Java is nowadays being widely used for developing business applications. The portability, robustness and simplicity made Java an in-demand language. The companies often hire java developers or hire an agency for developing their application. Irrespective of the hiring model, one must ensure that the prospective Java developer should have requisite skills. The blog post focuses on the skills to look for in a Java developer.
Once a prospective Java developer is found, his soft skills and hard skills must be verified. Hard skills are those skills that are measurable or predictable via any means – professional certifications in different domains, foreign language competence, programming skills, etc. Soft skills are personal traits enabling seamless and harmonious interaction with other people. Some examples of soft skills are leadership skills, time management, teamwork, communication skills, etc.
Hard Skills Assessment
A common method for assessing hard skills is an interview or a practical assignment. It must be made sure that the candidate should be informed in advance about the time required for the process. The practical assignment should not be long enough if you are not paying for it. The ideal time is around 2-3 hours. Before finalizing a practical assignment for the candidate, one must review the desired hard skills for the Java developers. The list is long.
A Java developer should have good command over core Java, Java design patterns, interfaces and serialisation. The developer ideally should have a working knowledge of web technologies as well as server-side apps, including APIs. The developer should be an expert in Java. An understanding of code version control and big data would be an added advantage.
Soft Skills Assessment
The soft skills nowadays are equally important along with the hard skills for hiring personnel. The personal traits expected from a Java developer are problem-solving skills, positive attitude, discipline, ability to multitask, etc. The availability of these skills in a Java developer would ensure that he is a team player and easy to work with.
A Java developer should also be creative who can differentiate our application from the ordinary run of the mill apps. Professionalism is a key trait to be looked for in a developer. One should also be aware of the area of expertise of the developer to optimally utilize the developer.
While opting to hire dedicated java developer through a technology partner saves you a lot of time and effort, it is better to assess each Java developer on the above parameters for a perfect fit.