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  • February 17, 2021
  • Gareth Morris

Key skills all .NET developers need to have

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.NET developers are universally in demand, especially in the current job market, as technology companies have dominated the top four global brand ranking positions in the last four years. This auspicious list includes Microsoft from which .NET was born.

.NET is Microsoft’s framework from which the official Microsoft ASP.NET site was built upon. It supports more than 30 programming languages — the main ones include C#, Python, Visual Basic and F#, with which .NET developers create apps, web, mobile and games, primarily for Windows (although the invention of .NET Core allows for apps that run on Windows, MacOS and Linux).

The demand for the niche and invaluable skills that .NET developers offer will only increase in the coming years, as software application developers are one of the top 15 jobs expected to grow most by 2024. During this age of innovation, developers need to keep up with the essential skills they need to prosper in this role, which continue to evolve as the years go by.

General duties of a .NET developer role include producing code using .NET languages, providing technical support for web, mobile and desktop applications, as well as upgrading, debugging and configuring existing systems.

Breaking into the world of technical development involves plenty of training and experience in .NET or application development, on top of a BA/BSc in computer science, engineering or a related field. Many developers complete bootcamps and internships to further round out their skillsets and develop proven experience in order to be appealing to employers.

With this in mind, let’s dissect the key skills needed in 2019 to succeed in the world of .NET development.

Soft skills

As a reputable .NET developer, you need to maintain a hearty set of soft skills which aren’t formally taught, but are equally as essential to propelling your career as technical ability is. One of the critical soft skills for a successful .NET developer career is time management. As you will be working across a range of projects and on a variety of tasks that demand your attention, the ability to prioritise and organise your time is essential. Clever self-management will lead to an increase in productivity and greater career success.

One of the most desired traits for software developers amongst employers is problem-solving. Hand in hand with creativity, this is essential for a .NET developer to refine, since much of the working day will be spent debugging and providing solutions to complicated issues. Analysing situations with an open mind and from many perspectives will allow you to utilise this skill, and give you greater potential to resolve issues effectively.

Furthermore, .NET developer roles are a great match for those with an inquisitive and curious nature. In this job, you will often be creating entirely new and innovating design concepts, so it’s beneficial to be learning around the .NET landscape constantly.

On a long list of soft skills a .NET developer would find valuable to invest in, communication is a big contender. It’s extremely important for you to be able to communicate effectively, as you will be liaising with other developers to complete your projects. Providing updates and interacting regularly will allow you to stay on track and complete your projects in a timely manner. In addition, you should also be able to succinctly communicate technical information to other team members and clients, who may not have a technological background.  

Technical skills

As you might expect, this job will entail a deep and thorough understanding of .NET languages. While it’s not crucial to know all of them, it’s beneficial to familiarise yourself with the main languages you will be working with — which are likely to be C# and Visual Basic. The results from a report show that the most in-demand programming languages include JavaScript (48.8%), C# (37.4%), SQL (34.2%) and Python (33.9%) —which has been steadily increasing in popularity due to its role in machine learning and AI technologies.   

Depending on which applications you are creating, you will require expertise in different .NET sectors, such as ASP.NET which is useful for creating browser-based websites and web applications, Xamarin for mobile apps, WFP for Windows-based computer apps, or C++ for AI-based apps or Unreal Engine games. They all deploy C# which makes up the programming logic of an application.

In your role, you will often find yourself using your technical skills, not only to create new programmes but also efficient debugging methods. To prosper as a .NET developer in the modern age, you will also need familiarity of the ASP.NET framework, agile methodologies, SQL server and software architectural patterns (e.g. Model-View-Controller) and Microsoft Azure.

Search for your next role

At Evolution Recruitment Solutions, we match the best candidates with the most exciting, upcoming IT jobs. We’re on the lookout for talented .NET developers to join us in a variety of offices worldwide including the UK, Germany and Sydney. Get in contact with us today to see how we can help you or search and apply for your next IT job with us here.


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