When we apply for a job, the whole process is full of obstacles. First, we need to find a vacancy that suits our needs, then we have to learn how to write a killer cover letter and an appealing resume. Lastly, if everything turns out as you hoped, the most dreaded moment comes… the job interview!
But does it really have to be that scary?
The best way to nail any job interview is to start looking at it as a great opportunity instead of a stressful situation. And with some preparation, that might be way easier than you think.
So, I’ve decided to share some tips that will help you to ace an interview for an application developer position. Moreover, we’re going to take a look at the most frequent Applications Developer Interview Questions.
So, let’s get to it…
What Does an Applications Developer Do?
Application developers are in high demand and many people decide to pursue this career attracted by the endless possibilities that the market will offer for the foreseeable future. A job interview for an applications developer position can be highly competitive due to the high number of applications that the employer receives.
The most basic question that the recruiters will use to evaluate a candidate is “What are your responsibilities as an application developer?”. It’s surprising how many aspiring app developers don’t know how to answer correctly.
Here’s a broad overview of your duties:
- Meeting with the client to fully understand his needs
- Developing prototypes that fulfill the client specifications
- Creating the demo version of the app by using different programming languages and software
- Testing the app and fixing eventual bugs
- Writing technical documentation related to the code and the design of the application
- Writing user’s manual
- Modifying existing apps according to the client needs
- Keeping himself up to date with technology changes and app design trends
Are you comfortable with performing all these tasks? If that’s the case, you already are a great candidate. But what about the requirements?
Career Requirements
The requirements for an app developer might vary depending on the employer. However, they can generally be divided into three main categories: education, hard skills, and soft skills. Expect the recruiters to ask you questions about any of these topics.
Education
Do you need a bachelor’s degree to work as an application developer? The simple answer is no, and as long as you have the technical knowledge and you know how to use it effectively, you can be completely self-taught.
However, a bachelor’s degree in computer programming or any relevant field will give you a competitive edge over the other candidates. This is especially true when you’re starting out and you don’t have a solid portfolio to show your abilities. Keep in mind that some top jobs might even require a master’s degree, but this is the exception, not the rule.
Hard Skills
Your skills are what will ultimately influence the decision of the recruiters. Hard skills relate to your technical knowledge, which is everything you’ve learned at university, technical schools, or online.
These are the main hard skills that an employer looks for:
- Extensive knowledge of the main programming languages such as Java and Objective-C
- UI/UX Programming and designing skills
- Working knowledge of clouds infrastructures
- Proficiency in using security tools
- Writing abilities
Soft Skills
Soft skills instead are more relevant to your personality and they influence your interpersonal abilities and your capacity to achieve a task.
What are the soft skills that any app developer should have?
- Verbal and written communication
- Analytical skills
- Time management
- Creativity
- Attention to detail
- Active listening
- Problem-solving
How To Get Ready for The Interview?
Now that you’re aware of all the qualifications, skills, and responsibilities that the recruiters will try to assess, it’s time to get ready for the interview. There are three crucial steps that you should take to make sure you’re fully prepared.
Research the company
Do you have a general understanding of the company you’re applying for? If the answer is no, you might be in trouble when they ask you why you want to work there. Moreover, some companies are so specialized in a specific type of app development that there is no point in spending any time reviewing any other topic than that.
Read the job listing
Many people spend a bit of time reviewing the job posting when they write their cover letter, but after that, they completely forget about it.
This is a mistake because the job posting always comes with a detailed list of duties and requirements. While many of them will be the same that you can find in this article, some others might be different. As a rule of thumb, you will not get any questions about skills or responsibilities that are not listed in the job advertisement.
Prepare your answers
By combining your research and the guidelines that I’m sharing with you, you can write down a reliable list of topics that you will have to talk about during the interview. Use them to predict what questions you will get and practice your answers to any of those questions.
Try to include in any answer one or two of your best skills, providing practical examples of situations where you had to use them. Don’t forget to highlight your positive results and to emphasize how your expertise will be beneficial for the company.
The Most Common Applications Developer Interview Questions
The following frequently asked questions should be your starting point. As you practice them, use them as clues to come up with similar questions related to any other topics that we’ve talked about. Once you can comfortably answer all of them, you’ll be ready for the interview!
What is your favorite programming language for IOS applications?
With this question, the recruiter will test your technical knowledge. You’re expected to tell them not only which language you prefer to use, but most importantly why. If the reason is that you only know one programming language, it will not work to your advantage.
Knowing multiple programming languages and being able to choose the best one according to the necessity will make you stand out from the other applicants.
You finished your demo and the app keeps crashing. The release date is coming close. What would you do?
An application developer has to deal with the unexpected every day and his ability to resolve a tricky situation is what makes a huge difference. This kind of question will assess both your hard and soft skills. Firstly, you have to describe how you would try to fix the problem by running the appropriate tests and modifying the app according to what you find out.
Secondly, your communication skills come into play. How would you explain to the client that you might have to push back the release?
Tell us about a time where a client wasn’t satisfied with an application?
This question is all about your soft skills and how well you can deal with a disappointed client. The focus of your answer shouldn’t be on the problem, but on how effectively you’ve been able to find a solution.
Don’t forget to mention the lesson that you’ve learned from that experience.
How would you explain to a client the different challenges you face when developing a web or a mobile application?
Many times you’ll have to discuss complex concepts with clients that won’t understand your technical terminology. This can cause miscommunication issues that can lead to the situation that we’ve seen in the previous question. Your ability to explain with simple words in any aspect of your job is key to be sure that you fully understand the client’s needs.
Why should we hire you?
This is your time to show off your best qualities and to prove to the recruiters how much the company will benefit from hiring you.
While replying to this question, keep in mind the golden rule for any job interview: keep your answers strictly relevant to the job! Don’t waste your time talking about skills that are not a requirement for that specific position, and focus on practical examples that can prove how successful you are in your job.
Don’t repeat your resume…
Avoid talking about something that they already know. For example, your education or certifications are already on your resume and the recruiters don’t want to hear about them again.
Other popular questions that require a similar answer are: ” What’s your biggest strength?”, “What’s your biggest accomplishment?”, or ” What makes you stand out from the other candidates?”.
Looking For More Interview Questions And Answers?
Well look no further, here are some additional questions such as How to Answer What is Your Greatest Strength, What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment, Answer Why Best Candidate Position, How Do You Handle Stress or What Makes You Unique?
To give you a more in-depth guide of what this job entails, check out my Application Developer Job Description. But if you’re looking to expand your horizons, what about the Computer Programmer Job Description, Web Developer Job Description, or perhaps my Software Developer Job Description in 2023.
Lastly, if you want to do some extra research or studying, I suggest you read the Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) Study Guide, CICS Basic Training for Application Developers, or maybe the DB2 11.1 for LUW with C Language for Application Developers to help you stand out.
Final Thoughts
At an application developer job interview, there is no room for improvisation. The applicant that will get the job is the one that not only meets all the requirements but also has done the necessary preparation and knows how to show his qualities to the recruiters.
A crucial step of this process is being able to predict the most popular interview questions. If you want to increase your chances of being offered the position, invest a few days before the interview to prepare and practice your answers.
All the best with your Interview!
