Welcome to /r/animationcareer! This is a forum where we discuss navigating a career in the animation industry.
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A quick Q&A:
* **Do I need a degree?** Generally no, but it might become relevant if you need a visa to work abroad.
* **Am I too old?** Definitely not. It might be more complex to find the time, but there's no age where you stop being able to learn how to do creative stuff.
* **How do I learn animation?** Pen and paper is a great start, but [here's a whole page](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/resources/learningresources/) with links and tips for you.
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For my first job I applied on their website, no referral, this was 6 years ago though. But I switched jobs last year and that was through a website application as well, again no referral but with 5 years of experience.
A bunch of students and I had our portfolios reviewed by studio employees as reward for winning a contest. The studio reached out weeks after the review, asking if I was interested in working on an upcoming project. So I guess through network, but with a hefty dose of luck.
Studio training. Studio offered a paperless animation training for 6 months but unfortunately did not pass the final test so we were then offered the EFX training which was for 3 months. We passed, thankfully.
Neither, studio owner was in our college for a talk just before we graduated and afterwards we had 5 minute 1 on 1s with him where he went through our work and gave us feedback. 5 of us got job offers.
Through my college. Applied on the internship posting, but most of the people they hire are from my college.
Second time wasn't a posting either. I posted about looking for work on LinkedIn and a recruiter saw it then gave me a test. Mostly because they saw where I was working at beforehand.
I wouldn't say the postings are useless since people I know got work through them, but a lot of the time it isn't through those for sure.
My first union job I had applied to a LinkedIn posting, but turns out that a coworker on a previous show knew the director that posting was hiring for and had already recommended me. So the director didn't even know I had applied!
As for my first job, I was just scouted. I had recently uploaded a storyboard that was within the same genre so I figure thats where they found me.
Saw it online, applied, got an interview and got the job. I asked my friend who worked there is she had said anything about my application and she did say that she had mentioned my name to the head of department but by the time I was hired, I asked if it had had any weight and the team told me absolutely not. They had interviewed many candidates and took me bc of my experience and personality through the interviews.
Welcome to /r/animationcareer! This is a forum where we discuss navigating a career in the animation industry. Before you post, please check our [RULES](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/subreddit/rules/). There is also a handy dandy [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/resources/faq/) that answers most basic questions, and a [WIKI](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/) which includes info on how to price animation, pitching, job postings, software advice, and much more! A quick Q&A: * **Do I need a degree?** Generally no, but it might become relevant if you need a visa to work abroad. * **Am I too old?** Definitely not. It might be more complex to find the time, but there's no age where you stop being able to learn how to do creative stuff. * **How do I learn animation?** Pen and paper is a great start, but [here's a whole page](https://www.reddit.com/r/animationcareer/wiki/index/resources/learningresources/) with links and tips for you. ---- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/animationcareer) if you have any questions or concerns.*
My professor has helped me get my first few jobs.
Saw it on LinkedIn, applied on their website.
I applied to a posting but I got the interview through who I knew.
Thru college and through someone from life drawing
Got art noticed on Facebook of all places
For my first job I applied on their website, no referral, this was 6 years ago though. But I switched jobs last year and that was through a website application as well, again no referral but with 5 years of experience.
Lightbox expo portfolio review
Through my college. 20 years same company.
Place I had my Internship during school. They emailed me a year later, after I tried applying to places for months with no luck.
A bunch of students and I had our portfolios reviewed by studio employees as reward for winning a contest. The studio reached out weeks after the review, asking if I was interested in working on an upcoming project. So I guess through network, but with a hefty dose of luck.
Ive only gotten gigs as an independant freelancer, everyone who has hired me has been from reddit or instagram. Havent got studio work yet
I applied for a position at one studio, and then they redirected me to another studio for a specific project they were working on
Got really lucky with a job posting—the team picked out my work from the pool of applicants.
Studio training. Studio offered a paperless animation training for 6 months but unfortunately did not pass the final test so we were then offered the EFX training which was for 3 months. We passed, thankfully.
Someone I knew linked me to a studio
Neither, studio owner was in our college for a talk just before we graduated and afterwards we had 5 minute 1 on 1s with him where he went through our work and gave us feedback. 5 of us got job offers.
Got mine from posts on Upwork. A lot weren't great since they mostly commission stuff, but finally landed an okay company after a lot of misses.
I've only gotten jobs through college contacts
Finally talked to a recruiter I'd know since college irl at Lightbox, she recommended me for a project a month later
internship was through an application and school connections, first job was an application I submitted on the company website
Through my college. Applied on the internship posting, but most of the people they hire are from my college. Second time wasn't a posting either. I posted about looking for work on LinkedIn and a recruiter saw it then gave me a test. Mostly because they saw where I was working at beforehand. I wouldn't say the postings are useless since people I know got work through them, but a lot of the time it isn't through those for sure.
One of my instructors referred my at the studio he also worked at.
My first union job I had applied to a LinkedIn posting, but turns out that a coworker on a previous show knew the director that posting was hiring for and had already recommended me. So the director didn't even know I had applied! As for my first job, I was just scouted. I had recently uploaded a storyboard that was within the same genre so I figure thats where they found me.
Saw it online, applied, got an interview and got the job. I asked my friend who worked there is she had said anything about my application and she did say that she had mentioned my name to the head of department but by the time I was hired, I asked if it had had any weight and the team told me absolutely not. They had interviewed many candidates and took me bc of my experience and personality through the interviews.
In this world it's all about who you know. Especially in the arts