Jobs in the Industry

A lot of people have been requesting that I provide them with a little inside information on how to succeed down here (basically via moving down here and just starting to apply to industry jobs). I was unemployed for a month and ended up getting hired before my funds ran out (thankfully). Now, I can't say that this will be your ticket to fame and fortune, but some of things have helped me out along the way and actually aided me in my search for a job. Most I heard from word of mouth, or in forums. Read my previous post for all the websites I go to, but without further ado, here's a list of things I've learned (grab some coffee and donuts... this may take a while):

1. Do NOT try to walk into the studios and introduce yourself. You MAY be able to get away with it in the the bigger studios, but you'll only get as far as HR or the secretary, and they can't help you much. Yes, there are exceptions to this (well this ONE person got a job by walking in... etc). But for the most part, it's considered a little unprofessional and most people will just get annoyed because they have deadlines to meet. Also, good luck finding most of the studios. My first three studios the first day I arrived in LA were relatively close to where I was staying, and I printed out resumes/ cover letters and dressed to impress. The first studio was in the building across from Target and "on the fourth floor". So I get in the elevator and press 4. Nothing happens. Press it again. Nothing. Press 3, takes me to the parking garage on 3. No one in the Lobby to help, and clearly this studio doesn't want you to get in. On to the next studio, it was in a random residential neighborhood and had a "Beware of Dog" sign on the fence. No way to get in unless you have the gate opener. The next studio wasn't even on my GPS. Moral of the story? They don't want you walking in. Period.


2. Keep in touch with people. That one person you met on the plane that one time might know a thing or two, or know someone who can help you. Email everyone you know and let them know you are looking for work and just want to get your foot in the door. They can either direct you to a studio, give you a direction on where your resume and cover letter stand, or get you in touch with someone that can help you. Assuming you made a good impression on this person in the past, it's very likely that they will want to help you out. Pay it forward. When someone contacts you and asks for your help and you're all rich and famous, remember when you were in their position and help them out- or post pointers on your blog ;)

A huge emphasis on this: people love helping people. Everyone in the creative industry only wants to work with people they are familiar with or are very comfortable with. No one likes having to deal with the hiring process, they would rather hire a friend of a friend. On that same note, though, when you refer someone, you are officially credible and "responsible" for that person. If you recommend someone that is a total lazy butt and pisses off the director, they are going to associate that person with you. No bueno.


3. Emailing studios you weren't referred to is a toss up as to whether or not you're going to reach them. Put your cover letter in the body of the email, because honestly, no one wants to open an attachment from someone they don't know. That is your introduction and what makes them want to find out more information about you. Once they read the very short, concise, packed-with-qualifications cover letter you sent, they might want to read your resume you've attached (if it did its job, of course). Make sure your website is somewhere in the email as a link or on your resume so they can just keep getting more information about you. I have been contacted based on positions that have or have not existed, so it really depends on their mood, your qualifications, and their openings on whether they will contact you. Make it very clear what you are interested in, and always cater your cover letter to the company. Make them feel like they are the only company you're interested in and this is what you want to do there (telling them you moved down specifically to apply to their company helps, too, but not everyone was in my position!)

So you've emailed all these companies and a week goes by and you hear nothing (you should be applying to a good 10-20 a day if you are going to hit your 1 "Yes" to every 99 "No" ratio). After a week, you can safely assume they've had time to check their email, and either forgot to email you back or didn't have time (generic emails like jobs@thisonestudio.com are flooded with so many emails in a day), so it's time to follow up. Send a short email and attach your original email and resume/ letters of rec at the bottom. The email should basically restate that you sent an email a week ago and you are interested in hearing back from them on the status of the position. By this point, most of the time they will email you back and let you know. The benefit of this email:

-You get a response, so that means that they probably read through your information. You're on the radar and you have officially stepped above all the other applicants who were too lazy to follow up.

-You get the name of the person who you should contact in the future if you have questions or position inquiries (and their email!).

-They will usually give you an idea of when to follow up (either a specific time to email back, or just that nothing is available right now). If they aren't specific, the follow up rules I use are as follows: 1 week, 4-6 weeks, 3 months. Enough to be persistent and keep you in mind, but not enough to get the "stop emailing us" message. If you don't feel comfortable waiting that long, some people have been known to be hired so they would stop bugging HR, but I'm not sure that I personally would want to be THAT guy.

-They might give you more information about an internship or another job opening that you may qualify for and then continue emailing from there.

-Keep this person in your records for future reference even after you get a job. The industry is cyclical and you may find yourself doing the same thing 6 months later, and it's nice to know you don't have to start over. I have a spreadsheet that has all the local studios, their contact info/ address, website, position I applied for, contact person, and when I sent an email so I know when to follow up. Clearly not everyone wants to do this (I think it's fun...), but find a way to keep track of who you have already established contact with.

