What to Look for When Hiring a Java Developer

Human resources are the most important asset of all the assets available in a company, that’s why hiring is not only one of the most difficult processes for a business, but also one of the most stressful and high-stakes tasks. Recruitment and selection process is time-consuming and expensive and its ineffectiveness can hurt the productivity of good employees and of all the company. This is the reason why whoever is in charge of hiring needs to understand the organization’s needs to be able to find and select the right candidate that matches their needs and fits the position.

The hiring process of a Java Developer, from a general point of view, is not different from others, it only differs when it comes to what you need to look for in a candidate. Here it is a short, but very precise description of what to look for when hiring a Java Developer:

• Figure out the skill set of the ideal candidate

The first and probably the most important thing you need to do is to figure out the skill set that your future Java developer needs to have in order to suit your business needs. There isn’t a static skill set, it depends on the project he/she will be working on. Don’t forget to decide even a salary rage. For instance, in the US, according to Glassdoor, the salary varies from $77,761 to $106,542, depending on the level of Java developer.

• Certifications

Java certifications indicate that the developer you are considering to hire has invested time and money to improve his/her skills and knowledge, as well as to prove them. It also means that the candidate is capable of operating on a global scale. Spring certificates and Oracle certificates are some of the Java certifications that a candidate must have.

• Previous experiences

Because Java knowledge gained from university is not enough in practice, it is very important to find someone who has business coding experience. Moreover, because the Java world evolves at a rapid pace, a developer needs to be continuously updated, in order to keep track of it and to be valuable enough in the digital world. Up to 2 years of experience can be good for a junior Java developer, but if you want to hire a senior Java developer you need to find a professional with more than 3 years of experience in Java.

Our last advice is to not screen candidates for Java skills through resumes, it isn’t effective: you must test their skills! How to? Programming or online coding tests are the best solutions.