As of just last year alone – 2022 – Windows runs on 1.6 billion active devices, accounting for around 28.79% of the global operating system market share. 

Microsoft, as the owner of Windows, has a special program for developers and programmers through which these specialists can work eidirectly for Microsoft or r organizations that require such development. 

If you are wondering what a Microsoft developer does, their responsibilities and required skills, and where to find this talent, you’ve come to the right place. 

What is a Microsoft developer?

As information technology (IT) specialists, Microsoft developers specialize broadly either in developing software apps or operating systems. Similar to other developer roles, a Microsoft developer will do some of the following things:

• Ideation
• Design
• Write code/Development
• Use source control
• Do testing
• Note potential problems
• Deployment of various aspects of the code
• Maintenance checks, and
• Reporting.

What sets a Microsoft developer apart, however, is the fact that you are extending or building onto Microsoft 365 products and improving their capabilities. Alternatively, these developers create “links” between different Microsoft 365 products so that they can “talk” to one another. 

This differs from other developers who typically have a stack of technologies to build a website or app from scratch. In addition, a Microsoft developer will earn their certification directly through Microsoft and specialize in developing Microsoft software. 

Software engineers can usually be placed into two categories:  either applications software developers or systems software developers. 

With regard to the former, these specialists create software such as word processing and spreadsheet programs. Meanwhile, the latter create the software operating systems.  

What a Microsoft developer needs to know

Of course, being one of the world’s leading operating systems, there is highly technical knowledge that a Microsoft developer needs to know inside and out. For example, some of the knowledge base includes:

• Object-oriented programming
• Functional programming
• Database knowledge
• Understanding hardware and networks
• The basics of version control systems

For those who aren’t sure of what each of these terms means, hang tight because we will touch upon each of these in the section below. 

Responsibilities of a Microsoft developer

Some of the most common responsibilities of a Microsoft developer include working closely with program managers and product managers. 

As part of their work, they build software solutions that serve a functional purpose. Some of the main responsibilities of a Microsoft developer will include:

• Working within a team setting to deliver software to a deadline that follows internal and industry practices.
• Applying engineering principles, to solve complex problems through creative engineering solutions.
• Learn and adopt new technologies, tools, methods, and processes.

Required Microsoft developer skills: Soft and technical

Wondering what are the skills that are needed to be a Microsoft developer? Although there is little professional guidance in this regard, there are both soft and technical skills that you should possess to ensure that your tasks and job are a success. 

For example, apart from a certified qualification and previous experience being considered major assets, you will also need to be able to demonstrate some of the following soft skills:

• Problem-solving
• Detail-oriented
• Technology skills
• Computer programming
• Interpersonal
• Communication
• Analytical skills
• Creativity

As for the practical or technical side of things, as a Microsoft developer, you need to also be able to deliver in terms of the following:

• Functional programming: getting the basics right is the first step toward success.

• Object-oriented programming: this is relevant for business, mobile, educational, and other applications. This requires using programming language and design patterns, which can be communicated to other developers. 

• Control systems: the basics of version control systems are a must for any Microsoft developer because they are widely used and they are essential for strong and successful team collaboration.

• Database knowledge: databases are where information of computer apps is stored. Although you do not need to master all types of database knowledge, being able to know what they do and how they are used will be beneficial to you. This will enable you to create basic queries to retrieve information from such databases. 

• Understanding hardware and networks: the reason behind this is that there are differences when it comes to accessing the hardware of RAM, hard drives, or even cache memory. 

In conclusion

When it comes to Microsoft development, you need to be at the top of your game to compete effectively within the field and to ensure that you create accurate Microsoft software and apps that meet industry standards. 

And if you are an organization looking for your next Microsoft developer talent, you’re in luck because our Experts hub gives you access to a broad range of professionals with a rich array of skills to help ensure that your tasks and requirements are fully met. 

If you have any questions about or require assistance with any of the Microsoft developer professionals we have in our database, feel free to reach out to us. We are more than happy to be of service to you!