RE: AS/400 RPG Certification Test -- MIDRANGE-L

>> 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.

>1.  If your background on the AS/400 is in RPG then I think that learning RPG 
>IV
>     is a "no brainer". Learning RPG IV is not difficult. It may initially 
>seem hard, but
>     the learning curve is pretty short. There are several good books 
>available and
>     I like Cozzi's the best. Go to COMMON and concentrate on RPG IV and ILE.
>    There are many excellent speakers (including Paris, Gantner and Cozzi), 
>etc.
>     The learning curve is easy (in my view) and the payback is worth it in 
>more
>     readable and maintanable code. This option should be taken regardless of 
>any
>     other option selected.
>
> 2.  This is really two separate options in my view. Lotus Notes is much more 
>than
>      Java and/or the web. Java can extend Notes, but is not the primary focus.
>      Learning Java appears to be a good direction, but not neccessarily 
>because of
>      Notes. Learning Notes/Domino is another good direction (and one that I 
>have
>      taken up). Java is also on my list but not right now.
>
> 3.  I'm not a big proponent of packaged software, although I realize that it 
>is a huge
>     (and lucrative) market. JDE is not the only package out there that you can
>     specialize in. SAP appears to be an up and coming package as well as some
>     others. The Y2K issue has helped this area and I suspect it will flourish 
>the next
>     couple of years.
>
> 4.  Can't see where getting a masters will get you any where in your carreer 
>(at least
>      in the current IS environment). It will look impressive and make you 
>feel good.
>      But, I don't see where this will give you an advantage in the 
>marketplace. 

After making the above reply, I read a few other responses and quickly realized 
that
my remarks were based on the assumption that you wished to remain technical 
versus
seeking a higher management position. I have had a taste of management in the 
past
and am convinced that I'm not management material (I do not enjoy it). Being a
consultant allows me to remain technical and never have to be more than a 
project
lead. I think that all responses to your post will be tainted by the experience 
and goals
of the responder and you should keep that in mind when you read them.

Joe Teff
Information Technology Consultant
IBM Certified Specialist - AS/400 RPG Programmer
Quality Data Systems
Minneapolis, MN

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