The faculty of VisCom | Computer Animation understands the value of networking as an essential key to job searching. In an industry built of teams of people, it is not only critical to have strong communication and social skills, but to have other people know who you are and what an awesome person you are. However, most artists are shy and reclusive, and these skills don't come naturally to them. Social networking is something you have to work at. I and our faculty encourage students to work on building your industry network by going to industry events and meetings. It's something that we can help you with, but can't do for you.
One of the things that was driven home to me after my trip SIGGRAPH this summer was that networking opportunities are just that... a chance to initiate an industry relationship, or work on making an exsisting relationship stronger. One of the most offensive things to an industry professional is for you to walk up to them, introduce yourself, and then ask them for a job. It's a turn off, and there will be a LOT of reasons for them to say NO...
- the professional doesn't know you -- it's easier to say "no" to a stranger
- the professional doesn't know your personality -- successful teams need compatible personailities
- the professional doesn't know your work -- they can only judge this from looking at your work, and this is not a portfolio review session
- they don't know if you are reliable or trust worthy -- you can't proove you can do the work just by telling them; comes from actually DOING it (internship!!! contractor!!!)
- the professional is in a SOCIAL setting, not at work -- networking events are for folks to meet, greet, share ideas/stories, AND RELAX
- etc.
Networking doesn't happen overnight. Typically, you need lots of face time and personal interaction to build a relationship. This is a part of your job search that can start working on right NOW. Go to some industry events/meetings and work on your social skills. Get to know the professionals and let them start getting to know you. Don't wait until you are graduating and wish that you'd done the work earlier. To help you out, here are some keys to networking and conversation that I give to all the portfolio students.
- People like talking about themselves
- You have one thing in common with everyone in that group -- the event (drawing class, games night, animation screening, etc)
- Try to find things you have in common with someone new
- Shake hands and introduce yourself -- match the strength of the person shaking your hand but don't turn it into a squeezing battle; ask for their name if they don't give it; repeat their name to help you remember it
- Ask questions about the other person, listen and respond
- Talk about general topics to find common interests: weather, games, film, travel, family, etc.
- Avoid talking about topics in which you have no interest, or try to find a facet of that topic which you'd like to know more about
- Be agreeable -- avoid areas where you are in disagreement with the professional; allow them to have a different point of view
- In a 2 person conversation, you should be talking 50% of the time. In a 3 person conversation, you should be talking 33% of the time... the other percentage you should be LISTENING.
Some of this stuff seems elementary, but most of us need the help. And SOCIALIZING, just like everything else, only gets better with practice.
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