Is it Tough to Find Your First Job? Do You Have Any Tips for Finding That First Gig?

If you do your best throughout school and really put forth 110% effort, a job will come. Maybe not right after graduating, but it will eventually. Don't be afraid to apply to studios that you feel you have no chance getting into, but don't apply only to those studios. Be open for any opportunity and use it as a learning experience to move you closer to your goal.

I felt I was very lucky to find work right after school. I didn't feel ready to get my work out there, so I was planning on taking three months to finish up my short film. In the meantime, I saw that Tippett Studio was looking for animators for an upcoming project that sounded interesting. So, after convincing myself I had nothing to lose, I decided to apply. A couple weeks later, I had a phone interview. A month after that, I was moving to the Bay Area to work on my first film!

I did have animation experience before going to Animation Mentor, though. I think what I learned at Animation Mentor plus previous studio experience at a game studio helped me land a job quicker than I thought I would. Some people begin Animation Mentor with no animation or Maya experience at all. After graduation, these animators might need more time to refine their skills before getting a job. But there are some that get jobs right after graduating, even without prior experience. It all depends. We all are at different levels, learn differently, have different amounts of time we can put in.

Don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t find a job right out of school. Keep working hard and you’ll get there!

Guest Blogger Jess Morris