Muse.On-The.Net

Mobile games are projected at over $1 billion in revenue or roughly 5% the size of the standard video game industry. Clearly mobile isn’t just for fun - it’s business. What does it take to join the ranks? What are the top companies looking for? Read on.

Key Qualities

Assuming you have the skills, what separates candidates is their ability to project confidence and competence, demonstrate leadership and initiative, showcase abundant domain knowledge and above all exude passion for mobile games. In the final analysis, few people have the ability to create a truly wonderful game. Can you teach talent? Companies are looking for individuals who rise above and deliver more. Don’t think of this as a job but as an endeavor. It isn’t for everyone.

Experience Versus Potential

Based upon the above, you can see that experience is not sufficient. There is wide demand for new grads who have the qualities outlined above. Excellence plus experience, however, is impossible to beat. Proven success opens all doors, and fundamentally there is a shortage of quality talent available. The difficult working conditions at many companies mean that there is always work available for experienced staff able to perform.

Getting Noticed

High profile trade shows are an excellent way to catch the eye of major companies looking to hire (and major companies are always looking to hire). Be proactive and seek out companies you are interested in. Be clear about the type of work you are interested in - this saves everyone time and energy and gets your resume and materials into the right hands quickly. Examples of work are necessary to rise above - be that artwork or code. A demo mobile phone game is certainly an eye-opener, so make sure it showcases your talents; poor design, weak graphics, or sloppy finishing will not do, and will eliminate your chances immediately.

The Final Verdict

Be yourself and be honest. Don’t over inflate your credentials (good companies check) but do state your talents, interests, and passions. The best hires are the ones who wants the job because they’d do it anyway as a hobby if they weren’t being paid for it. Know what you want and go for it!