App developer

Computing Technology and Digital Career Profiles from The CV Writer - Creating Brand YOU - #creatingbrandYOU

App designer, mobile app developer, application developer

App developers design and build mobile applications for PCs, mobile phones and tablets.

Salary Range: £21,000 to £55,000

The CV Writer, helping you write a CV, guiding you to a career.

How to become an app developer

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • a graduate training scheme
The CV Writer, helping you write a CV, guiding you to a career.

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

  • computer science
  • software engineering
  • computer applications development
  • mathematics
  • financial technology

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More information

The CV Writer, helping you write a CV, guiding you to a career.

Apprenticeship

You can complete a software developer higher apprenticeship.

You may be able to do a creative digital design professional degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you’ll find it useful to have:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More information

The CV Writer, helping you write a CV, guiding you to a career.

Other routes

You may be able to apply for a place on a graduate training scheme with an IT company if you have a degree. These are often open to non-IT graduates as well as those with a computing qualification, where you start as a junior developer and get training on the job.

More information

Career tips

You can build up your skills and knowledge using free online learning resources for programming languages and apps development.

You’ll also find it useful to have an understanding of Agile project development methods.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join The Chartered Institute for IT and the Institution of Analysts and Programmers, for professional development and training opportunities.

Further information

You can find out more about working and training in computing from Tech Future Careers and Bubble Digital Career Portal.

The CV Writer, helping you write a CV, guiding you to a career.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You’ll need:

  • maths knowledge for understanding programming
  • the ability to write computer programs
  • analytical thinking skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
  • knowledge of systems analysis and development
  • complex problem-solving skills
  • persistence and determination
  • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
The CV Writer, helping you write a CV, guiding you to a career.

What you’ll do

Day-to-day tasks

You may:

  • develop new apps or create ‘mobile-friendly’ versions of websites
  • work with other developers, designers and copywriters
  • design prototypes to suit client needs
  • write or amend computer code
  • test software, find faults and fix problems
  • write accurate notes about the development process
  • keep up to date with new technology trends and tools

Working environment

You could work in an office or at a client’s business.

The CV Writer, helping you write a CV, guiding you to a career.

Career path and progression

You could move into systems analysis, or be promoted to a senior app developer or applications project manager.

You could also become self-employed, offering your services through contracting in most areas of the economy, for example business, finance, cyber security, telecommunications and healthcare.

previous page