3 Reasons Why You Should Start a Career as an App Developer was originally published on Firsthand.
Picking a career is never an easy decision. There are so many factors to consider. For instance, you want to find a job that you will still feel passionate about a few years down the road. You also want a job that will pay the bills. You also want a job that will surround you with the right people and that will embed you within a community that will foster your growth. One field that may check all these boxes for you is app development, especially if you have a knack for coding and mathematics. Here are 3 major benefits to pursuing a career in app development:
App development exposes you to a global community that brings out the best in you.
There are countless app developers out there, and almost all of them hang out online. This comes in handy as this community is always happy to help its own whenever one of its members faces a hurdle.
So if at any time while working on a project you struggle with a certain problem, you can reach out to this entire community and tap into their collective knowledge.
App development is in high demand.
Both large and small companies need good developers. They are aware that more than half the population are glued to their smartphones, and one of the best ways to penetrate the market is to develop different apps for different platforms.
This is why companies are willing to pay good money for the right developer. Developers, on average, make somewhere around $73,953 a year. And, as the number of people hooked on a smartphone increases, the concurrent demand for developers is only going to increase as well.
App development can provide you with a fun, challenging career.
A big part of app development is about problem-solving, and when you finally get to solve a problem that has been stumping you for a while, you feel a sense of gratification that can't be rivaled by anything else.
Since problem-solving is a big part of app development, this means that you get to flex your creative muscles. After all, finding the right solutions for many problems you will face is all about thinking outside the box. In fact, a good app developer is one who constantly finds innovative ideas and figures out how to implement them cheaply.
Moreover, you don't need to be tethered to a specific large corporation to work as an app developer; you can choose to work freelance or with an agency that allows remote work. If you're just starting out, you might want to start with an agency first, as this will allow you to learn from the more senior developers on your team. For example, older developers can teach you many tricks of the trade that you'd otherwise have to learn through trial and error. Agencies usually have a good mix of senior and junior developers, as well as vast specialized experience you can build on in case you ever decide to start a development business on your own.
Making the leap
It can be hard figuring out how to start a career as an app developer, especially if you have little to no coding background. However, the good news is that you can start learning how to code and how to work on different platforms from the comfort of your own home. Additionally, if you already have another job, you can schedule your learning to take place during the evenings or the weekends. The bottom line is that you don't have to jump with both feet; you can dip your toes in first and see whether you like the water.
Michelle Laurey works as a VA for small businesses. She loves talking business, and productivity, and share her experience with others. Outside her keyboard, she spends time with her Kindle library or binge-watching Billions. Her superpower? Vinyasa flow! Talk to her on Twitter @michelle_laurey.
