Today’s business world relies on numerous application platforms for its financial software. That’s where you come in with your exceptional skills in writing, testing, and troubleshooting Java code.
But is your resume as technically strong as your coding abilities? Are you using the right resume template? It can feel confusing for entry-level developers to find the right skills to list on a resume.
That’s why we’ve researched and created free cover letter generator and entry-level Java developer resume examples to help you display your top skills effectively.
What Matters Most: Your Entry-Level Java Developer Skills & Work Experience
Coding complex programs requires many technical skills that a hiring manager will want to know you possess. So where do entry-level applicants start when choosing their top skills?
While you won’t be required to have much experience, you will need a basic understanding of a wide range of skills. For example, libraries and frameworks like Spring, Hibernate, and Junit or JDBC for SQL-based database access. You can also mention related skills gained from previous work experience.
Other invaluable traits are problem-solving skills, the ability to self-manage, and being a team player.
Here’s a list of popular entry-level Java developer skills to get you started.
9 popular entry-level Java developer skills
- Core Java
- Web Development
- TDD
- OOP
- Version Control
- Java Frameworks
- SQL
- Unit Testing
- Debugging
Sample entry-level Java developer work experience bullet points
Your build automation and shell scripting skills will have caught the hiring manager’s attention. Now let’s bring things full circle with your applicable work experience.
Entry-level candidates who haven’t done much on-the-job programming can struggle with this part. Pulling from your education can help. Did you complete a project using JBuilder to formulate programmable objects 76% more efficiently? That would be a great example to list here.
You can also pull relevant experience from work outside the field. For instance, keeping retail inventories organized in a fast-paced work environment.
Here are a few samples:
- Completed a build automation project using Apache Tomcat to allow a hands-off program to continue processing data with 99% accuracy.
- Completed data entry in SQL databases at 87 WPM with 98% accuracy to help technicians execute builds 84% more efficiently.
- Finished with a 97% overall score in advanced Java courses, notably applying proper source code analysis to ensure programmable objects operated without malfunctions.
- Explained detailed product specifications to customers to generate 103 new sales and recorded order data with 99% accuracy.
Top 5 Tips for Your Entry-Level Java Developer Resume
- Consider using an objective
- A resume objective can showcase your skills in a relevant way. For instance, explain in a couple of sentences how you’re a motivated professional who maintained a 3.9 GPA over four years while growing your knowledge in Java back-end analytics.
- Focus on technical skills
- Java requires many technical skills, so focus on these. Mention your experience in unit testing or any open-source frameworks you’ve worked with, like Struts and Hibernate.
- Proofread for errors
- Programming doesn’t tolerate inaccuracy. The company’s market analytics application will produce erroneous data if the wrong variable is referenced, just like your resume will fail to inspire confidence if it’s full of grammatical and spelling errors.
- One page is the best length
- A one-page resume will help you stick to the relevant information. If you need help filling up an entire page, lean on education and work experience outside Java programming as required. For instance, any shell scripting experience is still relevant to your top skills.
- Use numbers whenever possible
- Metrics help hiring managers see the full impact of your work. For example, mention that you’ve helped debug over 50 applications.
Writing a cover letter allows you to provide details not discussed in your resume. Explain your passion for programming or cite examples highlighting what a team player you are.
You may benefit from including hobbies and interests to showcase additional applicable skills. For instance, if you were involved in your college’s computer science club, mention it to show your passion for the tech field.
Including hobbies/interests, education, and an objective helps fill out information showcasing a well-rounded skill set. Even experiences like working in a team environment at a retail store to provide great customer service could show how you would contribute to the Java programming team.
