Programming Job Question?

I'm in school working on a BS in applied math and BS physics, but I'm looking to get a programming job while still in school. I'm good with C++ and Java, but I'm looking for a direction to go next to help land a job. I've had a good deal of university programming coursework and I enjoy doing it. From looking around it seems that web programming is more of an entrance as opposed to full-blown software engineering, stressing things like XML, J2EE, and Servlets (please correct me if I'm wrong). Right now I'm learning SQL and integrating it into OOP code. I'm using Dice.com, but many of the positions are posted by staffing agencies as opposed to tech companies, and it's hard to establish a dialogue with them. Are there any kinds of positions or organizations I should look out for? Would official certifications help? Most importantly, what should I concentrate on learning next that I can fairly easily learn on my own?

Programming Job Question?
It seems your headed in the right direction!


J2EE and Java are in..and learning a backend database would help as well.


You can get a job if your good in your fundamentals .


You can get a really good job if you had done certification such as SCJB(something like that for java guys,am into .net)
Reply:MCAD cert helped me greatly both for interviews and for actual knowedge base. I would not however recomended that process for experienced developers.


SQL is critical to know regardless of which programming platform you want to work with. So its good you are doing that.


Other then that its basically .Net vs not-.Net. The reason I say that is becuase in my view its too much to be both and .Net is a hard-core as you want it to be.


Which universe to choose is hard for some, for me it was easy... .Net
Reply:You might try expanding a bit by learning some C#.Net, since you seem to already have a good handle on C++ and are learning SQL. Web applications may not be your end goal, but it will broaden your marketability, I think.