Created over 25 years ago, Java remains one of the most commonly used programming languages. Just look at the latest numbers — according to the TIOBE Index for November 2022, which is based on the number of developers using the language across the globe, Java is the third most common language. The PYPL PopularitY of Programming Language Index puts Java in second place, indicating a 1.2% growth in use since February 2021.
It’s clear that the fame of Java does not go anywhere, and rightfully so. Being an object-oriented and high-level language, Java is simple enough to learn as it allows developers to write commands in plain English. At the same time, Java is platform-independent meaning that the source code can run practically on any machine.
The state of the global Java market
According to a report from Evans Data Corporation, there are about 26.9 million software developers in the world today. Among those, about 8 million are Java developers. Although the number may seem huge, the reality is that there is still a global shortage of well-qualified and skilled Java developers, with over 100,000 job openings.
Indeed, Java dominates job offerings by a strong margin as over 90% of Fortune 500 companies use this programming language. For businesses, Java offers the performance and reliability necessary to manage and scale enterprise-grade solutions. Java’s implicit security features like class loaders, automatic memory management, access modifiers, bytecode verification, and more make it the go-to programming language for building complex, highly secure systems.
With Java so in demand, where can you find qualified Java developers for your project?
Looking for Java talent: what to consider
Augmenting your team with mature Java talent or hiring a dedicated Java developers team has definitely become the need of the hour. However, the process may be not as simple and straightforward as one wishes since there are certain factors that need to be taken into consideration.
Proficiency with Java ecosystem
It is a no-brainer that your potential hire must have a solid grasp of the programming language itself (note that as of September 2022, Java 19 is the latest released Java version). However, in the Java environment, strong knowledge of tools, frameworks, and libraries is even more valuable because it significantly accelerates and simplifies the development process. Depending on the project at hand, you may want to examine a developer’s resume for experience with Java EE (Enterprise Edition) components, Spring, Struts, Grail, Hibernate and other ORM frameworks, Java IDE tools like Eclipse, Intellij IDEA, and more.
Domain expertise
From healthcare to eCommerce to banking and finance, Java is used to power high-load, sophisticated systems for a variety of domains and verticals. Finding a Java specialist with relevant industry experience will help you get the right product and avoid potential mistakes along the way. When discussing industry-specific projects in a candidate’s portfolio, ask about the most challenging issues and how they approached them in order to better gauge their understanding of the domain.
Professional certifications
Technical certifications can also be very useful in verifying the credentials of a well-qualified candidate. For Java, there are numerous internationally recognized certifications that Java practitioners can choose to obtain to validate their knowledge and promote their careers, most popular include:
- Certified Professional Java EE Web Component Developer
- Certified Professional Java EE Business Component Developer
- Certified Professional Java ME Mobile Application Developer
- Certified Master Java SE Developer
A cultural fit
No matter how important technical skills are, your potential hire needs to be a good team player because building a product is always a team job. Take your time to search for a Java developer who shares your company’s values and ethical principles or you risk affecting the team balance and ultimately ruining productivity.
Where to source qualified Java developers
Depending on the recruitment resources available to you, there are different approaches you can take to look for potential hires:
- An existing HR department;
- Online job portals — LinkedIn, Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, and other websites where companies can look for freelancers;
- Technical universities and online colleges with Java programs;
- GitHub — a developer’s profile can provide a lot of useful information like projects and libraries they contributed, their pet projects, issues they report, etc;
- Stack Overflow — an online tech community where recruiters can get a glimpse into the competencies and skills of potential candidates.
But diving head first into recruitment without a proper plan can mean delays for your business and lost revenue since you’ll be looking in all the wrong places. For instance, combing through online portals and tech websites is very resource and time-intensive since you need to screen thousands of profiles and carry out hundreds of in-depth technical interviews to find what you need.
Why outsourcing is the way to go
If you prioritize efficiency, you may find that outsourcing your Java development needs is exactly what you are looking for, and here’s why.
- Access to a wide talent pool
One of the benefits of choosing the outsourcing path lies in a much broader talent pool available to you. And when you don’t have to restrict your search to your local geographical area or country, you can cast a wider net and find the right fit much faster.
In addition, many leading software outsourcing companies are opening dev centers and representation offices in different countries to stay in the same time zone as their clients while also strengthening their workforce with new tech talent. Eastern Europe, for example, is quickly turning into a tech hotbed due to a highly educated workforce with impressive skill sets.
- Thoroughly pre-screened candidates
Another undeniable advantage is that all potential Java hires have already been screened and vetted for you. A software outsourcing company has all the necessary resources to thoroughly check a candidate’s background, tech skills, and experience to create a talent pool of top specialists. All that is left to do is to cherry-pick the candidates that would be a good fit for your particular project without worrying about their technical expertise.
- Ideal balance of skills and rates
It’s not only the access to a world of skilled Java professionals that you get with outsourcing but also highly competitive rates to match your budget. For instance, rates in Eastern Europe and Asia are lower compared to Western Europe and the US. According to SalaryExpert, in Georgia, the average rate of a Java developer is about $25 per hour.
- Flexible engagement models
Whether you need to augment your staff with a single Java specialist or quickly scale up to an entire team, outsourcing offers the flexibility you need depending on the project specifics, business requirements, the scope of work, budget, and other factors. The most popular models are Time and Material for complex projects without clearly defined specifications, Fixed Price for smaller, time-bound projects, and Dedicated Development Team where you get a team built exactly to your project needs.
Do you need help sourcing Java talent?
Hiring well-qualified Java developers has certainly become a pressing priority for many businesses but the global shortage of tech talent makes it an uphill battle. According to the IDC Market Perspective, in 2021 the global shortage of full-time developers was 1.4 million and it is expected to reach 4.0 million by 2025.
Going to the market for Java developers without any plan is a road to nowhere. And given the long and rather complicated process of assessing and vetting tech specialists, outsourcing appears to be an optimal solution for companies looking to leverage trusted Java talent. If you need help finding well-qualified Java developers for your project, Elinext is a Java development company with a proven track record of delivering complex solutions with a focus on exceptional end-user experiences.
