Java - lesson 1 | HackIndia Skills

What counts

A Java project worth showing is not a large app. It is a finished app that another person can run without asking you questions.

For this track, you will build a command-line recruiter helper. It reads candidate data, applies simple logic, prints useful results, and handles bad input cleanly.

Key point

Remember this

Your repo should prove one thing clearly: you can turn a small problem into working Java code that someone else can build and run.

Internship reviewers do not need 20 features. They need evidence of structure, correctness, and care.

Your to-do

Choose the promise

Do each one yourself, then tap it to tick it off. The ticks are only a checklist for you: they are not marked or scored.

Pick one user: a recruiter, placement cell volunteer, or student coordinator.
Pick one job: shortlist candidates, search resumes, rank applicants, or filter by skills.
Pick one input: CSV or JSON sample data kept inside the repo.
Pick one output: a clean table, a shortlist file, or a summary in the terminal.
Avoid login, web UI, databases, and dashboards for this track.

0 of 5 done

Example

Good project scope

Here is a small promise you can actually ship.

It is specific enough to guide your classes later, but not so big that it blocks you.

Project name: recruit-shortlister

What it does:
Reads candidate records from sample data.
Filters candidates by role, minimum CGPA, and required skills.
Prints a ranked shortlist in the terminal.
Shows clear error messages for missing or invalid data.

Example command idea:
java -jar recruit-shortlister.jar data/candidates.csv backend 7.5 java,sql

Common mistake

Do not build vague

A vague idea like “AI recruiter system” or “job portal” becomes hard to finish. You will waste time naming features instead of shipping code.

Start with a boring, useful CLI. You can still explain it well in your HackIndia submission because it has a real user, real data, and a clear result.

Tip

Use AI carefully

You can ask ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude to help turn your idea into a project plan. Do not paste the answer blindly into your README.

Check that the plan stays small, uses Java CLI only, and matches what you can build with your current timetable.

Prompt:
I am building a small Java command-line project for an internship portfolio.
The app helps a college placement volunteer shortlist candidates.
Keep the scope small: no web app, no database, no login.
Suggest a 5-line project promise, sample input fields, and terminal output.

Check the answer for:
- Can I finish this in 2 to 3 weeks?
- Can it run from a public repo?
- Does it need only Java and a build tool?
- Is the output easy to verify?