As a junior developer, you’ve likely built small projects to showcase your skills, and that’s a great start. But how do you stand out with so many developers doing the same? One of the best ways to set yourself apart is by building and publishing your own app. It’s not just about writing code—it’s about demonstrating that you can deliver a complete product from concept to deployment. Here’s why building your app can make a huge difference in your career.
1. Real-World Skills: Going Beyond Projects
Having an app in a store isn’t just about showing your technical skills—it’s about demonstrating that you understand the entire development cycle. You’ll have experience in everything from planning and execution to testing and deployment. In interviews, tech leaders seek candidates who can see the big picture—developers who can move beyond writing code and think about product delivery.
When you’ve built and published an app, you can speak to critical experiences, like handling feature prioritisation, which is invaluable in the workplace. You’ve learned how to manage timelines, ship a product, and maintain code under real-world pressures, which sets you apart.
2. The Value of Iterative Development & MVP Planning
When you build an app, the hardest part is usually focusing on the MVP. This teaches you to prioritise essential features and break down your product into manageable, deliverable stages. Many developers get carried away with all the features they want, but by practising restraint and focusing on what truly adds value, you learn an essential skill for working in agile teams.
In interviews, explaining how you navigated the MVP process, adapted to feedback, and iterated on your app will resonate deeply with hiring managers. It shows that you’re not only a coder but also someone who can deliver practical solutions.
3. Impress Recruiters: What Sets You Apart?
Interviewers are not just looking for someone who can code—they want someone who can ship products. A published app means you’ve gone through the QA process, dealt with app store requirements, and managed updates or fixes post-launch. This shows perseverance and adaptability.
Having an app ready to demo during an interview gives you a unique advantage. You can point to a tangible product that demonstrates your skills in action. Instead of talking hypothetically, you show them real-world examples of your problem-solving and development abilities.
4. Learning Essential Tech Skills
Working on your app is the perfect opportunity to practice continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD). Integrating GitHub Actions to run tests and deploy to the app store automatically builds your confidence with modern development workflows.
The practice of Test-Driven Development (TDD) is crucial for writing clean, scalable code. Employers love to see a developer who knows the importance of tests, which cuts down on debugging and ensures code reliability. It would be great if you could talk about your process for writing unit tests.
5. Soft Skills Gained: A Hidden Gem
Building your app doesn’t just sharpen your coding skills—it also enhances your soft skills. Planning an app teaches you time management and how to set realistic goals. You’ll also face roadblocks, which will build your problem-solving skills and resilience. During an interview, demonstrating how you overcame obstacles will show that you’re adaptable and can work under pressure.
Conclusion
Building your app is more than a technical exercise—it’s a way to showcase your skills, resilience, and ability to deliver real-world solutions. From planning to deployment, each step brings you closer to being job-ready and gives you a competitive edge. By having an app published, you show employers you’re not just a developer but someone who can think strategically and solve problems creatively.