program identifies individuals with a good working knowledge of network security practices, principles, and technologies.
Security Certified Network Professional (SCNP) - As part of the vendor-neutral Security Certified Program (SCP) sponsored by Ascendent Learning, the SCNP is an advanced security certification designed to test knowledge of high-level security topics.

Sources
· [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_security]
· [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_security]
· [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_security]
· [http://certification.about.com/od/securitycerts/a/seccertessentls.htm]
· [http://www.hyperlessons.com]

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IT Certifications in Demand

Top 15 Highest Paying Certifications in the Technology Industry

According to recent salary surveys by ZDNET's Tech Republic organization, the following are the highest paying certifications to have in the technology industry.

Following each certification is the average annual salary being paid to individual responders that hold the certification. I have also listed training resources to learn more information about how to acquire each of the highest paying certifications.

1. PMI Project Management Professional (PMP)

With an average annual salary of $101,695, the PMP certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) organization tops the list of highest paying certifications for the current year.

2. PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Next highest on the list of highest paying certifications is PMI's Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). The average annual salary for CAPM holders that were surveyed is $101,103.

3. ITIL v2 - Foundations

With an annual average salary of $95,415 the ITIL v2 Foundations certification came up third on the list of highest paying certifications. ITIL stands for the IT Infrastructure Library. The ITIL certification is designed to show expertise in ITIL service support and service delivery.

4. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Coming in at a close 4th on the list of highest paying certifications is the Certified Information Systems Security Professional or CISSP certification from (ISC)2. The average annual reported salary was $94,018.

5. Cisco CCIE Routing and Switching

At $93,500 per year average annual salary, the Cisco CCIE Routing and Switching certification came in 5th on the list of highest paying certifications in the technology industry.

6. Cisco CCVP - Certified Voice Professional

Number six on the list of the highest paying certifications is the Cisco CCVP or Cisco Certified Voice Professional. The average annual salary of CCVP respondents was $88,824.

7. ITIL v3 - ITIL Master

The ITIL v3 certification - the ITIL Master - came in 7th on the list of the highest paying technical certifications. The average annual salary for ITIL Master certification holders was $86,600.

8. MCSD - Microsoft Certified Solution Developer

The MCSD or Microsoft Certified Solution Developer certification pays an average of $84,522. This puts the MCSD certification at number 8 on the list of highest paying certifications in technology.

9. Cisco CCNP - Cisco Certified Network Professional

Cisco Certified Network professional or CCNP certification is number 9 on the list of highest paying technical certifications. The average annual salary reported by CCNP holders is $84,161.

10. Red Hat Certified Engineer

The Red Hat Certified Engineer (RGCE) came in at number 10 on the list of highest paying certifications. The average annual salary reported by Red Hat Certified Engineers is $83,692.

Source: http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/educationfortechcareers/tp/HighestCerts.htm

Welcome to Hyperlessons.com

Hyperlessons.com is an eLearning initiative by NIIT to provide convenient, personalised and affordable training to students and working professionals. We provide online training courses and programs for Career Certifications such as those by Microsoft, Sun, Cisco, Red Hat, Oracle and PMI. With strong partnerships with Microsoft, Sun and Cisco amongst others, we bring authorised courses compiled by experts in ElementK, USA, from these technology majors. 

 
Representative Courses

Hyperlessons.com offers online courses for career certifications such as MCTS, MCITP, MCSE, CCNA, CCNP, SCJA, SCJP, SCJD, SCWCD, OCA, OCP, RHCE, RHCT and PMP. Apart from these, we offer career value-added courses such as those in Leadership, Conflict Management, Negotiation skills etc. to help professionals and individuals grow their skill set holistically.
 
What makes us the leaders in online training
Our content has helped over 3.5 million learners worldwide from Fortune 100 companies, universities, technology majors, training corporations and publishing houses.
 
The online learning packs offered by Hyperlessons.com are characterised by the following unique features:
·     Authorised training content from Microsoft and Sun
·     State-of-the-art virtual labs or v-Labs which provide hands-on experience on technology and simulations
·     Learning communities to help you interact with fellow learners
·     Expert Chat Sessions to clarify doubts
·     Brainbench exams to help you do your best