Wherever you are, start to build your network.  Your network is comprised of the people you know.  Your friends and co-workers.  Find out what interests them and share information they might find useful.  If you are a student, your network is your peers–the other students in your classes.  Do the best work you can on team projects and they will sing your praises when they land their first job and are asked if they know anyone else.

Make the most of opportunities that come your way. Start working on your career today.  Build a fabulous portfolio and don’t be shy about sharing your work.  A friend of mine lived in Chicago and worked as an animator at a small commercials company.  He heard that some Disney animators were going to visit a local gallery.  Erik made sure he attended their talk and approached one of the presenters afterwards and asked if he would be willing to give feedback on Erik’s portfolio.  That animator mentored Erik, who eventually interned at Disney.  The internship turned into a job at Disney where Erik worked as a clean-up animator on Hercules. Erik didn’t wait until he was able to move to Los Angeles and work for Disney to work on his career.  He made the most of opportunities right where he was.

Start making your own opportunities.  Work on your art work.  Work on your portfolio.  There is free animation software available on the web.  Try it out and experiment with it.  Create something spectacular and post it on the internet.  Or enter it in film festivals.  Your work can create opportunities you haven’t dreamed of.  Don’t delay.  Start where you are today.

©Copyright 2012 Pamela Kleibrink Thompson

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Pamela Kleibrink Thompson is a career coach, recruiter, and speaker.  She is presenting her Career Navigator Program at Digital Media Arts College in Boca Raton, Florida on September 5 and 6. She is also presenting at the Idaho Writers League Conference in Boise on September 28.  You can contact her for career coaching, recruiting or speaking at PamRecruit@q.com.