SCJP

Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) is a certification exam for Java programmers. Visit this link for details http://in.sun.com/training/certification/java/scjp.xml
Being an SCJP certified gives you many benefits like
1. First of all while preparing for the exam, your understanding of the Java language will be improved, your concepts will become stronger and you will have a good command over the language.
2. Being an SCJP certified programmers separates you from the crowd.
3. You will get a logo to add it into your resume, this will add value to your resume.
4. Wherever there is a requirement for Java developers, you will surely get a preference. Even there are some companies like NDS who gives chance for SCJP certified programmers to go through their recruitment drive.

You can purchase exam voucher through any of the prometric center near by your location.
Visit this link to get the list of prometric centers in India http://www.javabeat.net/cert/prometric-center/india.html

Books recommended:
SCJP Study Guide By Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates
A Programmer’s Guide to Java(TM) Certification By Khalid Mughal, Rolf Rasmussen
Apress SCJP Exam for J2SE By Paul Sanghera

Just search in internet, you will get dump for the exam, some institutes might also provide you with dump. As far as I know most of the questions come from dump, in my case around 60% to 70% questions were from dump. I am not responsible if questions in your exam doesn't come from dump. It may or may not happen. If you have a good command in Java, you can prepare within 10 to 20 days for it otherwise it may take you more than a month.
In my opinion the biggest hurdle in clearing the exam is students plan for it and then thinks that when they will be fully prepared then they will purchase the exam voucher. If you are one of this kind (except for some few dedicated students) then Forget it, you wouldn't ever give this exam, because I am sure your preparation can never reach 100%, always somewhere something would get left and you will be just postponing your plan from this month to next month, next month to another next month and so on......
So my suggestion would be if you are not a type of very dedicated personality and really want to give the exam then purchase the exam voucher as soon as possible and fix a date for your exam then only you can start serious preparation for the exam otherwise you would just keep postponing it from time to time...........

Must read for Engineering students

I am writing this post for all engineering students especially for my junior friends from GBPEC Pauri Garhwal who are going to pass out this year i.e. 2010. Many of you would have got job offer through campus placement in 1 or more companies (Although in most campuses, students are not allowed to sit in other companies after getting one job but in one college that I knew, special students are allowed to sit, now please don't ask the name of the college and the eligibility criteria to become special students!!!!!).


For those students having a job offer:
First of all congrats for getting a job offer, and I am sure most of you would have got the offer from India's most reputed companies, rite!!!. So, now most of you will be in ur dreamland, already got a job in a reputed company, and enjoying rest college days without trying for anything else, even for some students its like a dream come true!!!!! if ur answer is yes, then i would say either
-you have got an job offer from Google, Oracle, etc
-u have become an entrepreneur,
-u have achieved something which i can't even think of, or
-u think its the best you can get with your full potential

If none of the above conditions are true for you, then you are in a wrong track, i would just say 2 words for you, "WAKE UP"


For those students unhappy with rejection or looking for job

Forget the past, and be prepared for the future, don't wait for the opportunities to come your way, just make them. One important thing, company never selects such candidates who are better than their requirements, as these candidates can easily get better offers and can leave them anytime. If you are not in IIT or some other well reputed college, then I would say better try off-campus (but try to get atleast one job on-campus for backup purpose if u want), there are many good companies which I am sure you won't have even heard of. I have also gone through this phase in my life that is why I have written this post. Thanks to my seniors especially Shitiz Raikwar and Abhiraj Mehrotra for their guidance that helped me to "WAKE UP".

Hope my post will "WAKE UP" the sleeping ones.