In the era of digital transformation, finding your next Java developer role can seem daunting. You may not be sure where to start looking, or whether your skill set is still relevant. Or even if you’d be better expanding your skill set to make you more employable.
Luckily, whether you are looking to find your first job as a Java developer or just starting out, we’ve gathered some information that should help make that next career step a little easier.
Is being a Java Developer still a good career in 2021?
Who hasn’t read one article or another stating that Java is dead, or asking once again if Java is now dead? While no language truly disappears, they do get replaced by more efficient, flexible or powerful alternatives. Languages like Pearl, Pascal and Ruby are now well and truly confined to the retirement home. And others are getting gradually sidelined.
Is this something that could happen to Java?
Right now? It seems highly unlikely, for several reasons.
The TIOBE’s Programming Community Index still ranks Java as the most popular programming language, barely changing in popularity in the last 20 years.
- It’s portable: Java can run on nearly every system thanks to the platform-agnostic Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and is the most popular Android language. Most android apps are built in Java, and often don’t require any additional plugins or support to work.
- It’s scalable: James Governor once said: “When web companies grow up, they become Java shops”. Twitter made a move from Ruby to Java precisely because of the power of it’s scalability. And Java also benefits from being backwards compatible with older versions.
- Large community: The popularity of Java helps to ensure its future popularity, thanks to a huge community of users. With massive Stack Overflow and GitHub communities, developers can find help on virtually any problem they might encounter. Coupled with its portability, developers know that investing in Java will pay dividends for a long, long time.
Job types and industries that are hiring Java Developers
Most large companies with in-house teams and development agencies currently employ one or more Java developers. Especially those with larger teams and usually those you would consider enterprise-grade. This can probably be justified by the fact that Java is now used in such hot trends as reactive programming and machine learning. Which are both areas of development that are usually financially beyond smaller companies.
Is just knowing Java enough?
A good Java developer is expected to be adept at using the common tools used for Java development and have solid experience with them, below is a list of the more popular ones:
- Spring (includes knowledge of Spring and Spring Boot),
- Android development,
- AWS,
- Git,
- Docker,
- Jenkins,
- NoSQL databases.
It’s also important for them to have a strong understanding of not just Java 9 and 10, but also Java 8, as well as some understanding of things like DevOps and testing.
Where in the country can you work in a Java Developer role?
Nationwide, but specifically in technology hubs in London and Manchester.
Media City is set to be a leader in tech advancements and opportunities. But Manchester as a whole has been cited as one of the top 50 worldwide cities for FinTech startups, and tech companies have seen a massive increase too.
London boasts the East London Tech City, otherwise known as Silicon Roundabout. Also housing tech giants such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft and many other notable companies. These are almost always offering new openings, so it makes for a great place in terms of tech opportunity!
Not to be forgotten is Leeds and the North-East though. In Leeds, there has been much more publicity from tech companies in the EdTech sector, and in the North- East, several companies have seen drastic growth such as this one, or this Teesside company.
See what roles we currently have on offer, here.
Roles In Manchester
Opportunity is bursting at its seams in Manchester! With multiple industries taking to it like moths to a flame, Manchester has seen impressive growth over the last few years. And this doesn’t look to slow at any point soon. Fintech, EdTech, IT Solutions and agencies are amongst the most popular company options in terms of density, but that is by no means the limit!
In terms of salary, it can range drastically from company to company but check out our previous blog for a more in-depth exploration of this.
Roles in Leeds
With several rapidly growing businesses choosing Leeds as their hometown, there’s no shortage of opportunity. Organisations such as Pharmacy2U, Big Change, and SmartSearch are key players here. The variety of sectors is wide and will offer great potential for candidates looking to gain employment in Leeds as a Java Developer.
The focus on tech is undoubtedly increasing in Leeds, and with new hubs cropping up at every turn you’ll be spoilt for choice. But also have an impressive option for growth opportunities.
Roles in London
Silicon Roundabout offers incredible opportunities to work in a Java Developer role for some of the biggest tech companies to date. And with the ever-increasing growth of these companies, demand for employees is always high. But there’s an incredible amount of tech companies across London, and not limited to just the specifics of the South-East. London as a whole is a tech hub! A perfect place for growth and development as an individual, but as the home to many successful and thriving companies, teamwork here is particularly effective and impressive.
