Having been launched in 1995, Java is a truly mature technology. Unlike many others, though, Java is far from being outdated and is still one of the most popular programming languages used worldwide.
With so many Java app development experts on the market, the question arises: how do I hire a Java developer who will really match my needs, my company and the project we are currently working on?
To answer this, we have prepared a guide on hiring Java devs. Read on to learn the best tips shared with us by industry insiders!
When should you hire Java developers?
Before you start looking to hire a Java developer, you’ll probably first wonder whether you actually need one. Java is one of the most popular programming languages worldwide, but it is especially recommended for a few specific types of projects.
So when should you actually hire a Java developer?
- When building a web app
Web development can be split into two main areas: front-end (what the user sees) and back-end (processes not directly visible to users, e.g., data transfers, server management). Java is often chosen as the go-to programming language for the latter case, so if you have a web app planned, consider hiring a Java developer.
- When building an Android mobile app
Java is the main language used for creating Android software. If you want to develop an app for this system that performs well, you should definitely hire a Java developer with experience in mobile projects
- When planning to launch a cross-platform product
Software built with Java can be run on multiple platforms besides Windows, such as Mac and Linux. If you want to establish a presence on these systems, a good Java developer might be exactly what you need
- When working on software for enterprises
Java is often used when building huge, complicated software for corporate use. Due to Java’s great performance, even when running processor-intensive operations, it’s the first choice for enterprises that require stable and safe technology that will be used by thousands (if not millions) of users, e.g. online banking systems.
The ultimate Java developer job description — what should your new dev know?
Because Java can be used in so many different types of projects, the Java developer job description you prepare for your hiring process may be slightly different from what other companies have. There are some general technical skills that every good Java developer should possess, though. These are:
- Knowledge of popular Java frameworks (e.g. Spring and Struts for web development, Dropwizard for microservices, Hibernate for databases, Play for web and mobile apps)
- Experience with Memory Management in the Java Virtual Machine (garbage collection)
- An understanding of major Object-Oriented Programming patterns and concepts
- An understanding of abstract methods and classes in Java
- An understanding of Java keywords
- Experience with database management (with SQL)
- The ability to writing clean code
There are also, of course, skills needed for specific types of projects. For example, if you want to hire Java developers to develop a web app, they should also be experienced in the more typical front-end languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) as well as XML/JSON. For Java app development, knowledge of the Android Software Development Kit is critical.
What criteria should you take into account when you want to hire a Java developer?
Besides technical skills, there are, of course, other things that you should consider when you plan to hire a Java developer. Here are some of the major ones:
- Their previous experience with Java
Despite being a very popular programming language, Java is not easy to learn. That’s why when hiring a Java developer, assessing their previous experience working with the technology is crucial. You should remember to check how long they have worked in Java-related positions and whether they had any breaks. Java development changes rapidly, so someone who worked on a Java app a few years ago might not possess knowledge that’s recent enough to allow them to develop great products in a fast-paced company.
- Product fit
There are so many different projects that Java can be used for that extensive experience in the programming language itself won’t do if the developer is not familiar with your particular type of product.
The rules here are, therefore, simple.
When planning to build an Android app, hire a Java developer with previous experience with mobile projects.
When planning to build a web app, hire a Java developer experienced in web development.
And so on.
In other words, try not to hire Java developers without experience with your type of product.
- Industry fit
If possible, you should look for Java devs with previous experience in your industry. This will give you the advantage of having someone on board who has already built solutions that you might require for your software, which speeds up the development process significantly.
- Soft skills
While a Java developer without technical skills simply cannot code, a set of soft skills is important as well. A good Java dev must be able to work well with others, both devs and non-devs. This often means being able to translate very technical issues into language that is easily understood by people from non-technical teams. Having an attitude of a researcher is also important — even the most experienced programmers sometimes have to go online to look for solutions to solve a specific problem. Finally, excellent time management to cope with multiple priorities and issues that happen on a day-to-day basis is something that a good Java developer should strive to achieve.
Java developer interview questions — what are the best ones to ask?
The technical interview is always a crucial part of a successful hiring process. If framed and well-prepared, it can provide you with the perfect assessment of your candidate’s skills.
The portion of the interview focused on the technical parts of one’s job usually consists of a set of questions and a task or two to be either accomplished during the interview or at home. If you are not a Java developer yourself, you should consider asking someone to help you out with the process. Consider which colleague could help or book some time with an expert for hire. This can be either an actual Java dev or an IT Project Manager with previous experience in Java.
To give you some idea of what you can expect, here are some of our favorite Java developer interview questions to use during the hiring process:
- What’s the Set interface in Java? What are the differences between HashSet, TreeSet and LinkedHashSet?
- What is the most recent Java release? What new features does it introduce or what does it change in comparison to the previous release?
- StringBuilder vs. StringBuffer — what are the differences between the two?
- Is it possible to override static methods in Java? Is it the same in other programming languages?
- What is the difference between notify and notifyAll in Java?
- What is the difference between static and dynamic binding in Java?
- What things in Java do you find annoying and think are done better in other programming languages?
- What is the difference between a user thread and a daemon thread in Java?
- Are Swing methods thread-safe? Explain why or why not.
- What is the difference between sleep() and wait() methods in Java?
Gathering IT experts for product success
Building complicated Java software is always powered by teamwork, not only between developers. but also experts from other professions. You need designers (including UX and UI designers) to make your product attractive to the customers, data analytics experts to understand what your users want and project managers and product owners to successfully manage others.
To make the process of hiring all these professionals more efficient, contact us at Ideamotive. We are able to quickly connect you with top IT experts who already have experience in the industry you are working in and the type of product you are developing.
Build an award-winning team with us starting today.
