What Java Backend Projects Can Help With Shortlisting in FAANG?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been working as a backend developer for about 1 year 8 months now, mostly with Java, Spring Boot, REST APIs, and databases. I’m trying to level up for FAANG/product-based company interviews, and want to build strong backend projects that can make my profile stand out.

I wanted to ask:

What kind of Java backend projects actually catch attention for FAANG recruiters?

If anyone has examples of projects (or personal experiences) that helped them get shortlisted, I’d really appreciate your inputs