It’s the beginning of the fall term at BCIT and time to choose courses. This term I really wanted to concentrate on Java. I’ve got a lot of previous Java experience but it’s getting a bit rusty and the tools and APIs have moved on since I last used it in anger.

BCIT offer a very interesting looking course called Java Web Applications (COMP 3631) that covers some great technology – primarily servlets and JavaServer Pages. Stuff I’m really keen to learn about and great marketable skills. However it requires Advanced Java as a prerequisite. Now I’ve done all that stuff… I’ve even taken an Advanced Java course in the past. But I’m kinda rusty on it.

BCIT do offer an Advanced Java course (COMP 3621). Maybe I should take that one instead. It would be a good course to get me back up to speed… but it’s basically revision – I wouldn’t really be learning anything new.

That was a tough decision. In the end I decided to take the Java Web Services class on Tuesday evenings – what Java I’m missing I can pick up as I go along. Class was great, lecturer is great, course content looks fantastic. Then on Wednesday I’m musing… you know, if I’m SERIOUS about this then I should give my Java all the help I can and be sure to fill in any gaps – and I should take the Advanced Java course as well. And so I signed up for that one as well and I’ve been going along to that on Thursdays.

Same tutor for both classes which is good. As well as a couple of assignments for each course, he also sets lab work each week for each class so I’m spending time outside the classroom working with the course material – which is great, but eats into my free time.

That’s actually only ONE of THREE major time sinks over the last week or two… more to come later.

Not my first rejection, I guess I shouldn’t be too upset by it… but I am!

Via a convoluted path (a workmate of my wife is a friend of a project manager there) I got a “we’re looking for developers” email. Phoned up the project manager who was very friendly and seemed impressed by my experience. They’re a Java shop and I’ve got Java experience but have been concentrating on C# & .NET skills. I pointed this out but he seemed pleased that I at least had a couple of years Java experience.

They’re apparently looking for developers at all levels, although their website only makes specific reference to Senior Developer. The company looks fantastic – their primary product is an ecommerce framework built in Java over a collection of strong open source components. Lots of high profile customers, small & dynamic organization, great technology.

So I sent my resume in. A week later he asks me for my BCIT transcripts… and is impressed by my grades (97% and 98% *buffs fingernails on lapel*)… and then rejects me.

But he was good enough to talk to me about WHY they were rejecting me. Seemed to centre around me not being able to hit the ground running… lack of current experience… maybe I should target intermediate positions etc etc.

All true and valid – but kinda frustrating because I understood that. I was a senior developer for many years but, having been out of the industry for nearly 5 years now, I’m not expecting to jump into a senior role and my cover letter explicitly says that I’m looking for an intermediate position.

Still, what’s done is done. A company I’d really love to work for so I’ll be keeping an eye on them in case they add any intermediate positions in the future as I continue working at updating that skillset.