Many have started their search for remote jobs in the tech industry since work-from-home set-ups gained popularity. With mobile development booming in the world of tech, a surge of remote developer jobs has popped up. There is only a low supply of skilled mobile developers, which resulted in the surging demand for them. Whether you’re a newbie looking for a career shift to the tech industry or an experienced developer who wants to try something new, you can’t go wrong with mobile development. 

What Is A Remote Mobile Developer?

As a mobile developer, you’re involved in all stages of mobile application development. That means you create, update, and test all mobile applications that are in development. On top of that, you must ensure that your mobile applications have a high level of security. 

It’s a type of job that doesn’t necessarily require you to work on-site. Hence, there are many remote mobile developer jobs available. Even if mobile developers create applications for smartphones and tablets, the actual development process is done on a computer. 

How Do You Become A Remote Mobile Developer?

We know there’s one big question on your mind: how do I become a remote mobile developer? You might be surprised to find out that there are various paths you can take to become one. You can opt to pursue a degree or attend a bootcamp. And in terms of operating systems, you can become a remote iOS developer or Android developer. Still, there’s so much more ground to cover before embarking on your journey to becoming a remote mobile developer. Here’s how: 

Pick The Learning Path For You

There are multiple paths you can take to become a remote mobile developer. Others graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, while some are self-taught. While the former is generally preferred in the industry, many have made their mark by simply making use of online resources. Another option is attending a coding boot camp, which usually lasts a few months. The boot camp can be helpful for those making a career change in the tech industry. You’ll be given projects to work on which you can include in your budding portfolio. 

Practice, Practice, Practice

Here’s a secret to become a better mobile developer: practice. That’s it! The only way to become a stellar mobile developer is by creating mobile apps. The theory isn’t enough – it matters just as much to apply everything you learned in practice. Not to mention, your practice outputs can be used in your professional portfolio too! It’s the perfect way to show employers that you have what it takes to code. 

Choose Your Operating System

There are two major operating systems in mobile phones: iOS and Android. As a mobile developer, you might be tasked to develop an application for one operating system or even both. For beginners and experts alike, however, developing apps on iOS is far easier than developing for Android. It typically requires less time for development, with the added benefit of lower maintenance costs. 

Take note that these two operating systems require different programming languages. iOS requires proficiency in Swift, a programming language that is specifically designed for Apple products. Meanwhile, the Android operating system relies on Java and Kotlin. Kotlin is a programming language that’s almost exclusively used in Android OS. The other programming language used in Android is Java, which has been around for decades. A main advantage of learning Java is that it doesn’t place you inside the box of the Android operating system. You’ll have multiple options to grow your career when you master Java. But if you want to truly shine as a mobile developer, it helps to be adept in all these programming languages. Many companies are eager to expand their reach and prefer having mobile applications compatible with all operating systems. Don’t limit yourself by only learning one. It pays to learn all the relevant languages in these operating systems if you want to take your career to the next level.

Look For Remote Work

Becoming a remote mobile developer starts with one simple step  – look for remote jobs! During your job search, that means you should filter out all on-site jobs. A great benefit of becoming a mobile developer is that it doesn’t always require you to work on-site. Make use of the advantage of working remotely – especially if you want to avoid rush-hour traffic going to work. Although strictly looking for remote work may limit your options, the demand for mobile developers is still at an all-time high. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find the right job for you provided that you have the necessary skill set to succeed.  

Don’t Forget The Soft Skills

Yes, a career in tech is well, obviously technical. But that doesn’t mean that you should neglect the soft skills that come with becoming a mobile developer. And if you didn’t know yet, they’re factors to consider when hiring a mobile developer. You’ll find yourself often working with teams in a remote set-up, so you should be comfortable with working in groups. Being an effective communicator too can help you and your team accomplish your tasks more efficiently.  When working virtually, communication works a little bit differently than it would when communicating in person. Hone your communication skills by using clear and concise language when delivering your messages. And most importantly, listen with intent. After all, communication is a two-way street. 

Final Word

Your journey to becoming a remote mobile developer won’t always be smooth-sailing. You might encounter a few hiccups here and there, but as long as you have the grit to survive in the tech industry, becoming a developer is surely attainable. Many have already found their calling in the tech industry working as mobile developers – who knows, you might be next!