Career Coach: Life Lesson: You Are Not Your Job
My entire business is built on networking. When I lived in Los Angeles I went to as many animation and visual effects events as I could. I was actively involved in local chapters of Women in Animation and SIGGRAPH, producing the Career Boot Camp in 1998 and 1999. I joined the Visual Effects Society, participated on the education committee, and presented at some of the workshops. I heard about jobs and opportunities from friends I made at these meetings. I told friends I met about jobs and opportunities. I got involved in giving to the community and learned that building relationships for the long haul was the key to my business and to my life. The hardest aspect of networking for me is to keep in touch with all the terrific people I’d like to stay in touch with. Networking is about friends helping each other with resources, introductions, referrals and maybe even jobs.
Networking brings out other facets of your life that you might not have explored before. Networking gives you a chance to learn about new opportunities. When you speak to new people you get a glimpse of different jobs or careers.
You have a lot to offer the world–take the time to discover what that is. It might surprise you and your former employer.
Pamela Kleibrink Thompson is a recruiter, career coach, speaker and writer. Realizing she is not her job, she has reinvented herself many times. She contributed to the books Eclectic Collage 1 and Eclectic Collage 2: The Relationships of Life, which you can find on Amazon.com. You can reach Pamela at PamRecruit@q.com.
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Clear, ifnormative, simple. Could I send you some e-hugs?
I'm glad you found the article worth while reading. If there are other topics you'd like to see in the future, please let me know.
Pamela Kleibrink Thompson
The 911 Recruiter/Career Coach
PamRecruit@q.com
Hi Mario, It's important to support your family especially since you have a child. One aspect of the animation industry is consumer products and since you have a background in production design/industrial design you can use what you know and work in the business. Consumer products is where much of the money is made and the people who do this work are highly skilled, talented and valued employees. How old is your son?
Pamela Kleibrink Thompson
The 911 Recruiter/Career Coach
PamRecruit@q.com
hi Pamela, my name is Mario. i'm 41 and i haven't found my passion yet. i'm very interested in animation and i have been researching this potential career path. the cost for one school is the same as the other. i know that age should not be a factor as long as you love what you do (love doesn't pay the bills). i'm fearfull and with a family to support. having to invest the time and money as well as the starting pay rate is something that would concern my wife.
byu has an excellent animation program but no guarantee of acceptance into their program and i'll be stuck with a degree in industrial design which is something i'm already doing (well, i transitioned to packaging design now)if i don't get admitted due to a limited number of acceptance of 25 from 75 applicants. the other in question is "animation mentor"; an online programm with a huge network of contacts. i'm almost resolved at letting go of this dream and concentrate on helping my son (who loves to draw and shows promise) have the chance that seemed to allude me.
what are your thoughts??
THANK YOU PAMELA.
This is a very touching article, and I'm happy you address both sides of the issue.
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