Java developer interview questions for employers, with scorecard
India context for employers using these java developer interview questions, central rules as of 30 Oct 2026.
Use these 12 questions to interview a java developer the same way every time. Ask all candidates the same questions, score each answer from 1 to 4 against the notes below, and decide on the total, not on first impressions. Pick 8 to 10 questions per interview.
At a glance
- Match the questions to your java developer job description: one question per must-have.
- Score each criterion right after the interview, before you talk to other interviewers.
- Follow up with "What did you personally do?" to separate individual work from the team's.
Questions
| # | Question | A good answer shows | Red flags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explain the difference between an abstract class and an interface. | Correct, with when to use each | Mixes them up |
| 2 | How does a HashMap work internally? | Hashing, buckets, collision handling | Surface only |
| 3 | What is the difference between checked and unchecked exceptions? | Correct, with usage guidance | Cannot explain |
| 4 | Explain how threads share data and what can go wrong. | Race conditions, synchronisation, concurrent collections | Unaware |
| 5 | How do you structure a REST API in Spring Boot? | Controller, service, repository, validation | One class for everything |
| 6 | What is dependency injection and why is it used? | Decoupling, testing | Memorised definition |
| 7 | How would you design a query for a slow page? | Index, explain plan, avoid N+1 queries | Adds hardware |
| 8 | A service throws a NullPointerException in production. What do you do? | Logs, reproduces, fixes and adds a test | Adds a null check only |
| 9 | Describe a design you built and what you would change. | Honest trade-offs | No reflection |
| 10 | How do you test your code? | Unit and integration, mocking | Manual only |
| 11 | Describe a code review comment that changed your approach. | Open to feedback | Defensive |
| 12 | What have you built in your spare time or at a previous job? | Concrete project, own role | Cannot explain the project |
Scorecard (1 to 4)
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Weak: no relevant example, or a red flag |
| 2 | Partial: general or hypothetical answer, little evidence |
| 3 | Good: a real, specific example that meets the standard |
| 4 | Strong: specific, repeated evidence and clear reasoning |
| Criterion | Questions | What a 4 looks like | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Java | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Correct on language fundamentals | |
| Framework and database | 5, 6, 7 | Uses Spring and SQL sensibly | |
| Design and debugging | 8, 9, 10 | Clear reasoning about failures and design | |
| Teamwork and learning | 11, 12 | Collaborates and keeps learning | |
| Total | / 16 |
Suggested rule: shortlist candidates whose average is 3 or higher with no criterion at 1. Change the rule before the first interview, not after.
Run it as a video interview on LiveRec
Open the candidate and choose Schedule interview, then choose Video and pick LiveRec video, which needs no link. After the call, open the interview and choose Submit feedback to give star ratings for Technical skills, Communication skills and Culture fit, a Decision and your comments; paste your scorecard result into the comments. Recorded LiveRec video interviews are deleted 90 days after the interview as standard, so tell candidates before you record. See Schedule an interview, private notes and feedback and recordings.
Fair interviewing
Ask only job-related questions. Indian law bars gender discrimination in recruitment for the same work and requires equal opportunity for people with disabilities, so keep questions on marital status, family plans, religion, caste or health out of the interview. See illegal interview questions for the principles; US-specific examples there differ.
Next step
Copy the scorecard into your interview scorecard template, then schedule the first interviews. For the method, read the structured interview guide.
Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Employment: https://labour.gov.in
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities: https://disabilityaffairs.gov.in/
- US OPM, Structured Interviews (method reference): https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/assessment-and-selection/structured-interviews/
This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.