When people hear Java, the first thing they may think of is the popular Indonesian coffee. Yet, as a Java Developer, you know very well that it’s much more than this. Your job is to combine letters, numbers, and symbols in a logical way in order to achieve a final result when developing, testing, and refining applications. 

Yes, the job can involve many hours in front of a computer, but it can be highly rewarding. This is whether you work for a small start-up or a large multinational. With this in mind, we’ve prepared this article to help you as a Java Developer find the ideal opportunity in the workplace by presenting some of the most important things you need to know when looking for a new role. Let’s dive right in.

What is Java?

Released in 1995, Java is a programming language that is “concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, and is based on the syntax of C and C++.” The language is popular for its efficient processing speed in software, computer games, and applications for desktop, web, and mobile. In fact, there are over one billion computers and three billion mobile phones across the world that run on Java. An important part of Java is the principles that it seeks to uphold. These include the five most important ones listed below:

• Simple, object-oriented, and familiar
• Robust and secure
• Architecture-neutral and portable
• Execute with high performance, and
• Be interpreted, threaded, and dynamic.

What is a Java Developer?

A Java Developer “speaks” the computer programing language of Java. As a specialist programmer, your knowledge of this popular “language” is used to test and develop software. In addition to this, your roles and responsibilities will be to create, adapt, monitor, and repair software across a variety of platforms. What is more, your job will often involve interacting and liaising with web developers, web designers, and software engineers. Further to this, with a majority of programmers using Java across the world, it has become the primary choice for “cross-platform applications like web applications, Android apps, cloud applications, machine learning environments, and the Internet of Things.” The purpose of all this? To create fully integrated programs and apps for your client.

How do you become a Java Developer?

Becoming a Java Developer can be approached in two general ways. The first option is to be self-taught and build onto your experience as your skills development progresses. The second option is to obtain a degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Mathematics, or a related field. Computer Science degrees, however, are the preferred option by most employers because of their variable focus on subject matter include data structures, computer architecture, database management, statistics, and technical writing. 

What skills are required from a Java Developer?

Depending on your levels of experience, as a Java Developer you will need to possess some of the following skills and knowledge sets:

• Object-oriented programming and design
• Experience with Java frameworks
• Relational databases, SQL, and ORM
• Web technologies e.g. HTML, CSS, Javascript, and jQuery
• Java, JavaScript, Java Applets, Java Servlets, Java Beans proficiency
• Design and patterns in Java and reusable Java libraries
• Familiarity with MVC, JDBC, JSP, SOAP, and RESTful
• Java UI concepts like applets and frameworks like Swing, SWT & AWT

• Testing tools such as JUnit, TestNG, Spock, Mockito, etc

• Working with both external and embedded databases

Looking for a new role? Here’s what to expect

Since Java Developers are responsible for many tasks throughout the development lifecycle of applications, you will need to be thoroughly prepared for your technical interview questions. This is irrespective of whether you are a junior or senior Java Developer. Being on top of the employer’s job description and knowing your stuff is much more likely to land you your dream job.  

• Emphasize how your skills match the prospective employer’s requirements
• Show how you will be a great cultural fit within the organization
• Demonstrate your ability to solve problems
• Indicate your flexible strategies in respect of Java programming, and
• Prove your proficiency in understanding Java frameworks.

As a result of a combination of these requirements, a typical interview may include some of the following 10 questions, which you will need to be prepared for:

1. What are the access modifiers in Java?
2. What is a static import?
3. What is the difference between the user thread and daemon thread?
4. What is the volatile keyword in Java?
5. What is Compare and Swap (CAS) algorithm?
6. What is singleton class in Java and how can we make a class singleton?
7. What is the difference between Array list and vector in Java?
8. What are the differences between C++ and Java?
9. What is the difference between JDK, JRE, and JVM?
10. What is classloader?

In addition to the above, be cognizant of the fact that your prospective employer will also be testing skills and knowledge related to: your knowledge of the basics; the different versions of Java you know; your ability to use different Java frameworks and tools; your knowledge of different developer methodologies; your familiarity with different software development processes; you may be asked to do a technical test as well as discuss a recent project which you’ve worked on.

Final thoughts

And there you have it! A quick and easy to navigate guide on most things related to Java Developers. From the origins of this programming language to the preparation for your interview, put your skills to the test and show your prospective employer what you’re made of. 

Java is not for the faint hearted and it can take years to become fully proficient in the language. In addition, it must also be factored in that Java is constantly being developed. So, in order to remain competitive, it’s always advisable to continue upskilling and educating yourself through various courses and platforms.