Compared with most programming languages, Java is a relative dinosaur. Created in 1995, it has become industry standard for many types of programming functionality for its cross-platform functionality and ease of scalability as your company’s service grows. This is especially true if you’re going to create any kind of Android applications or technology that interacts with what the industry calls “the Internet of Things.” Since this includes all smart home and wearable devices, there’s certainly only going to be upward growth as a Java developer.

The best part of job hunting a Java developer is that there is no shortage of open jobs. Coding bootcamps and other non-traditional educational resources have become common as the industry struggles to fill the gap between supply and demand in the labor market. While most Java developers do have four-year degrees, it’s also possible to prove your skill level with practical application of skill. For example, GitHub is an industry-accepted open-source portfolio platform that is often used as a way to secure a job as a Java developer. For those looking for a career change in a growth industry, Java developer jobs are a great option.

Java Developer Resume Templates

Java Developer Resume Sample

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Java developer resume which highlights resume achievements and Java skills.

Why this resume works in 2021

Java developers are the nuts-and-bolts of most organizations. They are not expected to be software architects -- i.e. creating the foundation of the company’s software and web applications -- but they are responsible for maintaining and improving existing architecture. This involves employing strategies like TDD (test driven development) and CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous development) in order to keep code up to standard.

Skills box highlights essential tools for Java development work.

Skills boxes are always important to help get your resume through ATS (applicant tracking system) filters. However, on Java developer resumes they’re even more important because the specific types of languages and tools you cite show the company what type of developer you are, what kind of databases you can work with, and what kind of growth you are aiming for in the next phases of your career.

Also see: How to Write Your Resume's Skills Section

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Java Full Stack Developer Resume Sample

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Java full stack developer resume which has strong work experience and skills sections.

Why this resume works in 2021

Java full stack developers are highly prized because they have a deep and wide skill set. Full stack developers have the ability to work on the back and the front end of development. Simply put, that means they can maintain the UI (user interface) side of programming as well as the more complex, invisible side of programming, including databases, software architecture, and much more.

Highlight how Java-related achievements impacted different audiences and stakeholders

If you’re a full-stack Java developer, you can expect your work to be both internal to the company and program and external (customer-facing). This developer does a great job of showing successful projects that do both. You should always highlight when you successfully deliver a project to stakeholders with diverse needs. It shows high-level communication skills that are useful in understanding how to execute ongoing software needs.

Also see: How to Write Resume Bullets That Get Interviews

J2EE Developer Resume Sample

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J2EE developer resume example which highlights specific examples relating to the J2EE platform

Why this resume works in 2021

J2EE (Java to the Enterprise Edition) is a platform consisting of APIs, applets, and more that make creating enterprise-level web applications easy and scalable. In a world iincreasingly focused on SaaS (software as a service) as a business model, J2EE developers have in-demand, specialized knowledge.

Link skills in skills list to actual Java achievements in resume bullet points.

It’s one of the most common tricks of the trade to tailor your resume to the job listing you’re seeking. You can certainly get away with just listing desired skills in your skill box, but it’s even more effective to take those skills listed in your skill box and link them to job performance. As the old adage says: show; don’t tell.

Also see: How to Write Your Resume's Skills Section

Senior Java Developer Resume Sample

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Senior Java developer resume example which uses strong action verbs relating to Java engineering

Why this resume works in 2021

A senior Java developer has successfully worked in diverse roles as a developer, but has also transitioned to a more managerial role. Importantly, this includes communication skills across teams with different job roles and enterprise-level thinking. It’s one thing to be able to do the work, but to be able to translate that to those unfamiliar with how a Java developer works is what makes a good senior Java developer.

Include concrete examples of communication and leadership skills with impact statements.

You should be wary of including soft skills directly on a resume. While you may be tempted to say you’re a good communicator or a team player, those things are not easily demonstrable and often dependent on context. Instead, you should follow the example of this resume: the senior Java developer is responsible for translating technical data to non-technical team members (specifically the COO), and they provided supporting impact data to demonstrate how effective they were in that context.

Also see: How to Include Soft Skills on Your Resume

Java Software Engineer Resume Sample

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Java software engineering resume example which highlights Java software development experience

Why this resume works in 2021

There’s a lot of debate in the industry about the difference between a Java software engineer and a Java developer. Some say that the largest difference is the title and pay schedule -- which does, of course, matter. Skills wise, it’s fair to say that a Java software engineer will probably be expected to be more of a computer science generalist with a strong speciality in Java who can also work in large teams. This means that you will be expected to code in other foundational languages (like C++ for example) as competently as you do in Java.

Skills For Java Developer Resumes

Spring Framework
Hibernate
Spring Boot
Spring MVC
Java
Maven
JavaServer Pages (JSP)
AngularJS
Jakarta EE
JavaScript
JUnit
RESTful WebServices
Core Java
Web Services
XML
Java Database Connectivity (JDBC)
Tomcat
Struts
SOAP
Microservices

How to use these skills?

Skill lists are a great way to tailor your resume to a specific job posting. They’re also helpful in getting your resume past ATS (applicant tracking system) filters, especially in combination with other strategies above.

By comparison with other industries, programmers in general and Java developers in specific get a lot of leverage out of the skill section on their resume. The skills you’ve learned are concrete, measurable, and define the type of programming you’re capable of at a glance. Remember what we noted above as well: you can reinforce your ownership of these skills by highlighting them in your work experience achievements as well.

Skills vary depending on what Java application you're working on. If it's a mobile application, you should likely include skills like Android or Kotlin on your resume. If it's a web application you're going to be working on, you likely need to include JavaScript, React or Vue JS (JavaScript frameworks) or Node.js. Finally, if you're applying to enterprises, you might want to include skills relating to continuous integration or tools that help with deployment, e.g. Spring, AWS or Azure.

Action Verbs For Java Developer Resumes

Improved
Resolved
Eliminated
Presented
Recommended
Communicated
Designed
Produced
Developed
Analyzed
Reviewed
Demonstrated
Verified
Evaluated
Spearheaded
Identified

How to use these action verbs?

Java developers are a vital part of ensuring that companies function, especially when you’re talking about industries like e-commerce or SaaS (sales as a service) companies. You’re responsible for building the software and web-based applications, continually improving said offerings based on customer data, keeping these applications healthy through testing, and more. As such, proving your success in these skills vividly is extremely important, and the best way to do that is to combine action verbs with concrete data.

Consider also that part of working at the enterprise level on software and web-based applications involves a lot of communication. You’re incorporating data from customers as well as from co-workers who may not be as tech savvy as you are. Using clear and precise action verbs on your resume will show employers that you’re no stranger to the parts of the job that aren’t just about Java.

For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.