I've noticed that many job postings are specifically asking for Spring Boot skills, which makes me wonder about the relevance of Core Java on its own in 2025. Can I still land internships or junior positions at big financial firms like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, or Barclays just with strong Core Java skills? If Core Java still has a place, what kind of applications do these companies typically build with it? I'm interested in hearing from anyone who works in finance or enterprise tech or has navigated a similar career path.
4 Answers
Java forms the backbone of Spring Boot, so it's good to know that even if you're not coding with Spring directly, Core Java skills remain relevant. If you're looking for jobs that don't specifically ask for Spring, there are still opportunities out there depending on where you look. I found some Java roles just by searching online.
At my company, we actually played around with ditching heavy frameworks for a while. We found using pure Core Java with some libraries boosted our performance significantly and made debugging a lot easier. Sure, big frameworks are handy with updates and documentation, but we were impressed by the results from going lightweight.
While Core Java isn't entirely redundant, it's true that about 90% of Java job postings lean towards Spring. There are still a few other frameworks and some legacy desktop applications, but Spring is definitely where most of the demand lies.
Honestly, don't stress too much over job requirements in finance. I saw a JPMorgan job for an entry-level frontend position asking for 3-5 years of experience and a master's degree, but I applied anyway because I knew I could do the job. Apply if you're interested, and let them decide if you're fit!
What sites did you check? I’ve been browsing and it seems like most listings want Spring or related technologies.