Java jobs are on the rise. Due to Java’s popularity, there are many job opportunities. There are thousands of unfilled Java jobs not only in the United States but all over the world. If you want to get a great job in software development, it will help if you can code in one of the four programming languages.

Java is a mainstream programming language with great career prospects. It has been a leading programming language for more than 25 years. Java is an excellent programming language for web applications, server-side code, cloud applications, and IoT (Internet of Things). This language is also popular for creating Android apps.

Java is a great career choice if you are interested in software development.

• Can Learning Java Help You Find a Job?
• Is Java Developer a Good Career?
• What Job Can I Get if I Know Java?
• Can You Get a Java Job With no Experience?
• Can I Get a Job With Only Core Java?
• Essential Skills for Java Developers
• How Long Does it Take to Become Fluent in Java?
• Where Can I Start Learning Java?
• What Should I Study After Java?
• How to Become A Successful Java Developer
• Is it Difficult to Learn Java?
• How Hard is Java Developer Job?
• Do Java Developers Get Paid Well?
• Is Core Java Enough For Placement?
• Which is Better Java or Core Java?
• Should I Learn Java or Python to Get a Job?

Can Learning Java Help You Find a Job?

If you search on Indeed for Java jobs. You will see close to 56,000 java jobs. Another search on Monster, and I am looking at close to 35,000 Java jobs. The job situation is great for people with Java skills.

Read Also: How Much Can a Java Freelancer Earn?

So, if you want a Java job, you have many options. Even if you don’t have a college degree, you can learn how to code in Java and find a great job.

If you want an exciting job that pays a great salary, you should learn Java:

• Java is widely used for Android apps.
• Java is instrumental in IoT.
• Java is a popular programming language for DevOps teams to improve their automation efforts.
• Java is an excellent language to deploy cloud applications. It can run the same app on many different systems, which is great for cloud computing.
• Java is an excellent choice for Machine Learning and AI.

In case you are still unsure, here are some more reasons you should learn Java:

• Java is a beginner-friendly programming language. If you don’t have any programming experience, you can start with Java.
• Java is an object-oriented programming language. It allows even inexperienced programmers to start modeling the world around them in code.
• It is a great server-side language that will help you stand out among job applicants.

Is Java Developer a Good Career?

To work as a Java developer is a good career. But not for everyone. You should consider becoming a Java developer if you:

• Enjoy programming. As a Java developer, you will be coding all the time.
• Love learning all the time. The only way to become really good and make great money is to learn a lot. If you take pleasure in learning new frameworks and technologies, a Java developer career might be a good career for you.
• Prefer to work alone. You will work on a lot of different problems and you are going to have to come up with solutions on your own. Even if you are part of a team, you need to create solutions to problems on your own.
• Want a steady career with many job opportunities.

What Job Can I Get if I Know Java?

After getting the right tools under the belt, you will now need to browse through different job postings to start your career in Java.

The current market has job titles like:

1. Junior Developer

A junior developer position is where everyone will start. This is the lowest position for a software engineer. A person in this position will be responsible to write, analyze, test, and debug code. Generally, they are part of teams that have mentors and leaders whom they have to report to.

At this stage, the developer must focus on getting familiar with the industry practices as generally, it is their first job. One must also focus on developing new skills to get better at their craft and thus either switch to a better company or have a better position in the same company. This is one of the good Java career opportunities.

2. Senior Developer

A senior developer is a person generally responsible for taking charge of a complete project. They are also responsible for writing some code and having to report to the executive officers and managers of the company.

Along with all this, they are also responsible for mentoring the developers that are new to the company or the project they are working on. It is seen as the standard job position for a developer.

3. Architect

A java architect is responsible for designing and developing the layout of the application. They categorize the different logic layers that further helps in the separation of concerns among the team members working on the project as you have seen in the image above.

The architect is expected to come up with the best technologies that are well-suited for the software to be built and ensure that they are all compatible with each other.

Other than these, you will also find field-specific job postings that require the programmer to be efficient in a particular set of things. These are generally posted by large companies who don’t need a Java programmer who can do a number of things but a programmer skilled in a particular area, generally for optimization or enhancement of an existing product. These include jobs like:

4. Java Web Developer

This is usually a backend position, and the person is responsible for deploying and maintaining server-side code. With the growing culture of cloud-based systems, it is helpful if you know the basics of cloud computing and has experience in using code to the cloud.

5. Java Android Developer

The developer is responsible for building or adding features to android applications. This is the most common job posting that you will see out there and is also a wanted position in several startups.

Since every company and service now has a mobile app, the market for these jobs will not dry up anytime soon.

