Mobile app careers on the move
Developers in high demand
Industry demand for mobile solutions is insatiable, according to Aaron Hilton, chief technology officer for Conquer Mobile in Vancouver.
“A lot of very interested people want apps,” he says.
Ask Hilton about finding developers to build the apps, however, and he’ll tell you it’s tough.
“Everyone in this industry is just so busy,” he says.
This urgent need for developers paid off for Curtis Strome, 23, when he graduated from the University of Waterloo in the spring. He received three job offers and accepted the post of quality assurance engineer and support specialist at Conquer Mobile. He couldn’t be happier.
“I definitely had it easier than students graduating from other programs,” he says.
Having grown up with smartphones, Strome says he’s always had an interest in mobile app development. He’s particularly interested in business-to-business apps.
“With games, the popularity comes and goes quickly,” he says. “With B2B, it’s a lot more interesting because you have so much interaction with different companies. I’m constantly speaking with customers.”
Strome says there are times when deadlines and pressures build up, but for the most part the hours are flexible and the camaraderie inspiring.
“The job is never boring,” he says, “because there’s always something new.”
Change is constant in the industry and development aggressive, Hilton says.
“Google, Apple and Microsoft are changing the game every six months. So when it comes to skills development, adaptability is important,” he says.
When hiring, Hilton takes into consideration various aspects of the candidate’s personality.
“A good developer has a clarity and honesty in the way they speak,” he says. “That means I can trust that they’re making the right decisions. They need to show a willingness to learn, accept when things go wrong, and be willing to ask questions. You have to be humble in our line of work.”
Natural curiosity is another important trait. Even applicants with prior development experience may not get hired if they don’t have the drive to go deeper.
“A lot of people hit the OK plateau and simply learn enough to get by,” he says. “If they haven’t really made the effort to dig in and understand their specialty, they’re not a fit.”
There are few if any standard credentials for mobile app developers. New entrants might begin their career through a high school co-op assignment, after getting a university degree, or as a second career. Others go the college route.
Algonquin College in Ottawa recently launched a two-year college diploma program for mobile application design and development that combines the teaching resources of two departments: information and communications technology, and media and design.
According to Gerald Hurdle, professor and co-ordinator for the program, there’s a desire in the industry for competencies in both areas.
Industry demand for both contract and full-time roles is extremely high, he says.
“Mobile is hot, hot, hot right now,” he says. “Entertainment, marketing, food service, small business, retail, entrepreneurs and government — everyone is working on mobile apps.”
In the final semester, Algonquin students work on an applied project with a client.
“Every week I get emails asking us to do a project for them,” Hurdle says.
What he appreciates most about the mobile app development world is the diversity.
“We started targeting high school students,” he says, “but they’re in fact the minority. Most are people working on second careers who want to further their skill sets. We also have a lot of international students.”
There is no shortage of women in the mix, he adds, estimating “up to 40 per cent of the students are female.”
The keys to success in the field are strong problem-solving skills, a logical mind, a passion for learning, and the ability to follow directions, he says.
“There’s a level of maturity and discipline needed, so it’s not for everyone,” he says.
The real magic for Hurdle is in the face-to-face collaboration that comes with the territory.
“You can really feel the energy,” he says, “when everyone works together. I’ve come to learn that a noisy classroom is a productive one.”