This is another material from a series of texts in which the mentors of our Java University share their experience and knowledge. Full-stack developer from Kharkiv and mentor Oleksiy Kapustnik answers common questions from beginners and tells how to understand that programming suits you, what a Java junior needs to know in 2022, and what to do to stand out from other candidates.
How do you know if a developer is right for you? What qualities are important?
You need to be constantly aware of new technologies, burn with them, want to learn new things. Without these qualities, you will have a hard time. I taught dozens of students and in each group there were those who burned with programming - they were always in the lead. Programming is an area in which you need to constantly learn. And the lower your level, the harder it is for you, because you don’t know a lot. Accordingly, you need to withstand the training load, and later - to maintain your level. If you are a math teacher, then you have learned the necessary knowledge and apply it for the next 50 years. Once every 10 years there is a new discovery or a new formula, then you learn it and teach it again. In programming, the opposite is true: I mastered the technology for two weeks, but while I was understanding it, a new update came out, and I had to relearn, because it changed everything. We must learn to adapt. People themselves are so arranged that they are afraid to change something or simply do not want to. If a person is like that in life, then he probably does not belong in programming. But if a person understands that he needs to change all the time, improve, that everything in life is impermanent, then programming will be easy for him. Perseverance and discipline are essential. Motivation works only at the initial stage. If you are just starting to study, you are motivated by money, freedom, goodies, a new profession. But after a couple of months, your motivation will disappear, and this is normal: discipline should work further. You can sit for hours on a task and when you solve it, you will understand that everything is possible. With this principle, you need to go further in life, because there will always be tasks that will drive you into a dead end. We must learn to adapt. People themselves are so arranged that they are afraid to change something or simply do not want to. If a person is like that in life, then he probably does not belong in programming. But if a person understands that he needs to change all the time, improve, that everything in life is impermanent, then programming will be easy for him. Perseverance and discipline are essential. Motivation works only at the initial stage. If you are just starting to study, you are motivated by money, freedom, goodies, a new profession. But after a couple of months, your motivation will disappear, and this is normal: discipline should work further. You can sit for hours on a task and when you solve it, you will understand that everything is possible. With this principle, you need to go further in life, because there will always be tasks that will drive you into a dead end. We must learn to adapt. People themselves are so arranged that they are afraid to change something or simply do not want to. If a person is like that in life, then he probably does not belong in programming. But if a person understands that he needs to change all the time, improve, that everything in life is impermanent, then programming will be easy for him. Perseverance and discipline are essential. Motivation works only at the initial stage. If you are just starting to study, you are motivated by money, freedom, goodies, a new profession. But after a couple of months, your motivation will disappear, and this is normal: discipline should work further. You can sit for hours on a task and when you solve it, you will understand that everything is possible. With this principle, you need to go further in life, because there will always be tasks that will drive you into a dead end. that they are afraid to change something or simply do not want to. If a person is like that in life, then he probably does not belong in programming. But if a person understands that he needs to change all the time, improve, that everything in life is impermanent, then programming will be easy for him. Perseverance and discipline are essential. Motivation works only at the initial stage. If you are just starting to study, you are motivated by money, freedom, goodies, a new profession. But after a couple of months, your motivation will disappear, and this is normal: discipline should work further. You can sit for hours on a task and when you solve it, you will understand that everything is possible. With this principle, you need to go further in life, because there will always be tasks that will drive you into a dead end. that they are afraid to change something or simply do not want to. If a person is like that in life, then he probably does not belong in programming. But if a person understands that he needs to change all the time, improve, that everything in life is impermanent, then programming will be easy for him. Perseverance and discipline are essential. Motivation works only at the initial stage. If you are just starting to study, you are motivated by money, freedom, goodies, a new profession. But after a couple of months, your motivation will disappear, and this is normal: discipline should work further. You can sit for hours on a task and when you solve it, you will understand that everything is possible. With this principle, you need to go further in life, because there will always be tasks that will drive you into a dead end. not a place. But if a person understands that he needs to change all the time, improve, that everything in life is impermanent, then programming will be easy for him. Perseverance and discipline are essential. Motivation works only at the initial stage. If you are just starting to study, you are motivated by money, freedom, goodies, a new profession. But after a couple of months, your motivation will disappear, and this is normal: discipline should work further. You can sit for hours on a task and when you solve it, you will understand that everything is possible. With this principle, you need to go further in life, because there will always be tasks that will drive you into a dead end. not a place. But if a person understands that he needs to change all the time, improve, that everything in life is impermanent, then programming will be easy for him. Perseverance and discipline are essential. Motivation works only at the initial stage. If you are just starting to study, you are motivated by money, freedom, goodies, a new profession. But after a couple of months, your motivation will disappear, and this is normal: discipline should work further. You can sit for hours on a task and when you solve it, you will understand that everything is possible. With this principle, you need to go further in life, because there will always be tasks that will drive you into a dead end. If you are just starting to study, you are motivated by money, freedom, goodies, a new profession. But after a couple of months, your motivation will disappear, and this is normal: discipline should work further. You can sit for hours on a task and when you solve it, you will understand that everything is possible. With this principle, you need to go further in life, because there will always be tasks that will drive you into a dead end. If you are just starting to study, you are motivated by money, freedom, goodies, a new profession. But after a couple of months, your motivation will disappear, and this is normal: discipline should work further. You can sit for hours on a task and when you solve it, you will understand that everything is possible. With this principle, you need to go further in life, because there will always be tasks that will drive you into a dead end.