6. Java EE developer

These developers are given the job of building and maintaining enterprise software. They are generally posted by big companies and look for a developer with some industry experience.

Can You Get a Java Job With no Experience?

Java is a programming language used in software development. As a programmer, you develop and design code to build an application or website. A position for a Java programmer with no experience position may seem rare, but there are options out there.

You can help a company with a small project, test coding completed by another programmer, or find an entry-level position with a company willing to train you. Some companies allow you to work under the guidance of a senior programmer while you become familiar with the duties of the job.

To become a Java programmer with no experience, you must have in-depth knowledge of Java and strong coding skills. To learn Java, you can find online boot camps and courses that teach you the necessary skills and responsibilities of a programmer. Practice on your own and familiarize yourself with the tools and terminology used.

Without having the prior experience or a background as a Java programmer, you can still show employers you know what you are doing by providing a portfolio showing examples of your code. Additional qualifications include excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and analytical thinking abilities to help with problem-solving.

Can I Get a Job With Only Core Java?

Let’s start with the basics. Learning Java, just like any other programming language, involves everything from building your learning plan to creating your projects and everything in-between. How long does it take to learn Java?

It’s a tricky question, and it all depends on your own pace and ability to absorb information. From my experience, I can assure you that an average student can get their first job in 12–18 months, provided that you start from scratch and devote at least 2–3 hours to learning Java daily.

Upon this time, you’ll be able to write in your CV something like:

• Core Java (Syntax, OOP, Collections, Generics, Streams, Multithreading and Serialization)
• Core Java + major frameworks (Spring, Hibernate) + Git
• Core Java + SQL and Databases
• Core Java + APIs and Libraries
• Core Java + Testing tools and build tools
• Core Java + Android SDK
• Or, ideally, all of the combos above.

As you see, Core Java is the essential thing you should know to get a job since it covers the fundamentals and is a step one for every beginner. Core Java covers not only the basic types, objects, constructions, and principles of the language but also libraries and frameworks, as well as classes for networking, security, database access, and more.

From this, we should conclude that Core Java is a must in your portfolio no matter what professional path you’d like to choose.

Essential Skills for Java Developers

Speaking about Java developers (by the way, the most demanded specialists in the field), they ideally need to master the following topics to get their first job:

• Web frameworks
• JavaServer pages and servlets
• Service-oriented architecture/web services
• Essential web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and JQuery
• Markup languages such as XML and JSON
• Object-oriented programming concepts and patterns
• Constructors
• File IO and serialization
• Abstract classes and interfaces
• Collections (lists, maps, sets)
• Access specifiers
• Exceptions
• Generics
• Java virtual machine and memory management
• Multithreading and sync
• Dependency injection

And if you’d like to skyrocket your career and quickly grow from Junior to Senior Java developer, you will definitely need the advanced skills described below:

• Amazon Web Services
• AI and machine learning
• Hadoop/Big Data
• Mobile technologies
• Advanced JavaScript framework
• Other programming languages

How Long Does it Take to Become Fluent in Java?

On average, becoming a confident Java programmer takes about 1–2 years, considering you spend 2–3 hours per day practicing coding. Familiarizing yourself with the language to the point where you can edit someone else’s code or write basic apps can take as little as four months.

As for the learning content, I’d suggest going for a mix of books, online courses, and practice-driven platforms or games — each of these is useful and unique.

Keep in mind that learning Java is a long journey — yet, at the end of the day, learning any OOP language after Java will be much easier, and mastering JS would become an easily reachable goal as well.

Where Can I Start Learning Java?

Now that you understand different levels of Java proficiency and have the tools to achieve your personal goals, breaking down the path that lies ahead is the last thing that would be helpful on your journey to Java fluency.

Based on my personal experience, I created a roadmap for entry-level developers who want to know the programming language like the back of their hand.

Level 1. Learning Java Core

On the first stage of your Java developer’s journey, you need to learn what makes Java code different from that of other programming languages, what are the cornerstone of a successful program, and how to write a basic solution on your own.

Here’s what learning Java Core means:

• Acing the syntax. At first, a developer needs to learn what objects, classes, and methods are, know how to operate if-else statements, use loops, arrays, and the simplest operators.
• Understanding object-oriented programming. Since OOP is used in multiple languages, you should pay a lot of attention to this one. Data abstraction and encapsulation, class presentation, inheritance, and polymorphism are some of the concepts you need to understand clearly.
• Handling Java Collections and Java Exceptions — a developer needs to be a confident user of both Java Collection and Map interfaces. Other than that, every CS student needs to learn java.lang.Exception and be able to identify exception classes.
• Java algorithms — knowing how to choose and apply the right algorithm to solve a given problem will save you a lot of time as you handle work projects.
• Java Multithreading — it’s one of the most challenging Java topics and marks your transition from a beginner to an intermediate Java developer.
• Unit testing — as a developer, you will be asked to write unit tests, so set aside some time for learning how to do it properly.
• Lambdas — this is a relatively new concept — however, since most people do use Java 8 or newer versions, you will need to have a good command of lambda.

