How to hire a Java developer

Java’s multitude of applications make it a popular programming language in the software development world. This means that many candidates will be skilled in the language, but, as mentioned before, the demand for Java developers is also high.

So before deciding to hire a new Java developer, you need to define the skill set that fits your business needs. Assuming you already have an in-house development team, you probably know where the missing link is and where to add more resources. However, if you're setting up your team from scratch, formulating a recruitment plan and defining your business needs will help you recruit the essential skills and avoid costly hiring mistakes.

Hiring a developer means you’re looking for someone who will contribute to your business goals and play an essential part in the team. So when you hire, candidates must have both the skills and the personality attributes that will contribute to team strength and the organization’s culture.

Determine the skills you need

For any job, some hard skills are non-negotiable. This means the skills play a significant part in the success of the individual and the organization. Before you start recruiting, it is important to determine what these skills are.

Another consideration is soft skills. These play an equally important role in the recruitment process because soft skills such as communication and interpersonal skills will contribute to the success of the individual as well as their team. Soft skills help team members to build bonds and effectively collaborate to achieve goals, overcome obstacles and grow within their roles.

Pinning down which hard and soft skills you need for the role will help you to create a clear job description that will resonate with potential candidates.

Write a clear job description

Once you’ve established the skills required for the position, you need to describe it in a way that will appeal to potential applicants. Job descriptions communicate your company's requirements so that candidates with the right expertise can apply for those positions. They serve as a guiding light during the hiring process, and the most substantial reference for candidates to fall back on.

Share your job post on various platforms

With many businesses competing to get the best technical talent, only posting on your company's careers page may not be enough. The pool of people who see your job can increase significantly if you use social-media platforms, networking websites, and job boards. In addition, this can increase the chances of getting your job description in front of candidates with the technical skills for the position.