What should a beginner Java developer know in 2022?
In addition to Java Core, you must definitely know the Spring framework - you can’t do without it. At one time I got burned at an interview, because I did not know that he was needed. In any case, you will need knowledge of databases and the Hibernate framework. Often in vacancies they write about knowledge of JavaScript, HTML, CSS, but it depends on the company: they may be asked about them at the interview, but it is not known whether the developer will use them fully. In one company where I worked as a full-stack developer, I needed this. When I worked at EPAM, I was a pure back-end developer and it didn't come in handy. Knowledge of these technologies will definitely not hurt, especially if you want to create your own project. I would recommend learning a technology like Kafka (Apache Kafka is a distributed software message broker, an open source project developed by the Apache Foundation - ed.). Midl definitely needs to know, for a junior this can be an advantage. You need to know the Git version control system. Also understand who is and what does devops (the main task of such a specialist is setting up and maintaining the necessary software in the company, as well as automating each stage of development - ed.), why is it needed. If a developer will make projects for himself, he must know the most basic things from the devops area.
What can you add to your resume to make you stand out from other candidates?
The resume should be easy to read, I would say, intuitively readable, so that the recruiter can see: this is a Java developer, he knows the base and fundamentals of frameworks. A list of books read is a plus. In my first resume, I indicated such a list, and when the HR met with me, she said that the company was impressed that I had read these books. It is also necessary to indicate generalized knowledge. For example, how the Internet works, knowledge of REST, SOAP - something that does not apply to Java Core, but belongs to general programming.
How do you know when it's time to go to interviews?
I would start by finding interview questions for a Java Jun position. Then I read the questions and think about how I would answer them. And compare with the answer given there. If most of the answers match, fine, you can go for an interview. If I understand that I answered three questions out of 30, then these topics need to be tightened up. If everything worked out with the questions, you can take online tests. At the interview, the questions will most likely be almost the same, but do not forget about the stress factor, so it can be harder. When you do all these checks, give yourself a deadline. If you don't set an end date for yourself, you will never do it.
How to prepare for an interview?
First of all, you need to overcome your fear. If this is the first job interview of your life, you will be stressed. At my first interview, there were three venerable programmers who told me: "Well, tell me." And it affected the psyche not because they are scary, but because this has never happened before. Therefore, to overcome this fear, you can ask friends to help: put a friend, give a list of questions and let him drive you through them. At the interview, a situation will arise when you are asked something, and you will not know the answer. You can't just say, "I don't know," and then remain silent. You can answer: “I have not worked with this technology, but I assume that it works in this way ...”. Your ignorance must be turned into something you can easily learn. Try to act confident. Every interview is designed to to evaluate you as a developer, and for yourself to evaluate the interviewers as your potential colleagues. Feel equal: as you choose a company, so the company chooses you.
If I am just starting to learn, how do I organize my learning?
There is a fine line in learning - it is the balance of personal life and work at the computer. When you first start learning, you may have plenty of time but little knowledge to develop. Therefore, you can devote 3 hours a day to programming. Then, when the amount of knowledge increases, you can spend 8 hours a day studying. There are situations when you have a fuse and you think to work 15 hours a day in order to learn everything as soon as possible. In this mode, you will not work for a long time. Therefore, it is important to find your limit when you realize that you have worked enough to learn the material, but not overworked to burn out. I studied and worked a lot and it gave a negative effect. You need to rest and unload your brain.
Is it possible to learn programming in 3 months?
Yes and no. If this is not your first programming language, then you can learn it in 3 months. I once started with C ++, it was hard, I had breaks of several years, but when I began to study Java, 2 months were enough for me to master the base. But if it was my first programming language and I had no idea about it, it would be stressful for me and it would take me half a year or a year to master it. Now, when I have to learn a new programming language, it goes faster and faster every time. Do you have any questions for Java University mentors? If yes, please leave them in the comments. We will definitely ask the mentors and give answers in the following texts;)
Do you have any questions for Java University mentors? If yes, please leave them in the comments. We will definitely ask the mentors and give answers in the following texts;)
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