4. Resume and portfolios need to be very clear with each company. If you have skills in multiple areas, you are going to want a reel for each skill. Cater everything you have to that company or that position. Most companies don't want to see all your animation skills if you are applying as an EnV Artist or a render wrangler. If you have it on your website, that's cool, but the reel and resume you send to them should show all the skills and qualifications you have for that specific position. If the position is "Maya Generalist", then clearly put all of the Maya experience you have, because that's what is relevant. Now, let's say you are TOO general and you haven't polished off your skills enough to be hired for one artist position or another... Here's where you have to get your foot in the door. Now, this isn't a time to beg, but it IS a time to be honest. When you write your cover letters, don't talk yourself down, but DO explain that you are a recent grad, you are interested in the company, and you want to help out in any way you can. Be prepared to set aside your pride for a little while just so you can get in the door. Apply as an intern, a Production Assistant, in the Mail Room... Anything to get you in and working hard for that company. I just interviewed as a PA for a large corporation and although they explained to me that a PA's job is to take out the trash and prepare the rooms for clients, they also mentioned that employees get free tutorials from the artists if they choose to attend <----- Ummmm, yes please! So keep in mind that, yes, you are going to be at the bottom... but, a hard-working person that they already know (and has decent skills) is more likely to get hired than that random applicant they get a couple months later. Most industry peeps understand that working your way up is part of the game, and they will be mindful in helping you out if you are humble and dedicated to your position. Another Interviewer (who ended up offering me the job) asked me what my passion was and where I wanted to be in 10 years, so they could educate me and help me get there eventually.

5. So let's say you've done all this and you get a call for an interview. Research the company, everything they've done, how they got started, who started it, what they've personally worked on, etc. You should already know this because you applied to them, but brush up on the details. Also, double check your connections on Linked In. You may know someone that works for them or know someone who knows an employee. It may work in your favor. As far as the actual interview, I would say prepare just like any other job (practice those stupid questions that everyone hates), but also keep in mind that they are looking for someone who they want to work with. During this interview, like I've experienced, they may not ask you ANY of those questions you prepared for (or even why you're qualified). So, in this case, you'll want to make the best impression you can. Lay everything out on the table and let them know who you are and how awesome you are to be around. Be light and friendly, confident, and be interested in everything they show you, even if it's not your department. Pretend like you already got the job (if it calms the nerves) and you are just meeting new people around the office. I personally think my real interview was the tour, when they introduced me to all the artists to see how friendly I was. I tried to make an impression on everyone I met, and even threw in a few jokes like "Hey.... Hopefully I'll see you guys again!" I wouldn't be surprised if they were introduced to a new PA potential like me every few months and I want them to remember me (at least at the corporate offices). It's very likely the person interviewing me went back and asked everyone what they thought of me.

In general, be more prepared than they are. They have so much going on, they might forget to print your resume or even to read over it before your appointment. Bring 2 copies of your resume and cover letter (in case another executive wants to join) and any letters of reccommendation. Maybe even a notebook to take notes on when they answer your questions (good idea for PA's, too).

If you're not sure you got the job, or you get an email later saying you didn't, make sure the person who interviewed you knows that you are very interested in working for the company and helping any way you can. Be willing to do unpaid work or an internship for a few weeks and prove to them that you are worth hiring. Don't say "I'm willing to do anything", but be humble about it and let them know unpaid work is an option for you. Clearly, keep your priorities. If you can't afford unpaid work for more than a month, make sure they know that. You don't want to be taken advantage of. A lot of people have worked there way up by doing unpaid work. If you need to get a side job or part-time, do so. But try to be as flexible with the unpaid work as possible.

6. Keep your chin up. This is going to be a roller coaster of emotions: "I wonder if I'm good enough", "Wow, their work is so much better", "I need money, but I'm not getting any interviews!", and "Should I be working on my portfolio or applying for jobs?!". Just make sure that you are always talking to people about what you can do better and always improving your skills. Take a few hours to apply for jobs, but it's exhausting so give yourself breaks. Jump on Maya and animate 10 seconds, or watch a tutorial online, or browse CG Society. Always try to improve your method of applying (look over your resume, be harsh about things that should change on your portfolio and reel). If you are getting better at fluid particles while you're waiting for follow up emails, update your website and add some WIP shots. WIP shots that are recent are a great way to show that you are trying to improve yourself and your knowledge base. If you're a character modeler, showing sketches of anatomy isn't a bad idea. EnV artists... maybe start taking high res photos of random things and create your own texture library. Start a blog :) Try to keep busy because the down time is when the unemployment depression kicks in.

7. Have some fun. You ARE in Los Angeles, after all! Meet up with industry peeps, go to industry events, and enjoy the sun. You won't get much time to do these things after you are working 70 hour weeks :)

8. Once you get the job, keep in mind that if what you got hired for isn't what you ultimately want to be, work on your reel on nights and weekends, and always keep an eye out for mobility. You'd be surprised how many opportunities to move toward you ultimate goal will arise once you prove that you're awesome to work with!

So, I hope this helps. In the meantime, feel free to comment if you have anything to add or an experience that contradicts anything I've said. Everyone has a different method, but this is what I've found to be most useful so far. Hope to see you all down here soon!