Job Search Advice

Oblivion2500

I graduated from school recently. I want to start working on my portfolio and start a new project to really showcase my skills. My major was 3D digital graphics. I'm looking for a job as a game environment artist or texture artist. My plan is to spend summer working on portfolio and then start job search. I'm currently living with my parents and they are supporting me on taking time working on portfolio. I was told recently by a friend that I should maybe get a job doing something else like bagging groceries just to make the employer not think I'm lazy or doing nothing on my free time when I start my job search. Any thoughts on that?

Also, I have this employment agency that has not been helpful for me. They expect I find a job right now and that it's does not require portfolio work (heck, they even told me to just become a taxi driver instead). They don't understand that a good portfolio is required for this kind of industry. I don't want to just start applying for job when I don't have a very good portfolio compared to others I find online and it's a demanding industry. I'm looking to work for indie first or something that is not AAA to get better chances of landing a job. However, I want to stop working with this employment agency and just do the job search myself and work on portfolio. Any thoughts on that as well?

RyanB

Oblivion2500 said:

 I was told recently by a friend that I should maybe get a job doing something else like bagging groceries just to make the employer not think I'm lazy or doing nothing on my free time when I start my job search. Any thoughts on that?
...
 However, I want to stop working with this employment agency and just do the job search myself and work on portfolio. Any thoughts on that as well?

Make assets and sell them online.  This has the benefits of:
- making stuff for your portfolio
- making employer see you are self-motivated
- brings in an income
- lets you practice your craft instead of bagging groceries
- gets your name out there so indies know you exist

It kills an entire flock of birds with one stone.  Making a demo reel and waiting for jobs is a huge waste of time and money.

Oblivion2500

That would probably be a good idea. I always wanted to make materials packs for the UE4 marketplace using substance designer and photoshop. I'm also interested in making modular kits but I will have to get Maya LT (for commercial use) which shouldn't be a major problem.

Goat Justice

In my experience game development studios have shown little interest in work history outside of jobs in the games industry (or closely related work like film/arch-vis/etc).  If you're only reason taking a temporary job is look good on game job applications, it might not do much for you. Everyone's situation is unique, though and if you feel there are other reasons to find a stop-gap job, that's a decision you'll have to make. 

Generally speaking it's your portfolio and connections that will get you interviews. How you do in the interview will get you the job. 

Jonas Ronnegard

yeah work experience outside of games or 3D won't do you much good, if they think your portfolio looks good enough to hire you that is enough to show them you are not lazy, so if you have a stack of money, live cheap and work on asset store sets etc to keep yourself motivated and get better.

Gilgamesh

The only thing it shows is that you are willing and able to do anything for work, personally I had to do a part time job just to survive but if you can live without doing it then devote all your time to practicing and possible selling assets and just applying for anything that looks like it will be a good fit you.  First off you don't 'need' maya LT (unless it's what you're used to) blender will do just as well and not cost a monthly sub, again something like GIMP will do the same things as photoshop but also free (also better than the free photoshop as well).  Get a portfolio asap, get stuff out here in the world with your name attached.

Oblivion2500

Thanks for the advice guys!