That was me a couple of years ago, giving a whole-hearted interview upon graduating from Vancouver Film School - Ready to take on the world!
Here's what I would've told my past self:
Finding work in a fluctuating industry can be daunting, especially when you are trying to get a foot in the door. Here are the key steps you must undertake that will get you there:
Prioritize the best work on your websites and reel
Keep yourself up-to-date with the industry
Take small steps to improve on your reel
Learn to market yourself as an artist online
Below is a link to another not-so-easy-to-find Industry Job Postings spreadsheet published and managed online by fellow artist and friend, Chris Mayne. I find this extremely useful when I'm on the lookout for a VFX gig and helped me land my first one.
It’s also a good idea to follow studios on LinkedIn & Instagram, where you’ll see plenty of job postings. Reach out to the talent acquisition team and get to know these studios, the specifics of their work, and the software they use.
OTHER TIPS:
Some studio roles are offered as an apprenticeship, with paid training & experience - Take them.
Short-term contracts and part-time jobs are fine and sometimes necessary (all jobs will give you valuable skills, e.g. organizational skills).
It’s OK to follow up on inquiries, even if you’ve had received a ‘no’ as a reply previously.
AND FINDING WORK AGAIN
Neil Gaiman once gave a wonderful talk that said,
As long as you’re two of these three, you’ll be seen as an asset; good, pleasant and reliable.
I tend to agree, but for those starting out, if you are keen and show a willingness to learn, are pleasant to work with, and show a degree of humility, then you are someone who I would want to work with again. Quality of work is of course important, but when I see that people are working on improving their skills, then I recognize that quality will follow.
Your career path may not pan out as you expect, but a winding route may expose you to experiences that you unexpectedly enjoy, or allow you to develop new skills that place you in a better position when you finally start in the role you’ve been working towards.
ONE MORE PIECE OF ADVICE
Be wise, because the world needs more wisdom... And if you cannot be wise, pretend to be someone who is wise, and then just behave as they would.
