How much training is necessary?

[Chris Abney <chrisabney@charter.net>]

How much preparation time do you think is required by someone to get
their first programming job as a Java programmer?
I am referring to someone with no relavent college course work and no
non-Java programming experience.

Some of the private schools promote there classes as a way to get
started as a Java programmer.  Would anyone reading this who has been in
a position to interview others for Java positions really consider anyone
who only has some of the more expensive, 8 hour a day training classes
for training?

In my case, I was a C/C++ programmer first so it is hard to compare.
It was also easier to get programming jobs then.
However, my BS required somwhere around 40 hrs * 50 weeks * 5 years =
10000 hours.

I am guessing between 1000 to 5000 hours of preparation is required at a
minimum.
This is only if you are smart and make the most of your studying hours
instead of enjoying the experience like I did.

Chris