Do you remember the first time you ever saw an animation resume? It was probably in high school, maybe even earlier. And if so, it was probably pretty boring! But this isn't about that old animation resume from the 90s - it's about making a new one for your career in today's very different animation industry.
Creating an effective animation resume requires more than just writing down what you know: there are all sorts of details that go into making sure your application stands out and gives employers exactly what they want to see.
Having A Correct And Up-To-Date Animation Resume
Whether you're just starting out or have worked for years, it can be difficult to know what information is important. A lot of people think having an online portfolio is enough, but even the best portfolios can't replace a well-made paper animation resume! Your portfolio should help illustrate the skills and experience that are showcased on your animation resume, but they don't replace what an employer needs to see.
Know What The Industry Wants And Needs To See!
Show your skills. When applying for a job as an animator or storyboard artist, it's essential that you demonstrate your knowledge of animation principles.
GIF by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon via Giphy
You could do this by including some of your past work from school or internships (if you have any). But if you don't have any work experience yet, focus on the skills listed in the job description instead—you should be able to find examples of these from other sources online or even in books at the library if need be.
For example: if they're looking for someone who knows how to use After Effects or Maya software programs well enough to animate characters with them, show off that ability by posting screenshots from projects where those programs were used!
Showcase your portfolio. If there are no available samples of your work available via websites like Behance (which is great), consider making one yourself using Google Docs so that hiring managers can easily view all of your projects without having access codes needed beforehand (and so they don't have access).
GIF by Happy Motion via Giphy
It's also helpful if these documents include descriptions about why specific pieces were created—this way people won't just look at them without knowing why they were made originally! So make sure everything has context before sharing with others; otherwise, how would anyone know how good our ideas really are?
Take A Look At The Animation Job Description
Take a look at the animation job description. This is the first thing you should do when applying for an animation job because it will help you determine whether or not your animation resume is even relevant. To make sure your animation resume gets past that initial filter and into the hands of human eyes, make sure it includes all of the skills and experience required by the company in question.
Also, note where they're located—it's important to know if they're based in a big city like Los Angeles or New York City, or if they're located somewhere more rural like San Francisco or Santa Fe (not that there's anything wrong with living in either of those places). It'll give you some insight into what kind of company culture will be best suited to suit your needs as well.
List Your Skills And Portfolio
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If you're looking to get into animation, you must have some skills and experience in the field. As someone just starting out, it's likely that your animation resume will look different than it would if you were applying for a different type of job.
For example, if you're applying for an art director position with a large company, there are likely many people who have more experience than you who are also applying—and so listing your skills and portfolio on your animation resume is less important than having an extensive body of work showing off your abilities as an artist and designer.
Instead of focusing on all of the projects on which you've worked (which may not be applicable) or listing all of your technical skills (which can appear overwhelming), focus on listing relevant skills from previous jobs (a skill like "Photoshop" won't tell anyone much about what kind of designer or illustrator or animator you are). Also, be sure to Include any education related to animation (for example: "BA in Art & Design").
Your animation resume should have a technical section so employers know what you can do with what software.
Image by Wahid Khene via Unsplash
Include your skills and the software you use to animate. If you're not sure about all of the programs, don't worry! You can include any relevant experience that shows employers your abilities.
Also, include any education or training on your animation resume, this will helps show off your skills as an animator, such as a degree from an animation school or another specialized school.
Your animation resume should highlight your problem-solving abilities and show how you collaborate well in a team environment.
GIF by Team Get GIF via Giphy
When you're preparing for an interview, it may seem as though there's too much to think about. But don't worry—we've got you covered!
To make sure that you're prepared and confident when the big day comes, here are some tips to help get the most out of your interview:
Make sure that you are prepared for an interview. Do research on the company's website or by reading business news articles. You should also look up recent press releases they might have put out and read them as well. Researching a little bit about what type of work environment they have will help give insight into what kind of personality would fit best at this job.
For example, if a company has a creative environment with many different departments working together on projects all around town then maybe someone who is more independent would be good for them (like an animator) whereas if it's more corporate then someone who does well in those settings (such as accountants) may be better suited for this particular position."
If you're new to the industry, it's OK to include personal projects in your animation resume - just make sure every example of your work provides evidence of your skills and expertise as an animator.
GIF by Mia Harden Creative Studio via Giphy
If you don't have any personal projects, it's OK to include a link to your portfolio or reel. However, if you have time-consuming but very awesome personal projects that show off your skills (and they won't take up too much space), feel free to add them to your animation resume!
Include Your Personal Branding
If you are an animator, your personal brand is the impression you make on people. It’s what they associate with you and it can be expressed in several ways:
Your reputation – What do people say about you? Are they talking about good things or bad things?
Your values and beliefs – What drives your decisions and actions in life?
Your values – What do you value most in life, family, or career success?
Customize Your Animation Resume For Each Job Application
Image by Magnet.me via Unsplash
When you are customizing your animation resume, be sure to highlight your skills and experience that are relevant to the job you are applying for. If a particular company is seeking an animator with 3D modeling experience and you have extensive knowledge in this area, make it clear that this is something you can bring to their team!
As important as tailoring your animation resume for each job application is, don’t make the mistake of using the exact same animation resume for every job application. Every industry has different expectations regarding what information should be included in animation resumes and how animation resumes should look (e.g., length).
If you use the same animation resume for every application, there is a chance it will not reflect what employers expect from someone with your credentials.
Proofread For Typos
Next, proofread your animation resume. I see so many typos in the animation resumes I read. Check for spelling errors, grammar errors, formatting errors, and punctuation errors. You can also check for capitalization errors (such as forgetting to capitalize the first letter of a sentence) and word choice errors (such as using “whereas” when you meant “while”).
Those are just some of the many mistakes that come up again and again in animation resumes. Make sure yours is error-free before you hit send!
It Takes Time To Make An Animation Resume
When it comes to animation resumes, one size does not fit all. There are four different kinds:
- The traditional animation resume
- Reverse chronological animation resume
- Functional animation resume
- Hybrid animation resume
When writing an animation resume, it's important to know what the industry wants and needs to see! Take a look at the animation job description then list your skills and portfolio including personal branding customize each job application and proofread for typos.
Animators are a diverse group, with many different backgrounds and skill sets. But no matter what, when applying for any animation job, it's important that you have a correct and up-to-date animation resume.
For more tips, you can join our informative free masterclass, download a copy of our free marketing handbook, and check out our blog on “How to Start an Animation Studio”!
