What are the best ways to gain mobile app development experience before starting your first job?

To gain mobile app development experience before your first job, start by choosing the right platform (iOS or Android) and programming language (Swift, Objective-C, Java, Kotlin). Alternatively, consider cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native. Your choice should align with your goals and app objectives.

Firstly,Select a mobile development platform (iOS, Android, or cross-platform) and a programming language (Swift for iOS, Kotlin/Java for Android, or frameworks like Flutter or React Native for cross-platform). This decision provides a focused starting point for your learning journey.

To gain mobile app development experience before your first job, select a platform (iOS/Android) and a language (Swift/Kotlin). Take online courses, build small projects, and engage with relevant communities. Join hackathons and contribute to open-source projects. Network through meetups and seek feedback to refine your skills. Create a portfolio for showcasing. Consider internships, freelancing, or personal projects for hands-on experience. Stay updated on industry trends. This proactive approach enhances your skills and marketability.

Don't pick the platforms and languages that are the most trendy, or have a hot job market as this is not a constant, and it won't matter in the future as something else will be the new hot topic. You're best off creating / following tutorials of different platforms and languages and picking whatever clicks with you the most. I tend to find some languages I can easily adopt and understand, where as some others it takes more mental effort. This isn't inherently because of the difference in difficulty, and this happens to everyone and everyone has different preferences.

Enroll in reputable online courses and tutorials. Platforms like Udacity, Coursera, and free resources like Codecademy offer structured learning paths, covering the fundamentals of mobile app development, UI/UX design, and industry best practices.

Maximize mobile development skills before your first job with online courses and tutorials. Choose a platform (iOS/Android) and language (Swift/Kotlin). Opt for comprehensive courses on platforms like Udemy or Coursera. Build projects alongside tutorials to apply concepts practically. Leverage resources like Apple's Swift Playgrounds or Google's Android Developer site for hands-on learning. Engage with relevant forums and communities, seeking advice and feedback. Explore projects on platforms like GitHub to enhance collaboration skills. Regularly update your knowledge as mobile development evolves. This proactive approach ensures a robust foundation and practical expertise, enhancing your readiness for a successful entry into the industry.

What I've learned from personal experience is that you should not do an entire online course. There's a certain stage in the course where everything after that stage has minimal returns on the time you're using to complete it. Problem Solving & Creative Thinking are the bread and butter of software development and you don't really get to utilise these following a course as you're just following someone else's steps. Because this isn't mentioned widely people believe unless they can recall every bit of syntax they aren't ready yet and it's not true. As a rule of thumb, follow 30-40% of the course and then get out there and make something you want to make, this will give you a better return on your time and confidence in your abilities.

Look for opportunities or problems that you can solve in your own life, what's the one thing that you wish existed as an app on your phone or anything that could be better? If you need a backend, you can use stuff like Firebase, Backendless, etc to concentrate on app development without worrying about learning backend technologies. Be the first user, use it extensively, learn the shortcomings and try to fix them. When confident, publish and invite friends and family to try the app. You'll learn more than you would expect and gain real experience.

Apply theoretical knowledge by actively developing your own mobile apps. This hands-on experience allows you to encounter real-world challenges, understand the app development lifecycle, and gain practical insights. Publishing your apps on app stores showcases your capabilities to potential employers.

To gain mobile app development experience before your first job, build and publish your own apps. Choose a platform (iOS/Android) and language (Swift/Kotlin). Start with simple projects, progressively increasing complexity. Document your process, code, and problem-solving approaches. Utilize version control systems like Git. Publish apps on platforms like the App Store or Google Play to showcase your skills. Embrace user feedback for continuous improvement. Engage with developer communities for insights and networking. This hands-on experience not only enhances technical proficiency but also demonstrates initiative and practical problem-solving, making you more attractive to potential employers.

I'd also add that you shouldn't make an app that's from a tutorial, or that's from someones list of projects they recommend to a new developer. Make something you're interested in, and if it solves a problem even better.

Para engajar na carreira de freelancer, é importante estar sempre atualizado e entender que seu trabalho sozinho é como o de uma empresa. Então, estabelecer metas, horários, entregas, estudos, meets e reuniões, projetos, designs é tudo com você.

Engage with open source mobile app projects on platforms like GitHub. Contributing to existing projects exposes you to collaborative development practices, helps you understand codebases, and allows you to learn from experienced developers while building a portfolio of contributions.

To gain mobile app development experience before your first job, contribute to open-source projects. Select projects aligned with your chosen platform (iOS/Android) and language (Swift/Kotlin). Start with smaller tasks, gradually tackling more complex issues. Engage with the project's community through discussions and forums, seeking guidance when needed. Leverage version control systems like Git for collaborative development. Actively participate in code reviews to refine your skills. This hands-on contribution not only builds practical experience but also showcases your ability to collaborate and adapt, making you a more appealing candidate when entering the workforce.

When you're learning by yourself you don't really know if you're making mistakes, or doing things the best way, or if your code is clean and maintainable. It's easy to believe 'my app works, so I can code' but there's more to it than that. You're in a silo as you know the code you've written so you can't judge readability and this information online is harder to come by than actual Syntax. Getting a mentor to review your code will help you solve this problem. A mentor can tell you if the code is clean and readable. He'll also tell you if you've created the app in ways that are considered best practice. For instance are you taking advantage of inheritance where it makes sense, factories, dependency injection, abstraction etc.

Actively seek feedback on your projects, whether through online communities, coding forums, or by connecting with experienced developers on platforms like LinkedIn. Mentorship from seasoned professionals can provide valuable insights, guidance, and networking opportunities, accelerating your learning curve and boosting your confidence as you enter the field.

To gain mobile app development experience before your first job, actively seek feedback and mentorship. Engage with online communities and share your work for constructive criticism. Participate in code reviews to refine your coding practices. Join mentorship programs or seek guidance from experienced developers to navigate challenges effectively. Embrace feedback as a tool for improvement and iterate on your projects based on recommendations. This proactive approach not only enhances your skills but also demonstrates your commitment to growth and collaboration, making you well-prepared for your entry into the professional development world.

You can also try to find good internships where you'll be given real work and good mentors to help gain some useful experience.