I'm a recruiter specialising in software development roles on Symbian. In order to be more efficient in selecting suitable candidates for my clients, I wish to learn how to code in C++ or Java for Symbian. Anyone know the best way (outside of a Software Engineering degree) to go about this?
Where to start - coding in C++/Java for Symbian OS?
Buy a good book (http://www.symbian.com/books), download the SDKs (Software Development Kit) and start reading.
It helps if you already know programming concepts (a programming language, structured or object oriented, basic data structures and other concepts). If not, it might be best to start at that level, and locate general programming tutorials first, before attempting to understand Symbian.
There is a certification program sponsored from Symbian, called "Symbian Accredited Developer" (more information at http://www.majinate.com/).
This might be one indication that the candidate is good at Symbian OS programming. Unfortunately it costs a few hundred bucks to take the test and not many Symbian OS developers have taken this test.
IMHO, learning C++/Java yourself will take some time before you can actually start your first interview.