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Java Developer Resume Examples for 2023 (Template and Guide)
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When applying for a Java developer position, your resume needs the proper technical knowledge of different programming languages and the appropriate amount of job experience. We’ve created a guide with resume examples to help you craft your document in no time.
Java Developer Resume
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Prepare to Write Your Resume
One of the most time-efficient ways to tackle your resume is by doing the proper prep work. Check off these items from your list before sitting down to write and you’ll have a smoother resume-writing process.
- Study your desired role's job description and pay special attention to the skills it demands. These may include testing and maintenance, software automation and object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts. Make sure to add them throughout your resume for a job-tailored document.
- Have records ready of your past employment, achievements, certificates, recommendation letters and education details. Having all this info beforehand will prevent you from interrupting your writing flow to look for specific dates and performance reviews.
- Look back and pick out your most admirable accomplishments from previous and current roles. Make sure to highlight the most impactful achievements that grab the attention of employers going through your resume. Increase their impact by reflecting on numeric data, such as the percentage decrease in bugs since joining the team.
- Be wary of the applicant tracking systems (ATS) recruiters use to scan resumes. This software weeds out spelling mistakes and grammatical errors on your resume. ATS also notes down regularly and overused terms like “hard-working” and “focused” to negatively flag your resume.
- Scan through our resume examples to get an idea of the basic format to follow. Go through different examples of a Java developer resume to understand how to make your resume more impactful when applying for the desired position.
Choose the Right Resume Format
Once you’re ready to write your resume, you should first choose the appropriate resume format. Resume formats highlight your strengths and skills, which makes it easy for employers to assess your abilities. You will need to choose between the three main resume formats: chronological, functional and combination.
Java developers with over 10 years of experience should choose the chronological format to highlight their work history.
Candidates applying for entry-level positions with little to no professional experience can opt for the functional format to showcase their skills and qualifications.
Mid-level professionals, individuals looking to grow within their company or those wanting to change careers should choose the combination format, which helps you showcase both your experience and skills.
Consider browsing through our specially curated resume formats guide to get a clearer idea of each one.
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Chronological
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Functional
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Combination
How to Write Your Resume With Examples
This step-by-step guide will brief you on the process of writing a flawless Java developer resume. Pay close attention to the examples of key resume sections and our job-specific writing tips to craft an efficient resume in no time.
1. Craft an impressive career objective or summary statement.
The opening statement should come off as strong and determined, clearly mentioning your qualifications and aspirations for the job role. An opening statement is usually written with two approaches in mind. The summary statement o highlights your experience and specific skills as a Java developer. The career objective approach, traditionally recommended for entry-level job seekers, highlights their goals and aspirations for the role.
We recommend that Java developers use the summary statement, as it assures recruiters of your work experience and knowledge of the subject. A career objective can come in handy for those new to the industry.
For example, if you're an experienced Java developer specialized in quality assurance seeking a full-time role. Your summary statement should highlight your years of experience in the software development lifecycle and your role in the process.
Compare the following examples to note the differences between a poor and a good summary statement.
Poor example:
“I’m an experienced Java developer looking for a full-time role. I have previously worked as a quality assurance analyst and am eager to take on a different role.”
This poor example of a summary statement vaguely glosses through the individual’s experience and tells us nothing about his tasks as an analyst.
Good example:
“A competent Java developer with over five years of experience in designing, testing and quality assurance throughout the full software development life cycle. Adept at developing highly optimized, low-latency applications. Proficient in troubleshooting various software issues.”
This summary statement outlines the experience of the candidate by:
- Mentioning their years of experience as a Java developer.
- Specifying their previous job roles as testers and designers throughout the years.
- Outlining the tasks they fulfilled in previous job roles.
Personalize your career objective by using the following tips:
- Highlight your skills to make up for your lack of experience in the field.
- Mention experiences through your education, certifications and part-time jobs.
- Describe the specific role-related skills learned in your prior experiences.
Study this example of a career objective and decide on your approach:
“A recent computer science graduate interested in applying for a Java developer job role. Well-versed with object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts. Experienced in collaborating with teams to develop applications.”
2. Organize and categorize your skills.
Every resume should have a dedicated skills section outlining your abilities and capabilities for various job roles. A skills section typically contains up to eight skills; however, you can also mention critical skills in the content of your work history and professional summary resume sections.
While the chronological resume format usually contains a list of skills in bullet forms, the functional layout expands the skills by describing them. An expanded skill section includes a little more information than an average list. Below is an example of a functional skills section:
Skills
App testing
- Successfully debugged errors in code for four different applications every week.
- Boosted speed and productivity to 54% by writing automated tests for codes.
- Used tools like JUnit to perform over 4 hours of daily tests.
Try not to repeat the same skills throughout your resume as it shows you don’t have a rich skillset. Instead, diversify your skills section by specifying the right amount of soft, hard and technical skills.
