# Junior Level Summary – Backend Developer Competency Evaluation

This document serves as a reference during internal and external interviews to assess whether a candidate meets our Junior level requirements. It details the scoring model, required proficiencies, validation criteria, and provides a comprehensive table of skills with the expected levels.

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## Scoring Model

- **Basic:** 1 point  
- **Intermediate:** 3 points  
- **Advanced:** 5 points  
- **Expert:** 7 points

At the Junior level, candidates are expected to demonstrate foundational knowledge in all evaluated areas. The majority of Core and Secondary skills should be at a **Basic** level (1 point). The overall score is determined by the sum of points from both Core and Secondary skills.

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## Required Skill Proficiencies

### Core Skills (Expected at a Basic level – 1 point each)
- **SQL**
- **OOP & Programming**
- **Java**
- **REST Services**
- **Persistence Frameworks (JPA)**
- **Spring**
- **Transactions**
- **CI/CD**
- **Design Patterns**
- **Git**
- **Test**

*These 11 core skills reflect the essential technical building blocks required for a Junior Backend Developer.*

### Secondary Skills (Expected at a Basic level – 1 point each)
- **Soft Skills**
- **Workstation**
- **Web**
- **Scrum**
- **Logging**
- **Building/Packaging**
- **Documentation**
- **Spring Ecosystem**

*These 8 secondary skills support the core technical competencies by ensuring a well-rounded understanding of the development environment and effective communication and collaboration.*

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## Junior Level: Scoring Tables

### Core Skills

| Skill                        | Expected Level (Junior) | Points (Expected) |
|------------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|
| **SQL**                    | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **OOP & Programming**      | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Java**                   | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **REST Services**          | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Persistence Frameworks** | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Spring**                 | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Transactions**           | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **CI/CD**                  | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Design Patterns**        | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Git**                    | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Test**                   | Basic                   | 1                 |

*Core Skills Total:* 11 skills × 1 point each = **11 points**

### Secondary Skills

| Skill                         | Expected Level (Junior) | Points (Expected) |
|-------------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------|
| **Soft Skills**               | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Workstation**               | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Web**                       | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Scrum**                     | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Logging**                   | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Building/Packaging**        | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Documentation**             | Basic                   | 1                 |
| **Spring Ecosystem**          | Basic                   | 1                 |

*Secondary Skills Total:* 8 skills × 1 point each = **8 points**

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## Total Minimum Points Calculation

- **Core Skills Total:** 11 points  
- **Secondary Skills Total:** 8 points  
- **Overall Total Minimum Required:** 11 + 8 = **19 points**

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## Validation Process for Junior Candidates

A candidate is classified as Junior if they meet **all** the following criteria:

1. **Core Skills Requirement:**  
   Every Core skill must be demonstrated at a Basic level (1 point). If any Core skill is below Basic, the candidate does not satisfy the Junior criteria.

2. **Secondary Skills Requirement:**  
   All Secondary skills must be demonstrated at a Basic level (1 point).

3. **Total Points Requirement:**  
   The candidate’s cumulative score (from both Core and Secondary skills) must be **at least 19 points**. A score below this threshold indicates that the candidate does not fully meet the Junior level expectations.

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## Usage in Interviews

- **Interviewers:** Use this document to verify that a candidate’s foundational skills align with our Junior-level expectations.
- **Candidates:** May refer to this summary to understand the depth and breadth of expertise required at the Junior level.
- **Decision-Makers:** Rely on the scoring and validation process as an objective measure of a candidate’s readiness to develop and grow within our technical framework.

This summary, along with the detailed scoring tables and validation criteria, serves as a definitive reference for assessing Junior Backend Developer competencies during interviews.

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