Android has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments in the IT industry with a huge demand for Android developers. It is a field that thrives on the creativity and innovation of the developers rather than their degree and certifications. Perhaps this is the reason Google has teams in which 14% of the people never went to college. It’s entirely possible to have a successful long-term career as an Android developer even if you don’t hold any degree. However, there are certain traits you need to possess to grow in this field. Let’s take a look how you can learn Android programming step by step and thrive in the long run:
Passion for problem-solving and programming
Programming is all about solving problems through technology. You must be passionate about the programming. Android programming requires intense focus and dedication. Unless you’re aptly able to concentrate on the task at hand, you will find programming a highly complex and challenging field. Hence, zeal, perseverance, determination, and dedication play critical roles in learning Android programming and for becoming a successful developer. It’s your attitude which is the most important prerequisite towards learning Android programming and also making a successful career in this field. Recruiters in this domain will give more preference to your attitude and passion than your degree and certifications.
Focus on identifying and learning relevant practices
The field of technology is vast, and the pace at which changes take place is brisk. Thus, it is necessary that you identify and learn the most relevant and in-vogue practices to succeed in this field. It also means that learning is an unending process and to avoid obsolescence, you need to keep updating your knowledge and skills. Relevant is the most crucial word here as it makes absolutely no sense in wasting your time and efforts to learn skills and practices that are no longer needed or are low-paying. Instead, channelize your efforts in the right directions. There are numerous online resources you can use to identify the current trends and practices. One of the top online sources to learn is GogoTraining that offers extremely well-curated tutorials that cover the most recent developments in Android development. Whether you are a seasoned Android programmer or just starting out, such courses can add great value to your skill repertoire. So, learning Android programming from the right source is the second crucial step in this process.
Learn from peers
Once you have inculcated the right attitude to learn Android programming and subsequently learn it from the online sources, the next thing is to practice and learn from peers. Participate in Android communities and forums, and offer to help other community members with your skills. It will give you the confidence of working on real projects as well as will help you learn new skills and about the latest practices. Not only can you hone your programming skills but also learn other aspects related to it such as documentation, testing, installations, etc. which will improve your employability.
Search jobs or freelancing opportunities that help you learn
Forums and communities can help you learn immensely, and you should keep participating them. But, you also need to earn, which is the main reason behind learning Android programming. However, do not settle even for a high paying job if it requires you to work on mundane and repetitive functions. Instead, search for a job, even if it’s low paying but allows a great scope to learn. There is, however, a caveat here. It is entirely possible that without a degree you might not get the right job you’re looking for at the beginning of your career as the employers might be wary of hiring someone with no degrees or professional experience. In such a case, freelancing is an excellent alternative, something which can be more fruitful than a full-time job. Several programmers and professionals in other fields prefer freelancing over regular jobs since it allows them more flexibility and control. You may also consider full-time freelance Android development as it will let you use your creativity and innovation, which might not be possible in a job.
These are the four key steps to becoming an efficient and successful Android developer without a degree. But remember – a degree or no degree, to sustain you need to keep learning. There’s no alternative!