As a junior Java® developer, you will assist in the development of software engineering projects using the Java® programming language. This should give you the opportunity to both practice applying Javabasic ®’s principles to real-world software and to learn the craft of programming from experienced developers. To become a junior Java® developer, you must typically demonstrate that you understand the language’s fundamentals and that you can creatively apply that knowledge to create new software.
You can learn the fundamentals of Java® by enrolling in a formal computer science program at the graduate or undergraduate level, or by self-teaching using a variety of print and online resources. A computer science degree will typically provide you with a structured series of classes in which you will learn the Java® programming language, as well as software engineering and mathematical concepts that will help you program more effectively. You can also learn Java® by reading books about it, watching free online tutorials, and asking programmers technical questions in forums.
You should take steps to make your programming abilities stand out on your application to become a junior Java® developer after learning the basics of Java®. This can be accomplished through internships and personal programming projects. Computer science students have an easier time finding unpaid programming internships, and they can often complete personal programming projects for class credit. Whether you’re a computer science student or a self-taught programmer, contributing source code to open source projects is another way to boost your resume and programming credentials. To become a junior Java® developer, the competition can be fierce, but if your resume impresses a company’s human resources department, you’ll be invited in for an interview.
A job interview for a junior Java® developer is typically split into two parts: interview and audition. Junior developers are typically expected to have a basic understanding of programming mechanics and to learn how to become skilled programmers through a combination of on-the-job experience and mentoring from senior developers. To that end, a junior Java® developer interview will likely test not only your academic knowledge of the language’s mechanics, but also your ability to apply those concepts to create novel solutions to a variety of programming problems.
Employers will typically view your problem-solving skills as a reflection of your ability to advance as a developer. This can be a big deciding factor in whether or not you get hired as a junior developer. Working on Java® projects in the past, rather than just doing homework for programming classes, can help you get to this final step in the hiring process and provide you with the practical experience you’ll need to answer any programming questions.