I'm not sure how relevant this shitpost will be, but I just have to speak up.
I've been doing 3d for three years now.(im 23yo) Thought it was my dream and the whole activity suits me pretty darn well, couse i love games and weapons and i love the whole process of making 3d. I have a pretty decent weapons portfolio that I've been working hard on. Yes, I realize that this portfolio is not top tier and that many people have much better pieces and for less time, but anyway. I can't find a job for about a year now, all jobs require experience, and the test tasks imply this very experience. But one of the main problems that many studios that gave you test tasks don't give you feedback after rejection, and you don't even realize what your mistake was. I applied to a lot of studios. Some of them told me right away that I had a good portfolio, but they needed experienced guys, some of them already had me on the short list, but again, there was a guy with experience who took my place. I don't understand what I should do, how much longer I have to knock on doors and get another rejection. Am I a loser or am I just unlucky? I have completely lost the motivation to create anything, and now doing it through the pain and remnants of discipline I have left in me.
I mean i know that im still probably young and everything, but i cant let myself spent more time for nothing
I apologize for the unnecessary venting and whining, I just don't have the energy anymore.
Here is some of my works if you are interested!
Replies
Maybe you can get in touch with Klean, he's a streamer who's making his own game. The artstyle is pixel art, not PBR, but he's into the mil-sim kind of stuff that you seem to be into. https://www.youtube.com/@kleanisklean/featured
either way, keep it up. Your work is good for 23.
As for your portfolio: Looks good to me, but I'm not a weapons expert. Maybe get rid of the pepe the frog sticker as some might see that as offensive (probably not people working on military shooters, but you never know, and it would be a stupid thing to lose a job over).
Then, three complex pieces should be fine in theory, but it's still on the lower side and might add to the impression of little experience. No one can look into the future, but I'd say if you keep at it and add some pieces, maybe broaden your horizon a bit from only weapons if that's ok for you, there's a good chance you'll get lucky sooner or later if your general situation is sustainable. Or you could go the way kanga suggested or do something in between, but the air is thinner at the top.
Edit: Maybe show some wireframes, textures etc?
P.S. What is wrong with pepe the frog? Whats offensive about him?
HR usually won't be the ones judging your skills (other than going through a check list), that will (hopefully) be done by the artists.
I do recommend diversifying into other applications for realistic 3d weapon models with the understanding that it's going to be mostly gig work for the foreseeable future.