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What does an ASP.NET developer do?

An ASP.NET developer uses the ASP.NET framework developed by Microsoft to create apps and services for clients. ASP.NET is particularly well integrated into Microsoft products and services, so often clients running apps of Microsoft server hardware or software such as IIS or Microsoft Azure will look for ASP.NET developers to build and run software on these services.

An ASP.NET developer uses the ASP.NET framework to build MVC apps that can be used to build websites, RESTful services, API endpoints, and much more. The consistent MVC approach toward software built using ASP.NET means that it’s much easier for new developers to familiarize themselves with existing software when they are added to a project.

What skills do I need to become an ASP.NET developer?

An ASP.NET developer will need to learn how to develop software using the ASP.NET framework. This means understanding computer programming language concepts in general, as well as how to optimize the use of specific Microsoft services that support ASP.NET, such as Microsoft Azure. Very often teams developing ASP.NET apps also use other services provided by Microsoft to build and test the apps. Below is a guide to what a newcomer to ASP.NET development would need to understand to become an ASP.NET developer.

Learn the toolset

The first thing an ASP.NET developer must do is familiarize themselves with common development environments. Many ASP.NET developers choose to use Visual Studio as an IDE (integrated development environment) and host their apps on Microsoft Azure. Every ASP.NET developer should have at least some experience using common services consumed as part of developing and hosting ASP.NET apps.

Learn the language

ASP.NET is a framework developed by Microsoft. Developers who wish to build websites and apps using the ASP.NET framework will need knowledge of .NET Core, C#, SQL, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Learn ASP.NET MVC 5

ASP.NET MVC 5 is a web framework provided by Microsoft that is commonly used by ASP.NET developers to build and maintain websites and web apps. This framework is so commonly used in the ASP.NET core community that virtually every ASP.NET developer should have experience working with ASP.NET MVC 5. More-experienced developers can make better use of the tools provided by the framework to develop services for clients more competitively.

What are the core ASP.NET developer job responsibilities?

ASP.NET developers will be expected to build and maintain apps written using ASP.NET. This may include writing software from scratch, or it may mean developing for existing software, which could include developing new features, altering existing ones, or finding and fixing bugs.

An ASP.NET developer should be intimately familiar with the ASP.NET framework and MVC app structure. Due to the consistent structure provided by the framework, it is relatively easy for newer developers to learn the code for a new project.

An ASP.NET developer will typically be expected to be familiar with all stages of software development, including architecting new applications, creating and consuming API services, testing existing software, and deploying apps. ASP.NET developers will also be expected to be familiar with the related tools and services commonly consumed at each of these stages.

Should I get an ASP.NET developer certification?

In addition to developing your skills, obtaining a professional certification can help your Upwork profile stand out. Microsoft offers a number of role-based certifications that enable a developer to demonstrate their proficiency with a range of tools and services covering the use of Microsoft services, as well as general web development concepts. Some relevant certifications for ASP.NET developers include:

• Exam 98-361: Software Development Fundamentals
• Exam 98-382: Introduction to Programming Using JavaScript
• Exam 70-486: Developing ASP.NET MVC Web Applications

The value of these certifications depends very much on the individual client. Larger enterprise clients may look to certifications when making decisions about inexperienced developers. Very often, however, an impressive portfolio or GitHub profile with projects that demonstrate programming competency is preferable.