Level 2. Frameworks and add-ons

As mentioned above, there’s more to mastering the programming language than understanding the features and syntax. Java is so versatile that you often find it used in conjunction with other technologies. As a software developer, you want to make the most out of any programming language chosen for a project — that’s where learning add-ons comes in handy.

Here are the Java add-ons an advanced developer needs to master to be a jack-of-all-trades in the workplace.

• SQL — a technology used to handle databases and manipulate the relational database management system.
• JavaScript — with the highest position on StackOverflow’s Top programming languages list, JS is the technology you might have to use more than standard Java. Granted, JavaScript is highly complex so, at times, it feels like mastering a new language from scratch, but, the journey wouldn’t be extremely challenging if you are on good terms with Java.
• Git — a number-one tool for managing your code.

What Should I Study After Java?

As you know technology is ever-changing. You could see a lot of new versions of programming languages and frameworks coming up. You can escalate your skills only if you know about the latest trends.

If you look at the Java language itself, you can see that it always gets updated and new versions are coming up frequently. So, the most basic and important thing for you is to keep up with the new developments in the programming language you know.

DevOps(Jenkins)

More number of companies are moving into DevOps and adopting continuous integration and deployment. You need to learn a lot of tools and principles in DevOps as it is quite vast.

You can become a DevOps Engineer if you have a passion for managing the environment and improving the overall structure. Jenkins is a DevOps tool written in Java created for the continuous integration process.

Docker and Kubernetes

Docker is a game-changer technology and if combined with Kubernetes, is one of the most important tools that will stay with you on a long-term basis. Whether it’s a large or small enterprise, almost all of the development teams use this.

RESTful Web service

Most people may not be knowing both Java and REST well. This is why you should be learning how to write REST API and implement secure and scalable RESTful Web Service in Java using Spring. This skill is highly desirable in the Java World.

Spring Framework 5.0

There had been a lot of significant upgrades to Spring and Java Ecosystem. Spring Framework 5.0 provides some new features like reactive programming model, adoption of Java 8 and 9, some improvements in unit testing, etc.

Spring Security 5.0(OAuth) is one of the major upgrades on the Spring Eco-System. Spring Boot 2 is the latest release for the Spring Boot framework.

Git

You must have heard of Git and Github. Most of the companies are migrating their projects from SVN, CVS to Git. So, you must learn and master it.

Unit Testing (JUnit and Mockito)

To Unit test and Integration Test the applications, there are various new frameworks and tools available for Java programmers. Mockito and PowerMock can be used for mocking objects, Cucumber and Robot Framework for automation integration test, and the new shining JUnit 5 library. Upgrading these skills will help in improving your coding expertise as well as will make you a professional developer.

Android App Development

Android is the most popular platform to write mobile applications and you know that mobile is one of the best platforms that connect a large number of people. Therefore writing Android applications is a great skill that you can have.

Apache Spark and Kafka

Big data is one of the hottest topics at the moment. Apache Spark and Kafta enable an integration platform for data streaming where data are processed in real-time making this one of the best big data technology.

How to Become A Successful Java Developer

The popularity of Java can be attributed to its versatility as it can be used to design customized applications that are light and fast and serve a variety of purposes.

So much so that according to the TIOBE Index for April 2019, Java is the number one programming language. In fact, Java is used in almost every company, whether they be small companies or big tech giant companies like Google, Amazon, etc.

So, becoming a Java Developer in today’s world can enhance your career very well! And that is why we are going to share the points on becoming a successful Java Developer: 

1. Master the Core Java SE 

First, start with Core Java(Java SE) and master it as much as possible. You should know and understand basic concepts like loops, arrays, operators and many more. Also, Java SE has a range of general-purpose API’s like java.lang, java.io, java.math, etc. and you should have a basic knowledge of them at least. You should also start learning OOP’s concepts as they are well known in Java. 

2. Keep Practising Java 

Whatever you learn in Core Java, just keep practicing it so that you can write the syntax without any basic errors. Also, it is easy to provide a solution to a problem in theory but the challenge lies in practically implementing the approach as you will understand the language limitations and best design practices. So keep coding and practising Java as much as possible and also try to make mini projects on whatever topic you learn. 

