{"id":643,"date":"2021-05-18T21:38:26","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T19:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/?p=643"},"modified":"2021-05-18T21:38:26","modified_gmt":"2021-05-18T19:38:26","slug":"8-tips-for-getting-started-in-app-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/8-tips-for-getting-started-in-app-development\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Tips for Getting Started in App Development"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The job market is full of app development vacancies, but aspiring coders are a dime a dozen these days. The competition for any entry-level position can be cutthroat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, if you\u2019re dead set on becoming a developer yourself, prepare to invest tons of your time and effort into it. Standing out is key to securing a job, and achieving that doesn\u2019t happen overnight. Hard work is what will jumpstart your new career from the get-go.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But what exactly should you do to increase your chances to land a job in app development?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Choose Your Specialization<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being a jack of all trades may seem to be a more viable option to increase your employability, but it\u2019s not. That\u2019s because you\u2019d truly be a master of none.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting educated in just one niche is already a huge task, let alone becoming proficient in it. No person alive could become a specialist in every development field that exists.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, choose your platform and future role wisely. Coding for Android isn\u2019t going to be the same as for iOS. Back-end development is also way different from the front-end.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, learning the basics of other technologies is still a good investment of your time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The thing is, there\u2019s no guarantee that your chosen specialization will remain in high demand for years to come. Besides, those basics may come in handy in your daily job, even if you don\u2019t expect that.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understand Which Skills You\u2019ll Need to Develop or Improve<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve zeroed in on your future specialization, you\u2019ll need to understand the full scope of competencies required of a beginner in the field. The best way to do it is by snooping around on job search websites and reading real-world job descriptions and requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are six basic things that are guaranteed to end up on your curriculum:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span>coding in at least two programming languages, as well as using their most popular framework and libraries;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">development methodologies like Scrum and Agile;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">software development lifecycle and what it means in practice;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">using development and testing tools and environments;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">creating software that is not just functional but user-friendly too;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">testing and debugging your code.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t Limit Yourself to Formal Education Only<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It seems logical to enroll in the bachelor\u2019s program in computer sciences or software engineering if you want to become a developer. Yet, there\u2019s no guarantee you\u2019ll be 100% ready for the job market after graduating.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of focusing on getting a diploma, base your approach to learning on the competencies you need to develop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are plenty of free resources that will help you progress. For example, there are Codecademy and Coursera online courses, as well as developer websites like Android Developers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re already a student, but it\u2019s too late to switch to another major, study on your own.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To make more room for that without negatively impacting your academic excellence, reach out to an<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">essay writing service like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/essaywritingservice.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EssayWritingService<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for help. After all, in most cases, your real-life skills will speak volumes, while the degree is insignificant for recruiters.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practice, Practice, Practice<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online or offline lectures are great for acquiring theoretical knowledge. But theory is only as good as how efficiently you apply it in practice. Here are ways to get some practice:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span>make it a rule for yourself to write a certain number of lines of code every day;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">come up with a passion project and put your knowledge to work;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">check out freelance platforms like Upwork for real-world tasks;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">join hackathons and coding challenges.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.real-english.com\/8-online-courses.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">extracurricular activities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will also look good on your resume. They\u2019ll help your application stand out, and that\u2019s what matters.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on Problem-Solving Instead of Memorizing<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any piece of software is created to solve a certain problem for its end users. That\u2019s one reason why problem-solving skills are important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, the daily tasks of any developer are heavily focused on problem-solving. They don\u2019t just mindlessly type memorized expressions all day long.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think of it this way. Programming languages, frameworks, and development environments are just tools. It\u2019s not just how well you use those tools that matters \u2013 it\u2019s how you choose to apply them to every particular situation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have a Portfolio Ready<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A portfolio is the best way to make your resume stand out in the future. It\u2019s a way to show your experience without actually having to acquire it. All you have to do is be prepared to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scienceworldreport.com\/articles\/61736\/20201022\/6-time-management-hacks-all-successful-students-use.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">invest your time<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in creating it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can include your passion project(s), works submitted to a hackathon or coding challenge, or the results of pro bono services. If possible, try to select the works that are the closest to real-world challenges you\u2019ll encounter in the chosen job.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Snoop for Internship &amp; Mentorship Opportunities<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internships and mentorships remain the most viable way to get some real-life work experience. However, there are some significant pitfalls to taking up such an opportunity:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span>They are mostly unpaid, so make sure you have other <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/smthemes.com\/blog\/when-is-it-time-to-start-monetizing-your-website\/\"><span>sources of income<\/span><\/a><span> before taking advantage of such experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They may be as competitive as entry-level positions, so don\u2019t rely on them too much: keep learning on your own;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internships may not involve any coding tasks at the beginning, so you might end up elbow-deep in paperwork instead.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get Certified<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While bachelor\u2019s or master\u2019s degrees may not be extremely valuable, certifications are certainly an advantage. They are issued by tech giants like Microsoft, Oracle, and Amazon. Obtaining such certifications isn\u2019t breezy, and that\u2019s why they\u2019re so valued in the job market.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beware, however: most of them aren\u2019t free to pass. For example, the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certificate will cost you $100. On the other hand, exam organizers also provide plenty of materials to help you prepare for taking the test.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-646\" src=\"https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/christina-wocintechchat-com-YVT21p6pO_g-unsplash-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"810\" height=\"541\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/christina-wocintechchat-com-YVT21p6pO_g-unsplash-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/christina-wocintechchat-com-YVT21p6pO_g-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/christina-wocintechchat-com-YVT21p6pO_g-unsplash-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/christina-wocintechchat-com-YVT21p6pO_g-unsplash-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/christina-wocintechchat-com-YVT21p6pO_g-unsplash-810x541.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/christina-wocintechchat-com-YVT21p6pO_g-unsplash-1140x761.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/christina-wocintechchat-com-YVT21p6pO_g-unsplash.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whichever field you choose for yourself, you can be sure about one thing. It\u2019ll evolve and change at a fast pace. It could happen that what you learned not so long ago is already out of use or old-fashioned. So, make staying up-to-date your number one priority.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And remember: real-world skills trump any piece of paper you get from an educational institution. So, focus on building up your expertise and stop worrying about grades.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The job market is full of app development vacancies, but aspiring coders are a dime a dozen these days. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-web-development"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>8 Tips for Getting Started in App Development - Web Design<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/8-tips-for-getting-started-in-app-development\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"8 Tips for Getting Started in App Development - Web Design\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The job market is full of app development vacancies, but aspiring coders are a dime a dozen these days. 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