Should I learn Java to maximize my job opportunities?
I have 3 years of experience (YOE) working as a Python developer. I've noticed a significant decrease in job postings for Python recently. I'm unsure whether I should consider switching to Java for better future opportunities.
In my research, I've found that Java is predominantly used in many large companies which is good for my career.
What do you think?
![Senior Software Engineer [E5] at Meta company logo](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffirebasestorage.googleapis.com%2Fv0%2Fb%2Ftech-career-growth.appspot.com%2Fo%2Fcompany_logos%252Fmeta.jpeg%3Falt%3Dmedia%26token%3Da7a5bcc0-e178-4b5b-b71e-09bf6c6aefae&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
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Discussion
(2 comments)- 3a year agoTech Lead/Manager at Meta, Pinterest, Kosei
hmm... why not list proficiency in both Java and Python on your resume? So you at least have the option to get interview calls on both.
I'd suggest focusing on the caliber of the company you can join first. Once you're in the company, gravitate toward whatever the business need is or where you enjoy working with the people (I wouldn't decide based on language).
Related discussions about programming languages;
- 2a year agoTech Lead @ Robinhood, Meta, Course Hero
Look at it this way: Pretend you are the hiring manager looking for a Java engineer. You get a resume, and it lists Java. However, it's not represented at all in the candidate's work experience, just some online courses/certifications and maybe some small janky side project with 10 users. Would you take a massive bet on this person and hire them?
If I was that hiring manager, I certainly wouldn't. This is especially true in this economy where in that scenario, that hiring manager is bound to get a ton of resumes with similar years of experience where the candidates actually wrote enterprise-grade Java at their actual jobs.
I'm unsure what job market you're operating in, but Python is a Tier 1 language from what I've seen. It's extremely common (easily in the Top 5), especially among startups. It has good applications with the machine learning/AI space. It'll be more common among startups, but big companies use it too (a big part of Instagram's tech stack is in Python).
On the other hand, Java is arguably the most ubiquitous programming language ever, but I definitely feel like it's from the past generation. Personally, I haven't seen a lot of modern companies (i.e. the new wave of big startups) use it.
I recommend following the advice here to expand your net and find more Python positions: "How to get interview calls?"
If you still want to explore a Java pivot, the only chance you'll have is if you make some really major side projects (10,000+ users at the minimum). We made this playlist about how to do that: [Taro Top 10] Building Impressive Side Projects
