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ceres · Newbie Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hi all,

I am a computer programmer of 8 years in an ailing technology. Back in March I took a support job after a few months being out of work and unable to get a job in my main expertise as the programming technology is dying.

Anyway, out of the blue yesterday, an excellent company contacted me for a Java programming job and have invited me in for an interview next week. They got my CV off of a friend who works for the same company (albeit in a different field).

Of course I jumped at the chance for the interview. Now, my CV says nothing on it about Java as I have not touched it. When I look at the job spec, it's entirely Java based.

Now, I am very confused they have asked me in because my CV lists nothing about Java. In the meantime I am reading about the fundamentals of Java but it's not possible to learn it in a week.

How should I handle the interview? I am all for being honest saying I have no commercial experience in that arena (as my cv shows) but want to move into it because the company is a company I want to work with and it's a great opportunity.

They must see something in my CV that I could offer them despite the glaring gap of technical skillset for the job. Surely, they have noticed I am not proficient in Java?

Any advice on how to handle this interview? I am all for taking a pay cut to secure this job but don't want to sound too desperate.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Pauloz · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:39 am Post subject:

ceres

This sounds to me like your friend has put in a few good words for you as a person to have onboard, more than specific skills.

If your CV says nothing about Java, they can't say they weren't told.

Just check out any possible applications, other than programming, where your skills would be a good fit for this position.

What occurs to me is that because Java is cross platform, you may have skills in other codes.

The name of the game for Java is working like that, and it may well be those skills which are useful.

Actually, one of the quickest possible ways of learning Java to your own level could well be working with it as it applies to something you do know. A sort of reverse Rosetta Stone approach.

For the interview, I suggest saying pretty much what you've said here, that you're pleased and keen and ready to learn. Sticking to your CV, you can at least say that you know what Java is, and you know what it does, and have a good picture of how it operates.

Your experience with it can be described as an application in terms of whatever you've seen it used for, preferably in an employment based or operational context.

In terms of experience you can also say it applied to your previous work directly/indirectly through your server, operating systems, etc. Java does inevitably show up somewhere in business systems, at whatever degree of remove, even if it's not part of your direct experience.

Java is an essential, and it will be pretty clear that you're being nothing less than honest, as you say, about wanting both the job and wanting to do Java. That would be the career path value part of the interview, your motives for wanting the job.

The knowledge of Java is a good move in anybody's language, and does lead to a huge range of opportunities. The pay cut will be temporary.

Good luck,

ceres · Newbie Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 3 Career Advice: +0/-0

Great thanks.

This is a huge help. A pay cut does not bother me in the slightest. I'm just really keen to get on board with the company. I think if I am just honest and sell myself the way you mentioned, that's the best I can do.

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