Written by Pat Enriquez
For many beginners, getting a job as an iOS developer is the ultimate goal. But getting your foot in the door is often more challenging than you think.
With tough competition, and oftentimes, companies looking for more experienced developers, getting your first iOS job is no easy feat. This is why it’s crucial to prepare and know how you can make yourself and your skills stand out, and land that sweet job.
After learning the fundamentals, working on your first few projects, and getting more comfortable coding from scratch, here are 5 things you can do to land your first iOS job.
Find a company you want to work for
Research companies and go with one that is the best fit for you and offers a position you think you will stick to for at least a year or two. As it is your first job, it is understandable that you’re still testing the waters and have no idea what exactly you want in the next 5 years.
But you want to make sure that the experience you’ll get from the first company you’re working for will eventually help you gain more skills and experience to further your career.
Polish your portfolio
The next step is polishing your portfolio by showing off sample projects you’ve completed.
Sample projects show your ability and understanding of the app you are working on which serves as the perfect opportunity to get creative and explore different technologies. These also prove that you don’t only know how to follow a tutorial, but are able to hone your skills and work on more complex projects.
Be active in the community
Building a network around fellow devs is opening the door to more opportunities. Attend meet-ups to get to know other developers and chat with leading iOS developers and learn from their experiences. Conferences are a great way to stay connected and be more updated with the latest industry trends and news.
Make a daily routine
The need to learn never stops even when you get the role, so never stop learning. Having a routine will help you stay on track with your ultimate goal while honing your skills and learning new ones, polishing your portfolio, and applying for jobs.
Get ready for the interview
How you handle the interview will say a lot about whether a company will hire you or not.
Aside from answering interview questions, this is also the best time to showcase your portfolio so make sure you know the ins and outs of your projects to let the interviewer know you are knowledgeable about certain technical concepts and features.
You will be asked a series of questions to test your knowledge about the position you are applying for, your experience, and your overall knowledge of the industry. Research the most frequently asked questions on iOS dev interviews to have an idea of what you should know on the day of your interview.
When you have questions you can’t answer, take note of it, and learn them after the interview. The more interviews you get into, the better your interview skills develop so don’t lose hope if you don’t get an offer right away!
If you aren’t confident enough to take that big step, you can continue honing your skills or mastering more iOS dev technologies by joining CWC+ or watching free tutorials on our CodeWithChris YouTube Channel.