Re-learn C++ or Java?

[david at thekramers.net (David Kramer)]

So I am part of the large crowd that is exceeding at being unemployed.

I'm heavily in the UNIX camp (never done Windows-specific development, but
I have done cross-platform).  Strong C and Perl and web development on
UNIX.  Most of the UNIX (aledged) positions out there seem to require C++,
Java, embedded, and/or real time.

I have taken classes in both C++ and Java, and have gone through books on
my own.  I know C++ pretty well, and Java passingly.  Embedded programming
and realtime are not easily learned in a classroom, and certainly not in
one course.

The frustrating part is that very few companies seem to care about what I
know, they only care about how many years I got paid for doing it in the
past.  This seems a little myopic to me.  On the occasions that I have
gotten companies to give me a C++ technical test I have done well.

I'm thinking that if I take another course in one of these topics now, it
won't be job experience but at least it will be more recent (the other
classes were several years ago).

a) Does this make sense, or am I wasting my time and $1200 or so?

b) C++ or Java?  Since I have done web development, Java seems like a good
choice,  but C++ is more flexible for other types of applications.

c) What training companies do you recommend?

Thanks in advance.


-------------------------------------------------------------------
DDDD   David Kramer                   http://thekramers.net
DK KD
DKK D  Science without religion is lame,
DK KD  religion without science is blind.
DDDD              Albert Einstein

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