Learning technical skills in iOS development is a given. But another crucial aspect of your career is honing the soft skills that will help you be better at working with others and creating relationships with fellow developers.
What’s common in these soft skills is the way they focus on nourishing your interpersonal skills and improving how you interact with the people you’ll be working with.
Coachability
No matter how good you think you are, it’s important to keep in mind that everyone can learn something new. As such, you must be receptive to criticism and feedback and have the ability to apply that feedback to help you improve your skills.
Being resourceful
Being resourceful as an iOS developer — or any kind of developer for that matter, means knowing how to find solutions when faced with challenges. It helps not just in problem-solving but also contributes to your learning and becoming more self-reliant and an effective team member.
One example of resourcefulness is doing your own research. When you face an issue on a project, you can try and do your own research to find out the best way to solve it. The good thing is that there are lots of available resources online so doing research will not be as difficult.
In a workplace setting, asking people questions is also another example of showing resourcefulness. As a team member, it’s okay to ask questions or help when you need it especially when you’re new to the team and you’re still navigating your way through their processes.
Being good at communication
As a professional iOS developer, you are most likely to be working with a team. This means it is essential to be good at communication to be able to work harmoniously with your colleagues. Effective communication entails the ability to identify potential issues and establish clear expectations within the team so everyone is on the same page and knows what to expect from each other. You should be comfortable with:
- Raising red flags – identify potential issues as early as possible and lessen the possibility of major problems in your project.
- Setting expectations with your team members – define roles and responsibilities so that everyone on the team understands what is required and expected about the project.
Being a team player
A team player is someone who actively participates in a collaborative environment to achieve common goals and complete projects successfully.
One aspect of being a team player include helping fellow developers. Knowing how to work with others and fostering a collaborative atmosphere where everyone can openly share their knowledge, ask for assistance, and solve problems is crucial for a successful project and working environment.
Another aspect is being able to document your code properly, as it helps improve code quality, facilitates collaboration, and ensures the long-term maintainability and success of your projects. It saves time, helps reduce errors, and enhances the overall development process.
In some bigger teams, another factor that also entails being a team player is following a company’s style guide for consistency, maintainability, efficiency, and overall quality of your work. It also ensures compliance with platform requirements and contributes to a professional and user-friendly mobile application.
Understanding limitations
Knowing what you know and don’t know, being open to feedback, and asking for help is essential for personal and professional growth, effective collaboration, and delivering high-quality work. These qualities demonstrate humility, a commitment to excellence, and a willingness to contribute to the success of your projects and the team.
When you’re given feedback about your work, you shouldn’t take it personally. Understand that being able to accept feedback helps you improve your skills and how you work with others.
In the same vein, you should also be comfortable with asking others for help when you need it. It’s a way to learn something new and develop good relationships with your teammates.