You’d be surprised at how difficult some artists make it for recruiters by neglecting to provide the simplest – and most important – information.
Years ago, when demo reels were sent out on video tapes or DVDs, other recruiters would plead with me to tell candidates to put their contact info on their physical media. Recruiters would receive reels with no contact info – every week. They still do. One recruiter who worked for a company in Australia brought a stack of reels with him to SIGGRAPH in Los Angeles hoping he would somehow run into the artists who created the work. He couldn’t bear to part with these reels because the work showcased was brilliant. If you make brilliant work, why not put your contact info on it?
Make it easy for recruiters to find you.
I’m currently recruiting for a lead motion graphics designer position and have been frustrated by numerous artists still neglecting to share their email contact info on their reels, portfolio, websites, resumes and LinkedIn profiles.
I love it when artists make it super easy to contact them – putting their email address in their contact info on LinkedIn or in the about section on their LinkedIn profile. It’s even okay if I have to go to their website and find their contact info there, though this takes extra effort. Some artists require me to fill out a contact form on their website instead of providing their email address. This takes more effort from me, but I have done it and hope that the messages will get through and I will hear back from the artists. I have even sent tweets to people with my email address. So far, I have been unsuccessful in hearing back from those I’ve tweeted or filled in the form.
If you have been contacted by a recruiter, even if you are not interested or not available, respond to let him or her know. Better than that, respond if you can refer a colleague or a friend. One artist on LinkedIn has gone the extra mile for her colleagues and recruiters by posting a link to a Google doc of art talent. These artists will go into a preferred position in the recruiter’s “Rolodex” and will always be the first contacted when there is an opportunity.
Now that you no longer have to put your work on tape or DVD, and can create an online portfolio or reel, you still need to make sure your email address is prominent – unless of course you don’t want recruiters to reach you with opportunities.
I have looked at numerous reels on Vimeo and other sites and have been disappointed that even now artists neglect the most important element of any reel or website – contact info. Occasionally there is someone who puts a phone number instead of an email and I have phoned and spoken with artists. But, many recruiters would not go to these efforts.
Make it easy for recruiters. If you’re easy to contact, you’re easy to hire.
Pamela Kleibrink Thompson is a career coach specializing in helping creative people succeed. She also recruits for companies in visual effects, animation, games and design. She speaks at schools and conferences about how to get jobs in animation and other creative fields. To reach her for recruiting or speaking engagements or for a private consultation to learn how to create a career you love, email PamRecruit87@gmail.com.
