I'm curious about how important a portfolio is for Java developers looking for job opportunities. As a student, I have a few small projects under my belt, but I'm wondering if I should create a more comprehensive web portfolio. Did anyone here find that their portfolio made a significant difference in the hiring process? What types of projects or skills should I focus on to impress potential employers? Thanks for your advice!
2 Answers
Honestly, I don't think portfolios are that critical in our field. I've been a Java developer for 15 years and I've never linked my GitHub in applications. Most HR folks don’t even look at that stuff; they're focused on resumes. If you're applying to lower-paying jobs, especially in gaming, that's a different story, but for Java, it’s more about technical skills. I'd suggest focusing on your coursework and grades, especially since you don’t have much work experience yet. You should at least know Java 11 or 17, Spring Boot, Hibernate, and how to work with databases like Postgres. That’s what will really catch a hiring manager’s eye.
If you want to build something for your portfolio, I'd definitely recommend working with Spring. It’s really in demand right now! As for frontend technologies, I’d suggest avoiding React unless you really want that challenge. Many Java devs prefer Angular because of its dependency injection benefits, but I think it complicates things. I usually teach Vue.js—it’s super easy to learn and there's also good enterprise demand for it. So maybe consider building a backend with Spring and then experimenting with something like Vue for the frontend.
Interesting! I might look into Vue.js as my first frontend project.
That makes a lot of sense. I guess having top-notch grades can be more beneficial if you're starting out.