SYNOPSIS
An Application Developer,
also known as a programmer, software developer, junior to intermediate software
engineer, web developer or intermediate systems analyst, is an IT professional
who creates programs that run either on the web, on a particular operating
system, or on a dedicated device, such as a kiosk, industrial equipment, or a
hand held recording unit.
Duties of an application
developer typically include specifying a product, designing a system to meet
the specifications, coding the product, testing the product and maintaining it.
The idea of a techie coding away in the computer room all alone and all day
long, is mostly a thing of the past. With the complexity of modern systems as
well as with the prevalence of disparate technical teams, top notch interpersonal
skills are required. Although actual programming is still the bread and butter
of this job role, of significant importance is the ability to deal with phone, electronic
and face to face meetings, as well as the skills to efficiently and effectively
handle ongoing documentations needs.
A person may consider
entering this field after attaining a Computer Science or Computer Engineering
university degree or a one or two year computer diploma from a local technical
institute. However, some application developers are quite proficient without
this recommended educational background. In any event, some mathematical savvy,
an artistic bent, attention to detail, understanding of basic business needs,
and strong problem solving skills are all indications of future success in this
job role.
An application developer, as
he or she gains experience, generally achieves more and more importance and prestige
in his or her firm. Getting the right mix of training and hands on experience
will accelerate the career growth of an application developer. As time passes,
the application developer will either continue to specialize in one or a few
technical tools and procedures or will move more into a management role, such
as a lead developer, systems engineer or project manager. The best application
developers usually have a strong say when they reach this fork in their career.
Salary information is so
dependent on an IT professional’s particular skill set, experience and geographic
location. However, talented application developers can attain salaries around
$75,000 USD.  |