3. Learn Java EE 

After Finishing Core Java Start learning Java EE(Enterprise Edition) which is also known as Advanced Java. When you start learning Java EE you are able to work on web development as Java EE has specifications for additional features like distributed computing and web services. This includes technologies like Servlet, WebSocket, Java Server Faces, etc. for web specifications. 

4. Make Projects With Servlets and JSP 

Whatever you learn in Java EE just combine it with Front End technologies such as HTML, CSS, Javascript and try to make mini projects on specific topics as it will sharpen your mind. Also, it is important that you make atleast two projects, one with Servlet and second with JSP. This is because without making projects on these you will never be sure about how much you know in this programming language. 

5. Learn Hibernate and Spring Frameworks 

When you complete both Java SE and Java EE then you must learn Java Frameworks which include the Hibernate Framework and Spring Framework. These are the most popular frameworks of Java. In fact, most Java Development Companies these days use Spring frameworks such as Spring Boot, Spring MVC, and Spring Cloud for developing a web application, etc.

Hibernate framework is also very popular for mapping a domain object-oriented model to a relational database and also the Hibernate Query Language. So if you know these frameworks and you can make projects on these then you will have a great chance of getting selected for the role of a Java Developer in any company.

Is it Difficult to Learn Java?

Compared to other programming languages, Java is fairly easy to learn. Of course, it’s not a piece of cake, but you can learn it quickly if you put in the effort. It’s a programming language that is friendly to beginners.

Through any java tutorial, you’ll learn how object-oriented it is. And this is what makes it very readable and precise. Novices find it easy to understand, hence its popularity.

According to an estimate made by Oracle, there are just about 9 million Java developers in the entire globe. This just goes to show how many people you can count on when you don’t understand a concept of this programming language.

It’s evident what role a community plays in learning and education – not just for programming alone. Whenever you’re stuck learning this programming language, you can get into any of the community forums and get a quick java tutorial.

The community of Java developers ready to share their knowledge is robust and always ready for you.

How Hard is Java Developer Job?

Getting a job as a Junior Java Developer can be tough. Competition is tough and most companies look for a specialist with some level of experience, but you play your cards right, you land your first job with some confidence and enthusiasm.

Show them that you understand programming, that you can learn fast, work on your first impressions and you’re good to go.

Do Java Developers Get Paid Well?

According to Glassdoor.com, an entry-level Java developer can expect to make around $80,500 per year or $6700 per month. That’s a huge amount of money – almost double the average salary in the US!

If there’s one thing to take away from this, it is that Java developers are truly needed and are essential to the current job market. If a beginner developer can expect to make such sums of money, this must mean that the job is truly difficult, and there is a bigger need for good Java developers than ever before.

Glassdoor states that the annual senior Java developer salary ranges somewhere around the $112,000 ($9300 per month) mark. That’s nearly triple the average salary in the US!

Seeing these numbers, it’s pretty clear why Java development is as popular of a job as it is. However, you should always keep in mind that these salaries are not a “default” – they don’t just manifest out of thin air.

You have to work hard, constantly improve and be extremely motivated to reach the senior level of Java development. It is a goal that only a few people reach (if we compare the number with that of how many people start and learn Java development).

Furthermore, don’t forget that Java developers, in general, can usually expect great working conditions as a bonus to their salaries. Seminars, holidays, bonuses – you name it! A salary often fails to reflect the whole picture.

This can go both ways, however – Java developers have huge responsibilities, and have to work very hard (often – on multiple tasks at once) to maintain both quality and quantity standards of the company.

Is Core Java Enough For Placement?

What does a potential Java junior need to know to get the first job or even qualify for a trainee position in a good company? What tools will help a Java programmer reach the next level? Which technologies should you study, and which ones are better to hold off on?

There is no standard answer to these questions, just as there is no single action plan that would suit absolutely everyone. Some companies are striving for development, constantly introducing new technologies and testing the capabilities of new versions of the language, while others stubbornly cling to old ones. There are also middle options, and perhaps these are most of them.

Core Java usually means the basic foundations of the programming language. It contains the following components.

Java syntax

• Classes, variables, and methods
• Primitive data types
• Strings
• Basic operators
• Basic constructions: loops, branches

Java syntax is a kind of ABC of this language. Students learn it by doing, like little children learn to read and to write. The most difficult concepts here are the principles of programming, such as loops and branches. They could be tough for absolute beginners, but usually after coding some tasks, future programmers start to get a feel for them.

Before they get their first job offer as a Java developer or Java trainee, 92.4% of programmers know Java syntax on a good or excellent level. What about the other 7.6%? They knew it on an intermediate level and were lucky enough to get a trainee offer. However, it’s pure luck. Every applicant must be fluent in Java syntax, and thank goodness it’s fast and easy to master.

