But there are jobs and opportunities out there for graduates with strong portfolios and software skills. Below is a list of things to do to maximise your chances of breaking into the industry. Start by making sure that your demo reel is as good as it can possibly be.
1. Polish Your Demo Reel
Make sure your demo reel is job-ready. Demo reels should be short, (no more than 90 seconds), with your best shots first and last, and free of mistakes. Don't include "work in progress", and don't password protect it.
2. Be at LinkedIn
Nowadays, animation recruiters "live on LinkedIn". Make sure you have an appealing well curated LinkedIn profile with an embedded link to your demo reel. To see more, read this blog post.
3. Get Yourself a Blog or Website
Make sure your demo reel and artwork is hosted online, and easy to find. Artstation, Instagram, Vimeo and YouTube are good places to showcase your work. For more on how to put together a free website (Wix is pretty easy to use) or blog, see this blog post.
4 Polish Your CV
You need an up-to-date CV. Your CV should be short (1-2 page PDF) and should include your full name, contact details, physical address, and (most important) a link to your demo reel at the top of the first page. For more on how to put together a great CV, read this post.
5. Who is Hiring?
There are hundreds of animation, games and VFX companies in the UK alone. Make lists - and track where you have applied and when. Find out who is hiring. Sign up for job alerts at Twitter and LinkedIn. Search industry news websites, Facebook.Sign up with the jobs page at awn - The Animation World Network (I have personally found work through this site - my job on Robots at Blue Sky Studios came through awn.com). Remember there is always a company somewhere looking to hire new talent.
6. Apply For Jobs
Start applying. Draft a cover letter to send to each company you apply to. Draft a standard letter, save it, and then adapt it. Each cover letter should be tailored to suit the company you are applying.
ing. To see how to write a great cover letter, read this blog post. And remember that the Number One Reason that Graduates Don't Find Work is - they don't apply.
7. Work as a Runner or Intern
A successful internship brings experience, contacts, and direct understanding of what is needed to get a job with an animation company. Equally, working as a runner can be a great way in to a company. To see how to find an internship (which is much like finding a job), read this blog post.
8. Get Ready for Interview
Company recruiters want to know that you are enthusiastic and motivated for the job role you are applying for. Research the company, and find out what they do. Recruiters often ask questions like: "What do you think this job involves?" or "what do you expect an average day to be like?". To see how (not) to blow a job interview, read this blog post. Also see this post on Job Interview Strategy with Kevin Richards.
9. Work Your Connections
Personal connections count. As a graduate of Animation Apprentice, you are part of an alumni network for the Creative Industries. Find other graduates working in the company you are applying for, and connect with them at LinkedIn. Ask how they got their first job. Ask them who at the company makes hiring decisions. Find out what the company is looking for. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for building connections. Also, make sure you attend events like Bring Your Own Animation (every month in London, free).
10. Bother Your Tutors
11. Don't Give Up - Be The Rhino
Develop rhinoceros hide. Expect rejection. Keep at it. Remember that Rejection is Information. If you didn't get a job, ask the company for feedback on what you can do better. Apply more than once, perhaps every 3-4 months, so that companies know you are still out there and still keen to join them. Keep animating. Maybe you need a new shot for your reel? Enter the monthly 11 Second Club Competition. But always apply (at least) twice.
 |
| Animation Recruiters "live on Linkedin" |
2. Be at LinkedIn
Nowadays, animation recruiters "live on LinkedIn". Make sure you have an appealing well curated LinkedIn profile with an embedded link to your demo reel. To see more, read this blog post.
3. Get Yourself a Blog or Website
 |
4 Polish Your CV
You need an up-to-date CV. Your CV should be short (1-2 page PDF) and should include your full name, contact details, physical address, and (most important) a link to your demo reel at the top of the first page. For more on how to put together a great CV, read this post.
5. Who is Hiring?
There are hundreds of animation, games and VFX companies in the UK alone. Make lists - and track where you have applied and when. Find out who is hiring. Sign up for job alerts at Twitter and LinkedIn. Search industry news websites, Facebook.Sign up with the jobs page at awn - The Animation World Network (I have personally found work through this site - my job on Robots at Blue Sky Studios came through awn.com). Remember there is always a company somewhere looking to hire new talent.
 |
| Polish your CV |
6. Apply For Jobs
Start applying. Draft a cover letter to send to each company you apply to. Draft a standard letter, save it, and then adapt it. Each cover letter should be tailored to suit the company you are applying.
ing. To see how to write a great cover letter, read this blog post. And remember that the Number One Reason that Graduates Don't Find Work is - they don't apply.
 |
| How to find an internship |
8. Get Ready for Interview
Company recruiters want to know that you are enthusiastic and motivated for the job role you are applying for. Research the company, and find out what they do. Recruiters often ask questions like: "What do you think this job involves?" or "what do you expect an average day to be like?". To see how (not) to blow a job interview, read this blog post. Also see this post on Job Interview Strategy with Kevin Richards.
9. Work Your Connections
Personal connections count. As a graduate of Animation Apprentice, you are part of an alumni network for the Creative Industries. Find other graduates working in the company you are applying for, and connect with them at LinkedIn. Ask how they got their first job. Ask them who at the company makes hiring decisions. Find out what the company is looking for. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for building connections. Also, make sure you attend events like Bring Your Own Animation (every month in London, free).
 |
| Be the Rhino - Rejection is Normal |
Make use of our resources - we offer regular demo reel workshops for all our graduates. Don't be shy to ask for a demo reel review and feedback.
11. Don't Give Up - Be The Rhino
Develop rhinoceros hide. Expect rejection. Keep at it. Remember that Rejection is Information. If you didn't get a job, ask the company for feedback on what you can do better. Apply more than once, perhaps every 3-4 months, so that companies know you are still out there and still keen to join them. Keep animating. Maybe you need a new shot for your reel? Enter the monthly 11 Second Club Competition. But always apply (at least) twice.
 |
| Why not enter the 11 Second Club Competition? |
Jobs Resources at Animation Apprentice
We have many resources available at Animation Apprentice aimed at helping our students find work in the animation industry. To get started, see the blog posts below:
We have many resources available at Animation Apprentice aimed at helping our students find work in the animation industry. To get started, see the blog posts below:
- How do Graduates Find Work in the Animation Industry?
- Demo Reel Advice - at Skwigly
- Demo Reel Advice by Animal Logic
- Why Animators Need to be on LinkedIn
- Be the Rhino - remember that rejection is normal
- Six Rules to Create a Great CV
- How to Write a Cover Letter
- How to Find an Animation Internship
- Blue Zoo Recruitment Tips
- Escape Studios' Free Industry Survival Guide
- Escape Studios Free Careers Guide
- Michael Morgan: "From the Classroom to the Studio"
- Why Animators Need their Own Blog or Website
- How to be a Freelance Animator
- 12 Rules to Find Work in the Animation Industry
- Pixar Advice for Graduates
- Why Animators Should Apply For Jobs Twice
- Job Interview Strategy with Kevin Richards
- Why Animators Should Attend "Bring Your Own Animation"
No comments:
Post a Comment