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| CAREERS HELP DESK |
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Job Hunting Inquiry & Advice Part 2
[PART 1] | [PART 2]
 Q: Russ writes:
Have you ever noticed that all the jobs you find listed in most places all want you to be this sort of computer god with lots of experience and skill? [Please refer to the rest of Russ' original unedited message in part 1]
Russ http://members.xoom.com/cruse3d/web01.html
A: Todd Taylor writes:
Let me start off by saying that I am 24 and I do not do computer animation as a job. It is, however my dream job and I plan to get there soon. Let me share some of my philosophy.
I agree with Michael on most things, but I don't think it matters at all what your teachers credentials are at this point. You should have evaluated your school long ago. Now, you have some skills and
presumably talent. The question you should ask yourself is: "If I were an employer would I want to hire someone like me?" Are you sure?
The 3D Animation industry is insanely popular especially with new advances in technology in films like SW:TPM. It is no wonder why. Simply put, movies are cool and animation and special effects are a super cool subset of that realm. Movies aside, computer animation for multimedia and the web is also a hot spot. Like Michael said, with the recent availability of high-powered software like 3DS MAX , MHAM, and Lightwave and with the plummeting prices of PCs it is easy for just about anyone get into computer animation. Overall, this is a good thing but there are aspects that can irk the serious animator, like the flooding of the job market with untalented software pirates who want "cool jobs".
If you think about it, the computer and software just make up a tool for animation. What if the cost of paintbrushes and oil paint were really high and coveted and then suddenly were cheap and mass produced? Would real artists be concerned about dabblers buying or stealing supplies? No. Why? Because most of those people grab it because they see what can be done and they think it's cool and the price is right. Most likely they will jump right in and paint on a bare canvas without realizing what gesso is. It looks horrible, but it doesn't matter because there are cool colors up there, look! It won't be long before they try to clean their brushes with water and then get distracted about the new acrylic paints their friend just downloaded with Hotline. Soon they will leave their brushes out to harden, never having accomplished anything. Then there is the case of someone like me who always longed for paints, but could never have them. I first started out with a cracked version of watercolors that a friend of mine had on a a pirate CD. That was a huge break for me because it gave me my first hands-on experience without having to take an expensive watercolor class. I liked it so much that I did save up for and take a class and I bought a used set of watercolors from someone in a newsgroup like this. O.K. Enough of this analogy!
For the purposes of this letter I'm assuming, Russ, that you want a job in serious computer animation, not just graphic design. I have done tons of reading about the business over the years and I am confident I know what it takes to make it in the industry.
Getting a job in animation is just like getting a job most places. Employers want the best they can find. Naturally, they will post only positions that require years of experience to weed out the multitudes of wanna-be's that are unsure of themselves. The last thing they want is a new hire that has a learning curve so high, that he is TOTALLY
unproductive for months. Also, it takes time to look at resumes / portfolios / demo reels, lots of time. Pacific Data Images, for example, says they go through thousands of demo reels a year and I'm sure that number is growing with every year. If they have experience in the field, it is much more likely that their stuff is worth looking at.
What you want is basically what I want: a foot in the door. "Just give me a chance and I'll be great, promise!" Well, those opportunities do happen, but they usually don't come by very easily. What you need to do is make it happen. Make them really want you without a second thought. Make it seem like they are not even taking a chance on you. You're gold.
I have wanted to computer graphics/ animation for 10 years, but I chose a detour for a while. Last year, I got back on track and nothing will stop me now. I am creating a 5 minute animation using Lightwave 3D at home. I mean a real animation short - not just a simple scene of a space ship flying through a star field (Wait! What a cool and novel idea! Maybe an X-wing or the Enterprise! The web could use some more sci-fi stuff.) Sarcasm aside, I have been working on it after work for six months after my regular day job as computer programmer. I think it will be done sometime in November. Basically, I devoted a year of free time to create something that would PROVEindisputablyy that I have what it takes. If no one at all likes it, then I stink. This project will get me what money can't buy. Here are the qualities that doing my own animation for a demo reel will give me for a job interview:
Dedication! A project that lasted a year proves that I really want to be an animator! Right there it puts me miles ahead of the masses.
Experience! Granted, it is not real, industry experience, but when I tell a recruiter that I've been working with a 3D app. everyday for that last year, that sounds a whole lot better then, "Yeah, I did a group project in school and we used 3DS MAX."
Talent! If I take the time to do it right and learn the software, it will look great if the artistic ability is there. If not, I should rethink my career decision. I'm sure recruiters know what they're looking for and won't be fooled by any plug-in effects. Remember, they're not your mom. They know what's out there.
Knowledge! You can't produce an awesome animation without learning a wicked lot about 3D techniques in general in the process (told you I was from Mass.) Knowing your business is always good!
My own little movie! When I'm done I'll have my own little
masterpiece to do whatever I want with. I plan to send it to animation festivals and contests. That should be fun!
These things are invaluable when on a job interview. I am taking this long, dedicated approach because I know without a doubt in my mind that I want to be a computer animator. To me, being a solid candidate for places that do professional level stuff is well worth at least a year of working on an animation at home (which is actually fun most of the time!).
Russ, you may not need to undertake a huge effort like me to prove your worth, but if you are continually getting rejected, maybe they need more convincing. Two biggies that they look for are talent and experience. Figure out what you need to do to make it happen and do it! If you feel you would make a great computer animator, don't give up!
Todd Taylor
Don't Miss PART 1 in this thread. |
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