@AviD: Great idea. I dunno if they actually consider this in any of their levels (possibly under web programming or programming tools) but if I were writing one of these, I would definitely include it in one area of consideration. Personally, I sometimes find myself working a bit slower and more meticulously in order to ensure I’m following security best practices, and no one in my current job has ever told me anything like “don’t worry about that; it’s too trivial.”
So, are you hiring? ;)
@Lisha Sterling: I completely agree. “Time spent programming before graduation” can be taken only with the finest grain of salt. I spent a few years in school doing various programming work for my classes, and when I started my first job, I actually thought I had a decent handle on .NET. I was wrong. While I knew enough to recognize core concepts and keywords and such, I quickly realized I didn’t know shit yet. I think I learned more in my first 3 months on the job than I had in all the years I’d ever done any programming. Anyone who claims their experience in amateur or part-time developing is a sufficient substitute for any professional experience would have a lot to prove to me on day 1. I know a couple of people like that; but they’re very rare.
