RE: AS/400 RPG Certification Test

Eric,

Well, I'ld do several of your choices.  DEFINATELY get the masters.  MBA
or whatever...  If you want to make some good bucks, learn RPG, JDE and go
contracting...JDE contractors are making some outrageous buck$!

If you're looking longer term: Masters, RPG, JAVA, JDE...

You'll find that experience counts more than a cert currently in the
midrange world...if you're going into the PC world you'll need a cert cuz
there's just too many PC'ers...

Learn your systems below the desktop.  TOO MANY cirriculums only teach you
the surface...what happens under the covers of your system is just as
important and schools tend to be paranoid about teaching that part of IS.

Fact is MS will be here a long time....and they OWN the desktop...  JAVA
has a bit yet to go and I'm curious if it's not going to be the language
du jour...but only time will tell there.

Try doing the Masters at night or part time...saves on the cash flow :)

Lotsa luck!

Don in DC

On Sun, 6 Sep 1998, Eric Kempter wrote:

> This thread has been very interesting.  I will be completing my BS degree in
> January.  I have been in the AS/400 industry for 20 years.  I have been
> trying to decide what my next "educational" step will be.  I am having a
> difficult time make the decision.  I have four alternatives.  1.  Learn RPG
> IV and get my IBM certification; 2.  Learn JAVA which would give me an
> inroad to Lotus Notes programming and thereby make me more marketable; 3.
> Learn more about JD Edwards and get a JDE technical certificate; 4.  Get a
> Masters degree.
>       Decision, decisions.  Does anyone have any thoughts?  Thanks in advance.
> 
> Eric Kempter
> Director of MIS
> CommAir Mechanical Services
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
> [mailto:owner-midrange-l@midrange.com]On Behalf Of Don
> Sent: Sunday, September 06, 1998 12:27 PM
> To: Charles L. Massoglia
> Cc: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject: Re: AS/400 RPG Certification Test
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Charlie...
> 
> I totally agree with you.  I would go a step further.  When I saw the RPG
> and systems admin cert questions it just hit me that it had been written
> by someone that was HEAVILY "coached" by a sales type.
> 
> The questions on the systems admin cert test were missing just too many of
> the basic "how do you REALLY run a shop" questions and too full of
> questions that would (in my opinion) tend to lead one towards making that
> call to their marketing rep du jour a bit sooner to order that upgrade...
> 
> The RPG exam was heavily tilted towards ILE...and in San Antonio's time
> frame there's not alot of folks that have a REAL business reason to goto
> ILE.  Ergo, someone's wanting to force ILE...and given what we know about
> ILE, we're talking manditory system upgrades to push that puppy...  But
> let's face it...people are still using what they have, especially getting
> through this Y2K hump, and to convert to ILE as well on the fly is a bit
> much...further, there's just no business reason to goto ILE just so you
> can brag that you're running ILE...
> 
> Notice to all:  I have absolutely NO problems with the concepts of ILE.
> So, save the flames!  :)
> 
> ...back to the important stuff...FOOTBALL!  :)
> 
> Don in DC
> 
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