Careers In Computer Animation, Still Hard To Come By?

Back before the age of inexpensive and powerful computers, animation careers were hard to come by. Now in the 21st century, there are more ways to find careers in computer animation than ever before. Only a few years ago, the equipment  needed was extremely expensive, the technical expertise requirements were very demanding, and the job was time-consuming. For these primary reasons, to become a professional animator was difficult. There were few jobs, and it was a difficult field to break into the field. It was such a time consuming occupation, after all, that it was almost impossible for private individuals to make their own animations in their spare time. Not to mention the expense.

Computer generated animation using relative cheap and powerful PCs changed all that. Nowadays, careers in computer animation are readily available to anyone who wants to take the time to study. There are many different ways to go about it. The most accepted way to try to get a career in computer animation is still to go to a respected animation school. There are plenty of art schools around with excellent animation programs. Some of them focus more on computer animated cartoons, while others have a bigger emphasis on traditional styles. Either type of program will prepare you for where you need to go in this field.

Of course, many careers in computer animation start off with experimentation at home. Anyone can learn to program flash animations, and some of the effects people get are pretty darn good. Animating your own cartoons is a great way to build up a portfolio and get your work seen. Ever heard of YouTube? Once you get a following, you can use that to get hired by a computer animation studio. Alternately, you can keep working for yourself. Many careers in computer animation, after all, take place completely on the Internet.

Still, it can’t hurt to have a career plan – particularly if you don’t already have a way to make a living. This is why going to an animation school is the most widely practiced way of getting a career in computer animation. There are so many people who have the skills that animation industry companies can afford to rule out anyone who doesn’t have the credentials without even giving them a second chance. If you can’t get your foot in the door, you will never become eligible for any of the best careers in computer animation. Going to animation school will give you a broad-based educational program which will teach you a lot more than you could easily learn on your own. All in all, going to a school for animation makes a lot of sense.

MyPlace or YourSpace – Online Writing Resume Tips

There are many ways to get yourself “noticed” these days,  both offline and online. One of the questions that is often asked of me is whether a candidate should post his / her resume on a job board, social or professional communities, such as: LinkedIn or Facebook, or perhaps even create their own website. My resounding answer is always, “depends on who you want to network with and how you want to be portrayed”.

The reality is that many people put up profiles and resumes “just because” it’s there. Oftentimes, there is little thought given to target audience, consistency, accuracy and the like. For example, if you’re looking for a career as an attorney at a prestigious law firm, you’d probably want to make sure that your online presence is not in conflict with the resume that you’ve sent in.

Jane is a high powered real estate attorney. Her resume reads like a “who’s who”, having worked for the best law firms and represented the top luminaries in the industry. She’s young and on the move. She also has a fun, personal side that really enjoys socializing. She puts up an online presence on Facebook or MySpace. The potential employer decides to check all available and public information about Jane and finds out something that they think is either inappropriate or “not up to their corporate standards”. Jane is not offered a job.

What’s wrong with this picture? Employers are increasingly going to the Internet to find out information about candidates. In fact, there is so much “public” information available now on the Internet many individuals are beginning to close their public profiles or at least reduce their visibility.

Is this good or bad? Does the employer really have the right to research your Internet profile? These are questions that are not my place to answer. But, as I started out saying in this blog, you should carefully consider to whom you are targeting and how you want to be portrayed and then reconcile that with your online profile.