Top 8 Java Developer Skills to Hire For in 2024 & Beyond

With more than 10 million dedicated Java developers worldwide, Java is gaining more popularity as one of the top five programming languages. Java developers are in high demand to create robust and high-performing applications.  

Uber, Netflix, Amazon, Twitter, and LinkedIn are popular brands that hire Java developers to build apps, devices, and software. But hiring top Java developers for your project is more challenging than it seems. You will have to identify top tech skills, soft skills, tools framework understand and many more to hire the right candidate to meet your project.  

In this blog, we will explore the top eight Java developers' skills to hire for in 2024 & beyond.  

Top Java Developer Skills to Consider When Hire

#1 - Familiarity with Object-Oriented Programming 

Object-oriented programming (OOP) is one of the top Java skills to consier when hiring. Thanks to fast and easy execution, it allows developers to keep code DRY "Don't Repeat Yourself." 

OOP improves modular design, promotes code reusability, and fosters the maintainability and scalability of software systems 

Some of the significant OOP aspects are: 

• Abstraction simplifies systems by emphasizing essential features while concealing implementation details 
• Encapsulation hides the internal object state, exposing functionality through methods 
• Inheritance facilitates code reuse by inheriting properties from other classes 
• Polymorphism enables treating diverse objects uniformly 

#2 - Knowledge of Web Technologies 

When businesses frequently need web applications, it's crucial to find developers versed in web development solutions. Technologies like Java Server Pages enable Java developers to create dynamic, engaging web apps. Essential skills for Java web developers include Servlets, JSP, and Java EE.  

With 57% of internet users unwilling to recommend businesses with poorly designed mobile websites, and there's a high demand for exceptional web services. In addition, RESTful web services stand out as widely utilized APIs in the web services realm. 

Some of the best Java tools for web development: 

Angular 

As a popular front-end web framework, Angular provides several Java development tools and features. Hire Angular developers to build a single-page app and native and advanced web apps for desktops.  

HTML, CSS, and JavaScript 

HTML builds web pages' core elements, while CSS helps style these pages. On the other hand, JS adds interactivity and dynamic behavior to these web pages.  

Servlet API 

It offers several interfaces and classes to build and operate web apps. In addition, Servlet API provides platform-independent service to users.  

#3 - Proficient in Design and Architecture 

Design and architecture play a vital role in business growth. Whether it's a website, web, or mobile application, you need to ensure your Java developers are proficient in design and architecture before hiring them.  

Design and architecture are subdivided into three categories: 

• Creational design patterns include Singleton, Factory, Abstract Factory, Builder, and Prototype for object creation as per the situation. 
• Structural design patterns Adapter, Bridge, Composite, Decorator, Facade, Flyweight, and Proxy. They simplify the design and identify relationships between different entities 
• Behavioral design patterns include Command, Interpreter, Iterator, Mediator, Memento, Observer, State, Strategy, Template Method, and Visitor patterns.  

Java developers with these skills make more informed decisions for the software application's design while considering performance, security, scalability, and usability. 

#4 - Having Profound Knowledge of Soft Skills 

Soft skills in developers help them in effective teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and overall job performance.  

Here are a few essential soft skills to consider when you hire your next Java developers: 

• Communication Skills: Clear and effective communication is vital for collaborating with team members, understanding project requirements, and explaining technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. 
• Problem-solving Skills: Java developers should possess solid problem-solving abilities to debug code, identify issues, and implement effective solutions efficiently. 
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Java development often involves working in teams, so developers should be able to collaborate effectively, share knowledge, and contribute to group projects. 
• Time Management: Meeting project deadlines is crucial in software development. Developers should be capable of managing their time effectively and prioritizing tasks to ensure timely delivery. 

#5 - Understanding the DevOps Skills 

DevOps skills are an integral part of a successful Java developer. DevOps tools ensure software reliability and enhance scalability and app performance.  

Here are a few DevOps Skills and tools to consider when hiring Java developers:

• Jenkins for continuous integration 
• Docker for containerization 
• Git for version control 
• Ansible for automation 
• Maven for dependency management 
• Gradle for build automation 

Understanding these tools ensures seamless integration, deployment, and management of Java applications in a DevOps environment. It streamlines development processes and enhances productivity.  

#6 - Proficiency in Database Skills 

Another crucial Java developer skill to consider when hiring is database skills.  

Java is mainly used to create databases and tools for working with data. 

Some of the database skills you need to consider when hiring Java developers: 

SQL 

Proficiency in SQL is essential for Java developers as it facilitates interaction with databases for data retrieval, modification, and deletion.  

