Five Secrets to Landing your Dream Job in the Mobile Industry

With a growing reliance on mobile devices in our daily lives, more job opportunities open up as the industry grows. Job seekers may be lured by careers in the mobile field and as such may be equally as excited as they are intimidated by the ever-changing technology space. For candidates who are newly entering the tech field or switching paths mid-career, here are some tips for acquiring the skills and readiness that set you apart from other job-seekers and make you attractive to the hiring organization.

Five strategic moves to land your dream job in mobile:

1. Understand the key debates and hot topics happening within the industry today. Whether it's the future of the wearables market, the rise in popularity of devices such as "phablets", the efficacy of native ads, mobile advertising, the advancements in location-based (LBS) technology or the return of Flappy Bird, the hot topics of mobile are always in motion. Prepare by knowing the three big debates or key topics. Reading mobile trade publications and industry blogs are a great way to stay informed.

2. Get hands-on! Familiarize yourself with the product, software or service the company provides. If you are interviewing at a company that develops mobile apps, for example, download their apps and use them. It may seem obvious, but candidates sometimes overlook this detail and may assume that they know how an app works without ever having used it first-hand. Play the game, run the app, install the software – immerse yourself in the user experience. You'll likely have questions to bring up during your interview, which shows interest in the company and product as well as gives you a competitive advantage.

3. Think globally. There are 7 billion people in the world with mobile phones, representing a vast opportunity for new customers. Pay attention to emerging markets showing the most growth in active connected devices such as Latin America, Asia, Russia and India.

4. Understand the landscape. Are you familiar with the rules and regulations that guide that industry (e.g., What are considered the "best practices" of the industry and what is frowned upon?) Most industries in most countries have specific bodies such as the IAB and MMA (USA), ACMA and AIMIA (Australia) that establish guidelines that protect and regulate their industry. Most companies also publicly publish their own standards to help their clients. Read these to understand where the company sits within the industry – are they a ‘fringe player' walking that line between what is acceptable and what is not for maximum commercial return; or are they more conservative? Learn about the company's primary competitors. Who are the major players in the market? How do they differ? (Are you going for a job at the right one?)

5. It may sound cliche, but beyond the required technical skills, a positive can-do attitude still matters. When companies work in teams, the positive company culture and collaboration result in better products. Those newly entering the workforce should curb any sense of entitlement and instead focus on doing good work.

Technology can be challenging and even intimidating at times, but the mobile field is also one of the most exciting, innovative and rewarding. Go ahead, jump in, be open to learning new technologies and apply what you know to better yourself and the company you want to work for. It's a great time to be in mobile - as it is part of everyone's future.

Dale Carr is the CEO of LeadBolt, a Los Angeles- and Sydney, Australia-based developer of app discovery and monetization platform for developers and advertisers. Dale has been directly involved in the technology industry since the tender age of 12 when he wrote his first assembler program on the 8086. Prior to founding LeadBolt, Dale co-founded a highly successful mobile content and technology company which was ranked by Deloitte as the Fastest Growing Technology Company in Australia and 3rd Fastest in Asia Pacific.

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