Hire Java developers pre-screened for technical and cultural fit

Java developers specialize in developing, testing, and deploying software in the Java programming language and its associated libraries and frameworks. Since its introduction in 1995, Java has grown to become one of the most widely used programming languages in the world.

Amazon, Netflix, and Google are just a few of the tech giants that use Java-based applications. Java developers are always in high demand because the Java ecosystem is so versatile. Java applications are compatible with many different operating environments — making Java a flexible, scalable solution for many software applications.

Despite its advantages, Java isn’t the easiest language to learn, and hiring skilled Java developers can be challenging.

What Is Java Development?

Java is a programming language that introduced the world to the concept of “write once, run anywhere” (WORA). What sets Java apart from other languages is that it’s a two-stage language. In the first stage, it’s compiled and translated into a binary code. In the second stage, it’s compiled and translated into the language of the operating system where it will be running. This cross-platform portability is Java’s secret sauce.

You can find Java applications anywhere you look — from your Android phone apps to government websites and big data technology like Apache Storm. The options are almost limitless when it comes to developing applications with Java.

At this point, you may be wondering why anyone would use any other language if Java is so great. While there are many reasons Java always tops the list of most popular programming languages, there are also reasons it hasn’t been number one for several years.

Java is a proprietary language, so you’ll need a license for business, production, and commercial uses of it. Its code tends to be clunky and verbose, making it harder to learn than Python, which has a simple syntax. Finally, it’s often plagued by performance issues due to excessive memory usage and garbage collection issues. It takes a high level of skill to build a Java application that performs well.

What Does a Java Developer Do?

A day in the life of a Java developer will vary based on their specific role, but generally, you’ll find them working as part of a team to design, develop, or maintain Java-based applications. On any given day, they may meet with stakeholders to discuss business objectives or design new features. Or they may be writing code, testing applications, or debugging software.

Java Developer Salary

Java developers have a high level of skill and a correspondingly large salary. According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for a mid-level Java developer with four to six years of experience in the US is around $99,148.

While Java developers in Latin American countries are equally skilled, the lower cost of living means they’re usually paid 30%-50% less than their US counterparts, with salaries varying based on location and experience. Revelo provides a cost-effective solution while offering highly qualified, pre-vetted Latin American developers.

How to Write a Job Description for Java Developers

Hiring a good Java developer can feel like unicorn hunting. But you’ll have a head start if you take the time to fully flesh out your ideal candidate profile. They’ll need to be proficient in Java, of course, but they may also need other skills. Depending on the specific role, they need an understanding of different software methodologies, knowledge of Java frameworks, libraries, and tools, experience with natural language processing, communication skills, and analytical thinking skills.

Crafting a precise, detailed job description can help you attract the most qualified candidates for your position. Make sure your posting is clear about the skills and qualifications you’re looking for, as well as their daily responsibilities. Include salary and benefits in your listing since many highly qualified candidates won’t consider a position without those details.

Your job description should have:

• Required Qualifications and Education: List what level of education you are expecting, or certifications - i.e. a Master’s Degree, or entry-level knowledge on subject
• Skills: This can include soft skills like clear communication, and time-management skills
• Job Responsibilities: List out what the expectations are on a day-to-day basis.
• Salary and Benefits: List your salary range, and benefits like PTO, flexible hours, and health insurance

Your job description should also state whether you want a junior- or senior-level developer. Junior developers can help write code but will need a lot of supervision and mentoring. A senior-level developer can lead projects and a team of less experienced developers.

For more detailed information, check out our in-depth Java developer job description guide.

Interview Questions for Java Developers

Informative interview questions will give you a good indication of a candidate’s skill as a Java developer and help you determine whether they'll be a good fit for your team. Below are a few questions to get you started, or you can visit our more in-depth Java developer interview question guide for questions specifically tailored to entry-, mid-, and senior-level Java developers.

How can you optimize the performance of a Java application?

This question will help you assess whether a candidate can write efficient code to eliminate bottlenecks. A good answer will demonstrate the applicant’s ability to use profiling to identify areas of code that are taking the most time to execute. Once identified, the developer can optimize the using techniques such as lazy loading, caching, or optimizing data structures.

Explain unit testing and give examples of unit testing tools

Unit testing assesses small sections of code to identify issues early in the development process. Candidates should understand the purpose of unit testing and how to use the tools to perform it. Unit testing will help you catch regressions and ensure code quality. Some of the most popular tools for unit testing in Java are:

• JUnit
• Mockito
• TestNG
• PowerMock

What are the features of the Java language?

This is a basic question that will give your candidate a chance to go in-depth on their knowledge of Java. They should be able to explain the features in detail, but here are some brief answers:

• Java is platform independent, which means it can run on any operating system as long as it has a Java Virtual Machine installed.
• Java is object oriented, so developers can create reusable code and encapsulate data.
• Java has automatic garbage collection, which makes managing memory easier.
• Java is multithreading, so multiple threads can run concurrently in one program for faster processing.

For more Java developer interview questions, visit our interview question section, where we go into detail about questions to ask Java developers of all experience levels.

Why Hire Java Developers With Revelo?

Hiring qualified Java developers can be a huge hurdle to your business goals. Working with a tech talent development partner like Revelo can help. Our end-to-end talent development platform helps with every stage of sourcing, hiring, and managing top tech talent, so you can focus on building your business.

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