5 Things to Remember if You Want to Enter the Animation Industry

The animation industry is a tough cookie to crack when it comes to getting a job. Even the most seasoned and adequately-trained animators have had a hard time getting a job at least once in their life, if not several times. If you are planning to enter the animation industry and get a job as an animator, here are the top five things you need to remember.

  1. Make sure you’re a pro

Animation might have always been one of your hobbies and you managed to pick up a few skills along the way. That’s fine, but it’s not enough if you want to become a professional animator. If you want to be eligible for a well-paid job in the animation industry, work on your skills first and make sure you’re good enough to apply for jobs.

  1. Design an outstanding resume

You might not know this if you’ve never applied for a serious job before, but the first impression you make on your potential employers comes from your resume. Some people might tell you that the first impression is made during the initial interview, but they’re wrong; your resume is the first glimpse of you your employers will ever see, and it might be the last if you don’t make sure you send in a good one.

  1. Expect unfair treatment

Unfortunately, creative industries are the ones where applicants are treated most unfairly. Many people still expect creative specialists such as graphic designers and animators to work for free (or, as they call it, in exchange for exposure). Therefore, don’t be surprised if your so-called employer actually proposes that you do an unpaid internship first. Stand your ground and speak out against any sort of demeaning treatment.

  1. Demand respect

If you want to succeed in the competitive industry of animation, you need to demand respect through your every action. This means you should never sell yourself short or cave in and accept less than what you are worth. And never ever agree to do any sort of unpaid work. Teach people that your services are valuable, and you will be taken more seriously as time passes.

  1. Figure out if that’s what you really want

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to figure out if you really want or need to become an animator. If you wanted to become an animator just to make one or two animations that interest you, there’s no need to go through all the aforementioned hassle for it. There are companies such as Spiel out there that can take care of that for you. Sometimes, it’s just better to leave it all up to the pros.

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