Which is Better Java or Core Java?

Java is a very famous language that is based on the object-oriented programming concepts. It is the successor of the C and C++ languages. It was developed by Sun Microsystems. Core Java is a term used by Sun Microsystems to refer to the Java to standard edition J2SE.

This is the parent of all other editions of Java. used in site internet it has a wide usage everywhere even and Android is very fast and a secure scripting language we can run Java in various platforms without the need for a compilation hence this run anywhere high-level programming language and it is object-oriented based on the class for the class concept the Java program is compiled by the Java Virtual Machine.

It’s a General term used by Sun Microsystems to describe a standard version of Java. It is the most basic edition of Java which was used as the basis for making all other editions. It is a part of Java and it is used mainly for developing desktop applications and server-based applications.

Difference between Java and Core Java

S. No.	Java	Core Java
1.	It consists of J2SE, J2EE and J2ME.	It consists only of J2SE.
2.	It is used to develop applets and applications.	It is used only to develop desktop and server based applications.
3.	Is a superset of core Java.	This is a subset of Java.
4.	It can be used for mapping applications on embedded systems.	It cannot be used for developing applications on embedded systems or mobiles.
5.	It has continuous contribution from industry experts, Java developers and other open-source organisations.	It is not Community-driven.
5.	It can reduce network usage, making it budget friendly.	It cannot reduce network usage.

Should I Learn Java or Python to Get a Job?

The two most popular and powerful programming languages used by software developers these days for developing a range of desktop applications and web applications are Python and Java. Java helps developers to build software with minimal implementation dependencies, whereas Python helps in code readability.

Those who look forward to learning either of the languages are often confused about which language to choose first. Therefore, it becomes essential for the learners to understand the difference between Python and Java, and why should they learn any of these.

Python Vs Java – Key Differences

Below are the differences between the two most popular programming languages – Python and Java.

Basis	Java	Python
Type	General-purpose. Runs everywhere.	High level. Code readability and short syntax.
Compilation	Easily complies on any platform.	Easily complies with the Linux platform.
Type of Programming Language	Compiled programming language.	Interpreted and object-oriented programming language.
Programming Paradigm Support	Supports key functional programming concepts.	Supports functional, imperative, and procedural programming paradigms.
Code Readability	Requires efforts for better code readability.	Emphasizes more on code-readability, keeps the code base clean, readable & concise.
Standard Library	Has core, integration, and user interface libraries.	Has a comprehensive standard library with numerous Python packages.
Performance & Speed	Java code execution is done through just-in-time (JIT) compilation and makes software applications run faster by supporting concurrency.	The execution speed of Python applications is accelerated through the implementation of programming languages.
Mobile App Development	Offers robust frameworks and development tools for mobile app development.	Doesn’t allow building native mobile apps for any mobile platform.
Machine Learning & Data Science	Used for projects related to network security, cyber-attack prevention, and fraud detection.	Widely used for scientific computing, big data, and artificial intelligence projects, and is the most preferred programming language for machine learning and data science.
Learning Curve	Easy to write, compile, debug, and learn. Often requires writing additional code for beginners to express concepts.	Easier to learn because of simple and expressive syntax rules.

After reading all the differences between Java and Python, you must have decided by now, which one should you choose. However, it can be said that both languages will be relevant in the future. Being an intuitive language, Python is a good choice for beginners.

In addition, its syntax is similar to English, making it easier to understand. This programming language is in its revolutionary stage and its open-source nature is enabling a range of new tools for further improvement.

Read Also: Make Money As A Computer Technician

Java is open-source and deals with performance issues more efficiently. Java is geared more towards perfection to build clear, consistent code using complex syntax, while Python offers the advantages of flexibility, brevity, and fluidity.

Choosing a language to learn between Python vs Java comes down to preferences. Both Java and Python are powerful in their own areas, so choose the language wisely as per your career aspirations. The job market is good for both the programming languages and the payouts are equally high.

Summary

How much Java do you need to get your first job? It all depends on the field you’d like to work in and the consistency of your learning. Try to avoid long stops and stick to daily studying. Also, it’s important to find engaging courses with the right balance of theory and practice.

If you follow these simple rules, most likely, you’ll acquire the basic set of skills that will help you find your first job in about 12 months. Of course, afterward, you’ll need to continue your learning path.

“Everyone can write a screenplay, but not everyone is Shakespeare,” so don’t fear to adopt new skills to become the best in your field. Remember that there are no limits to perfection, and there will never be too much Java since it’s a technology that constantly adapts to new needs.