Soft skills are the traits and abilities an individual uses to be efficient in the workplace. A Java developer would ideally present the following soft skills:
- Attention to detail
- Fast learner
- Conflict management
- Communication skills
- Creativity
- Organization skills
- Multitasking
- Time management
- Leadership skills
- Flexibility
Hard skills are generally required to perform a particular job and candidates acquire them through education or experience. A Java developer could include the following skills in their resume:
- Programming in different virtual environments
- Testing and debugging programs
- Building automated algorithms
- Creating framework
- Exception handling
- File input/output (IO) and serialization
- Object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts
- Creating abstract classes
- Multithreading
- Using service-oriented architecture services
Technical skills refer to your knowledge of the tools and technologies of your industry, crucial skills for a Java developer. Some examples of technical skills are:
- Expertise in functioning web frameworks, i.e., Spring and Struts.
- Proficiency in using Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
- Well versed with markup languages, i.e., JSON, HTML and XML.
- Knowledgeable in database handling, i.e., MySQL and AWS.
- Hands-on experience with JavaScript and Bootstrap.
Feel free to use our Resume Builder to learn what other skills you can include in your resume. With our resume-writing tool, you’ll access pre-written skills suitable for your preferred job role.
3. Highlight your work experience.
Including a work history section is the first idea we get when writing a resume, but it’s essential to present it in an easily readable format. List your work experiences in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role and working your way backward.
Each work history entry should include the job title, the name of your workplace, the location and duration of employment. Under every job title, you should add three to four bullet points that describe your tasks, responsibilities and achievements.
Below, we'll compare a good example of a work history section with a poor example. With these examples, you'll notice the impact little details make on the effectiveness of this section.
Poor example:
Work History
- Designed and developed applications.
- Tested code and performed debugging.
- Worked with a team to build software.
This work history mentions the tasks performed by the candidate in a bland, generic way. The lack of technical skills described and the absence of any quantifiable measure makes it sound unimpressive.
Good example:
Work History
- Designed and developed over 100 applications using Java and Python.
- Supported post-deployment activities, including process documentation and application bug fixes.
- Delivered new concepts and features, working alongside development peers in an agile environment.
This example of a work history does a much better job by specifying the candidate's duties in more detail and mentioning the technicality of the work done.
Use the following tips to spruce up your work history:
- Mention your accomplishments keeping the recruiter in mind. Lean towards achievements that demonstrate you possess many of the job requirements.
- Do your research and include keywords from the job advertisement. Pair these with quantifiable figures to show experience in the fields mentioned by the recruiters.
- To validate your claims, always include quantifiable achievements in the form of percentages, number of projects completed, hours of work, etc.
4. Include your contact information, educational details and custom sections.
Education
Anyone can self-teach themselves to become a Java developer and some companies will take on uncertified developers. However, if you want to be on the safe side and keep your options as open as possible, it's best to have at least an undergraduate degree in computer science.
No matter your educational background, you should include an education section where you can mention the name of your degree, the institution where you acquired it, its location and graduation date. If you have more than one degree, make sure to list them in reverse chronological order.
Certifications, licenses and custom sections
Many developers invest in special certifications instead of formal degrees or as a complement to their bachelor's degree.
A few recommended certifications for a Java developer are:
Oracle Certified Associate Java Programmer
This certification officially certifies you as a Java professional by Oracle.
Spring Professional Certification
The certificate is specific to the Spring Framework, ensuring a mastery in Spring certified by VMware.
Apache Spark Developer Certification
This certification is designed for developers seeking to learn and apply Spark Core and Spark SQL applications in Python or Scala.
Professional Scrum Master Certification I
This is a universally recognized certificate that backs up your expertise in Scrum.
Throughout your developer career, consider continuing to educate yourself with certifications such as:
- Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions Certification
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
- Oracle Certified Professional Java Programmer
Contact information
When crafting your contact information, keep it simple by adding your name, professional email address, phone number and your current location’s city and state.
Free Downloadable Resume Templates for Java Developers
Download these free Java developers’ resume templates and customize them using your preferred word processor. Just remember to change the text to fit your information and accomplishments.
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Java Developer FAQ
What are the top three skills of a Java developer?
A Java developer has to perform a range of duties and programming. The top three skills required of a Java developer are as follows:
- Writing efficient and concise code
- Conducting tests and debugging programs
- Requirements gathering for projects
How can a Java developer stand out?
It is tough to stand out with technical skills alone, as thousands of candidates are proficient in the same programming languages and have similar skills. Highlight your soft skills, social skills and leadership qualities to add more value to your team and organization.
What is a good objective statement for a Java developer?
A good objective statement clearly defines your aspirations toward the job offered concisely and straightforwardly. An objective statement for a budding Java developer would read as: “Entry-level Java developer focused on solving customer problems, improving usability and maximizing efficiency. Specializing in creating mobile and web applications. Effective at working in Agile environments using Scrum methodologies.”
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