How to Hire Java Developers

If you work in application development you‘ll know that Java developers are an important, if not the most important, position within the team. The process to hire a dedicated Java developer can be difficult as it is such a pivotal role, but there are so many seemingly great candidates available. How can you be sure you are hiring the best person with the right skills?

Why You Need a Java Developer

Java is a programming language that works across multiple platforms. This means that companies who use Java can save money by not having to develop separate versions of their software for different operating systems. Java is widely used across the industry for mobile apps, game development, enterprise applications, web, and desktop applications. Due to its popularity, there are many freelance Java developers of varying ability levels available, so make sure you know exactly what skills you need before hiring.

Do You Need a Junior or Senior Java Developer?

When it comes to Java development, there is a big difference between junior and senior developers. Junior developers are cheaper but tend to be less experienced. They are ideal for faster, less complicated tasks but have less knowledge of best practices.

Senior developers, on the other hand, are usually more experienced and have a better understanding of how to write efficient and maintainable code. Senior developers also have the skills to lead teams of less experienced developers.

Skills To Look For In A Junior Developer:

• Demonstrable knowledge of Java/J2EE (Java-2 Enterprise Edition) & Java-based web services.
• Experience in SQL (Structured Query Language) & ORM (Object Relational Mapping)
• Confident in the use of Servlets, their methods & their parameters.
• Understanding of X query, XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language) & XML (Extensible Markup Language).
• Knowledge of data types, algorithms, and structures.

Senior Developers Possess All The Skills Of A Junior Developer, But They May Also:

• Have extensive experience working with the following: JDK (Java Development Kit), JVM (Java Virtual Machine), & JRE (Java Runtime Environment).
• Demonstrate an expert level of skills at OOP (Object-Oriented Programming) & J2EE.
• Strong abilities in debugging, memory management, and code optimization.
• High level of understanding in Java containers (JBoss & Jetty), serialization, and abstract classes.
• Possess the skills and experience to lead a team of developers.
• Practical experience in testing JSP (Java Server Pages).
• Competency in Multi-threading and Synchronization, Enterprise Java Beans, Dependency Injection, & IoC (Spring Inversion of Control).

Where to Hire Java Programmers

Once you are clear on what type of developer you need it’s time to advertise. There are several ways to find the right person for your team.

Freelancer Sites

Post your freelance Java developer job opening on a site such as Upwork, or Freelancer.

Pros: Freelancer sites are great for finding short-term workers for a low price.

Cons: It’s harder to find quality long-term freelance Java developers, and you may experience international HR & legal complications.

Recruiters

Hire a recruiter to find candidates.

Pros: Recruiters are excellent at finding highly specialized developers.

Cons: Recruiters are less likely to find international candidates and can’t help with the problem of employee retention.

Third-Party Team Management Services

Outsource all aspects of building a remote development team to a third party like Terminal.

Pros: All aspects of hiring and employment can be left to the service. Vetting and sourcing candidates from across the globe, onboarding, payroll, HR support, and termination can all be handled by a team of professionals. This leaves you free to quickly get on with the job at hand, with the best developers on your team.

Cons: Some third-party management companies don’t offer a full range of services. Be sure to pick a full-service provider.

Interviewing:

When interviewing a Java developer, be sure to complete both a practical coding assessment & technical understanding evaluation.

The questions you ask and the practical coding skills you test will be based on your research and the job requirements. 

Here are a few starter questions to check for general competency.

For Junior Developers:

• Name the various access modifiers for Java classes.
• Can you explain what a Java ClassLoader is?
• What are the three types of Java loops? 
• What is platform independence and how does Java manage it?
• Compare ArrayList and HashSet and explain the difference.

For Senior Developers:

• Is there a static class in Java? How does it work?
• Can you explain how to convert an InputStream into a Java String?
• What are some benefits of utilizing the Spring framework?
• Which is more secure? Storing sensitive data in a character array, or storing it in a String? 
• Explain the difference between Java wait () and sleep ().

Making An Offer: Salary And Benefits

Java programmers generally command higher salaries compared to other programming languages but the pay can vary depending on experience, seniority, and country of residence.

As remote working has increased in popularity, employers can now choose from talented and affordable freelance Java developers across the globe. So, take a look around the talent pool. There is no longer any reason to restrict your search to who can come into the office!

When making an offer, consider the total compensation package and not just the base salary. By offering a competitive salary package and benefits, you will be more likely to attract and retain top talent.

The Importance of Hiring the Right Java Programmer

The right developer can help your business stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive. They can also help you to create a robust and scalable system that can handle a large amount of data.

By taking the time to hire the right Java developer, you can ensure that your business is able to compete in the digital world.

Highly skilled freelance Java developers worldwide are available for your remote team. Contact terminal.io to begin your search.

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