Java developers should possess strong SQL skills enabling them to craft intricate queries to handle and manipulate data stored in databases efficiently. 

Database Design 

Java developers must know normalization, data modeling, and schema design concepts. It empowers them to develop optimized databases that enhance performance, scalability, and maintainability. 

ORM 

Java developers must have knowledge about ORM frameworks like Hibernate and JPA. They should possess proficiency in these frameworks and be capable of utilizing them to interact with databases efficiently.  

It enables seamless communication between Java applications and databases, facilitating streamlined data operations and enhancing overall system performance. 

Database Administration 

Java developers should understand the concepts of backup and recovery, security, and performance tuning. It helps them in ensuring that databases work smoothly and efficiently. 

#7 - Familiarity With Software Testing Skills 

Every Java developer must have enough knowledge to test the codes they write.  

Some of the testing tools that Java programmers must have expertise in:

JUnit 

It's a popular testing framework for Java applications. It helps developers in unit testing and identifying and correcting bugs early during the development process. 

TestNG 

TestNG is a testing framework with some additional features like data-driven testing and parallel test execution. Developers can use this tool for both unit testing and integration testing.  

Mockito 

As a Java application mocking framework, Mockito allows Java developers to create fake objects replicating real-world things. 

Selenium 

Selenium is a popular web application testing tool. It helps developers automate web application testing and different types of testing, such as functional testing, regression testing, and load testing. 

Apache JMeter 

This load-testing tool is often used to measure the performance of web applications. It allows Java developers to mimic high-traffic scenarios and find performance bottlenecks. 

#8 - Understanding Java frameworks and libraries 

Java frameworks provide developers with a head start, sparing them from starting from scratch. These frameworks serve as the groundwork on which developers construct applications, incorporating reusable code components crafted to execute everyday tasks seamlessly. 

In contrast, most popular Java libraries comprise prewritten code collections aimed at simplifying tasks. Java libraries empower developers to reuse code segments, thereby accelerating development.  

Here are some popular frameworks and libraries you need to consider when hiring Java developers: 

Hibernate: 

Hibernate, an ORM framework for Java applications, simplifies database interactions by offering a method to associate data objects with database tables. 

Struts: 

Strut, an open-source framework, facilitates the implementation of Model-View-Controller architecture, enabling the segregation of presentation, business logic, and data access within an application. 

Spring framework: 

This trending framework for web app development offers a range of functionalities such as dependency injection, aspect-oriented programming, and transaction management to streamline web development processes. 

Required Skills Levels to Hire Java Developers

Basic Java Developer Skills: 

• Proficiency in core Java concepts such as variables, loops, and conditional statements. 
• Understanding of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles like inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism. 
• Knowledge of basic data structures and algorithms. 
• Familiarity with handling exceptions and error handling. 
• Know about the best Java IDEs like Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA. 
• Understanding of essential SQL for database interactions. 
• Familiar with version control systems like Git. 

Intermediate Java Developer Skills: 

• Proficiency in advanced Java concepts such as multithreading, generics, and collections framework. 
• Experience in building and consuming RESTful APIs. 
• Knowledge of unit testing frameworks like JUnit. 
• Competence in using build automation tools like Maven or Gradle. 
• Familiarity with web development frameworks like Spring or Hibernate. 

Advanced Java Developer Skills: 

• Mastery in advanced topics like JVM internals, memory management, and performance tuning. 
• Proficiency in concurrent programming and advanced multithreading concepts. 
• Experience in developing large-scale, high-performance applications. 
• Expertise in microservices architecture and cloud technologies. 
• Ability to design and implement complex algorithms and data structures efficiently. 
• Proficiency in advanced SQL for database optimization and performance tuning. 
• Experience in DevOps practices and tools for continuous integration and deployment. 
• Ability to mentor junior developers and lead development teams effectively. 

Hire Java Developers Within 48 Hours from VLink! 

VLink is the perfect place to hire top Java developers within 48 hours. We have a large pool of talent where developers possess core to advanced Java skills to deliver quality projects.  

From full-stack developers to junior and senior Java developers, we have dedicated team of programmers of all experience levels. Our developers can be the right fit for your projects whether for web services to mobile apps, API development, cloud computing, software development, migration, and upgradation.  

Here are a few reasons to hire developers for your Java development project: 

• Cost-saving solutions 
• Complete IP protection 
• Real-time project visibility 
• On-demand scaling 

Consult us today to hire top Java programmers for your business growth.