What a Java Developer at 0–1 year can own
Scope: bug fixes, unit tests and small Spring Boot endpoints inside an existing service, following the team’s layering and patterns.
Supervision
Needs a named reviewer. Plan on daily check-ins for the first month and a review of every piece of work that reaches a customer or production.
Typical titles
Junior, Associate, Trainee or Graduate Engineer / Executive
Typical responsibilities at this level
- Implement REST endpoints with Spring Boot and JPA from a defined contract
- Write JUnit and Mockito tests for new and changed code
- Fix defects raised by QA and update the ticket with the cause
- Keep builds and dependency updates green in CI
Skills and tools to screen for
The skills are the same across bands — the depth is what changes. At 0–1 year, screen for fundamentals and code hygiene on a small, bounded problem.
Core skills
- Core Java 11/17
- Spring Boot
- JPA / Hibernate
- SQL
- JUnit and Mockito
Common tools
- Maven or Gradle
- Git
- Kafka / RabbitMQ
- Docker
How to assess a 0–1 year candidate
At this band you are hiring for learning speed and fundamentals, not a track record. Projects, internships and a short practical task tell you far more than marks or certificates.
Practical exercise
A take-home Spring Boot service with one entity, CRUD endpoints, validation and JUnit tests, runnable with one command. Check exception handling and controller / service / repository layering.
Red flag at this band: A résumé that lists ten frameworks but no project you can open and run.
Indicative java developer salary by experience (India)
| Experience | Indicative CTC | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 year | ₹3–6 LPA | Entry level |
| 1–3 years | ₹5–12 LPA | Early career |
| 3–5 years | ₹10–22 LPA | Mid-level |
Indicative market ranges for India, rounded, for guidance only — not MyInternships.in platform data. Metros and funded product companies tend to pay toward the top; tier-2 cities and services firms toward the bottom. Always benchmark against the candidate’s current CTC.
Interview questions for 0–1 year of experience
- Interface versus abstract class in Java 17 — when do you use each?
- What does @Transactional do, and where does it silently not apply?
- How does a HashMap handle collisions?
- Show me a project you built — what would you change if you rebuilt it today?
Notice period and ramp-up
Usually an immediate joiner or on a 15–30 day notice. Many are finishing a 2026 degree or a first internship, so confirm the exact date they can start.
Expect four to eight weeks before they are independently useful on routine work, faster if the internship was in the same stack or function.
Job description template
Job title: Java Developer (0–1 year experience)
About the role: We are hiring a Java Developer with 0–1 year of experience who can own bug fixes, unit tests and small Spring Boot endpoints inside an existing service, following the team’s layering and patterns. You will work with our team on implement REST endpoints with Spring Boot and JPA from a defined contract and grow into broader ownership over time.
Responsibilities
- Implement REST endpoints with Spring Boot and JPA from a defined contract
- Write JUnit and Mockito tests for new and changed code
- Fix defects raised by QA and update the ticket with the cause
- Keep builds and dependency updates green in CI
Requirements
- 0–1 year (internship experience counts)
- Working knowledge of Core Java 11/17, Spring Boot, JPA / Hibernate
- Comfort with SQL and JUnit and Mockito
- Clear written and spoken communication in English
Nice to have
- An internship or project using Maven or Gradle or Git
- Evidence of learning on their own — a course project, blog or open-source contribution
CTC: ₹3–6 LPA (indicative — set your own band; stating it in the post improves response)
Copy it, edit it, and paste it into the posting chat — or let the AI assistant write one for you.
Where to find 0–1 year java developer candidates
Most candidates at this band come from B.E./B.Tech, BCA/MCA and B.Sc (CS/IT) graduates, plus bootcamp graduates with public project work.
- Ask for a GitHub or deployed project link in the application form and screen on it before looking at marks.
- Target final-year and 2026-batch graduates with a relevant internship — they are available to join quickly.
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Post a job freeFrequently asked questions
What can a Java developer with 0–1 year of experience handle?
Bug fixes, unit tests and small Spring Boot endpoints inside an existing service, following the team’s layering and patterns. Typical work at this band includes implement REST endpoints with Spring Boot and JPA from a defined contract; write JUnit and Mockito tests for new and changed code; fix defects raised by QA and update the ticket with the cause. Needs a named reviewer. Plan on daily check-ins for the first month and a review of every piece of work that reaches a customer or production.
What is the salary of a Java developer with 0–1 year of experience in India?
As an indicative market range, ₹3–6 LPA CTC — roughly ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 a month before deductions. Pay varies with city, company size, industry and the candidate’s current CTC; metros and funded product companies usually pay towards the top of the range. This is a guide, not MyInternships.in platform data.
How should I assess a Java developer at the 0–1 year level?
Focus on fundamentals and code hygiene on a small, bounded problem. A practical that works well: a take-home Spring Boot service with one entity, CRUD endpoints, validation and JUnit tests, runnable with one command. Check exception handling and controller / service / repository layering. At this band you are hiring for learning speed and fundamentals, not a track record. Projects, internships and a short practical task tell you far more than marks or certificates.
How long is the notice period for a Java developer with 0–1 year of experience?
Usually an immediate joiner or on a 15–30 day notice. Many are finishing a 2026 degree or a first internship, so confirm the exact date they can start. Expect four to eight weeks before they are independently useful on routine work, faster if the internship was in the same stack or function.
Where can I find Java developer candidates with 0–1 year of experience?
Most come from B.E./B.Tech, BCA/MCA and B.Sc (CS/IT) graduates, plus bootcamp graduates with public project work. Ask for a GitHub or deployed project link in the application form and screen on it before looking at marks. On MyInternships.in you can post the role free and reach 63,000+ registered candidates and 45,000+ resumes on file; the platform is strongest at the entry and early-career end.
Should I hire a Java developer fresher, an intern or someone with 0–1 year of experience?
An intern suits a trial project or a seasonal peak; a fresher or 0–1 year hire suits a permanent seat you can train into. Candidates with a relevant internship behind them usually ramp up faster than pure freshers. If you are open to candidates with no experience at all, see our Hire Java Developer Freshers page. For internships, see Hire Java Developer Intern.
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