Interview help?
polycounter lvl 9
Hey all, as most know im job hunting and ive just been asked for an interview next week, im shitting it.
Its:
1. My 1st job interview
2. My 1st job interview
Currently my lifes going to shit lol, and Im probaly going to keel over with the stress so any good tips to help me wing it? Im going to aim for a junior/entry position in animation.
Like what sort of questions would be appropiate? How long you think itl take? Should I overdress (suit?) lol.
And yes I know there are other threads nocking about on the same subject, but wondering if an animatoion interview is any different ?
Christ, im crapping it ;(
Its:
1. My 1st job interview
2. My 1st job interview
Currently my lifes going to shit lol, and Im probaly going to keel over with the stress so any good tips to help me wing it? Im going to aim for a junior/entry position in animation.
Like what sort of questions would be appropiate? How long you think itl take? Should I overdress (suit?) lol.
And yes I know there are other threads nocking about on the same subject, but wondering if an animatoion interview is any different ?
Christ, im crapping it ;(
Replies
Don't worry about it. This is likely to be the first in a long line of interviews in your career.
Try and enjoy the experience and not get stressed. In fact be confident in your abilities , but don't come across too cocky.
Ask them what sort of stuff you will be doing/what are your responsibilities.
personally I steer clear of companies who don't show me what they are doing or don't show you around the studio - smacks of paranoia and lack of trust( thats what nda's are for)
Don't undersell yourself and research carefully what salary is going for a junior position in other companies probably around 17 - 18,000 for a junior modeller, not too sure about animators
Don't sell yourself cheap or they will always look down on you.
As much as they are looking at your attitude, look carefully at their body language also. Do you think you can get on with them. are they even close to being friendly?
I really think this is an important factor. nothing worse then being stuck with a load of unsociable gits:)
Study the company, get to know the games they have put out as well as dig up any info on the game they might hire you for.
I would say leave the suit at home, unless everyone dresses in a suit, every day. When they call you in more than likely they think you can do the job and its just a personality test to see if you fit in with the group. Considering the group will be dressed down, unshaven and probably a bit stinky you don't want to play "which one of these things doesn't belong" by wearing a suit. But remember it is an interview so they expect you to dress better then themselves.
Unless your comfortable in a suit it could throw you more off your game than normal. Considering your nervous enough to ask for advice here, stick to what will help you feel at ease. I would shoot for slightly more dressy than what everyone at the company normally wears. Maybe a polo shirt, kakis and some nice shoes. Maybe a button down shirt without a tie if you can't shake that "I have to be in my funeral attire for this" feeling. My personal favorite is a slightly dressy silk bowling shirt, dark pants and comfortable black leather loafers. The last thing I want to be worried about is how uncomfortable my cloths are making me feel.
Remember you might be called back for a second interview, wearing the same cloths will seem odd. So unless you have a few suits lined up leave it at home.
Ask them as much as you can think. Ask them about bennies, moral events, work flow, possible advancement. One question that kind of cuts all the crap and normally gets people to be more real is "do you like working here, how did you start". If you meet with the team try to get a sense of the pecking order. Remember if you suck too much ass in the interview you'll end up sucking ass the rest of the time you're there.
Lastly don't let all of your personality disorders loose in the first 6mo. Try to keep yourself from talking about your secret stash of tentacle-porn for a few weeks... Try not to talk about how much your life sucks. No one likes a complainer and while you might get sympathy you won't get the job, which would you rather have?
If you can, go interview at some other place you don't want to work at, just to build up some experience and knock down your nervousness. Kind of like the guy that goes and finds himself a hooker for his first time just so he doesn't look like a complete clod the first time he's with a chick he really digs.
Relax you'll be fine
you will get know what to ask and when to ask it with experience.
make aure you listen carefully too. sometimes all you can hear is blah blah blah:), but you have to focus and try not to talk over the interviewer.
Dress: For a nightclub rather than the pub.
Questions to ask: Do you guys provide pensions/healthcare/other benefits?
Questions to prepare for: Why animation? Last game you liked?
General attitude: Confident in your own abilities, honesty with your lack experience. Appreciative of the interview, not desperate for the job.
If you've got an animation showreel, don't let anyone sit and watch it in silence (remember they've already seen it). That's interview death. Ask to drive the PC or DVD player it's playing on, get ready to pause it to make your own comments (don't fuck up the flow of your anims of course), and be prepared to rewind to places the interviewer might bring up and smoothly answer any questions. You don't need an immaculately scripted spiel - if you've got enough awareness of your own work, techniques, problems you faced and how you overcame them etc you should be able to talk and discuss stuff naturally.
If you're really bricking it at the start, hopefully the interviewer will make a real effort to make you as relaxed as possible (starting the conversation with talking about all manner of irrelevant stuff, things like that). If they're a grumpy or officious fucker who wants to start and finish the interview to the letter (and many are), they might not make this effort on your behalf, but you should be able to pick up on this and dial in the self-awareness filters, so you can concentrate really hard on what it is you need to say.
also, make sure you've got a drink of water to hand. Nerves create a dry mouth, that's shit for being able to talk about your work.
-dont lie about your abilities,seen that come back and bite alot of people in the ass
Honestly my Midway on site interview was awesome. Talked with guys about games, sculpting with super sculpey, star wars, movies, EAs buyout of Bioware, the onslaught of games coming out soon and I just tried to let them do most of the talking.
I just relaxed and went with the flow and it worked.
If they asked questions about my work I was honest about it.
-Be yourself,dont try to impress
[/ QUOTE ]
disagree : -Be yourself, *DO* try to impress. it's an interview. You are supposed to impress.
Vig: Great idea thankyou, Im definately one of those people who cant mingle too well at a party of people I dont even know lol, so Im buggered but Il definately try your wisdom
Joe: Goodluck with your end mate.
Rick: Brilliant advice I thankyou.
Neo: Definately
Danr: Thankyou, Think il be on dutch courage aswell as water
Jo420: Il definately not lie about my abilities, I stated pretty clearly that im after a junior position heh, just hope they didnt skim the email.
Jesse: Im definately hoping things will go that smooth, we all know soon enough I geuss
Im really happy that ive actually made the move and emailed directly, aswell as gone with an agency. So far the agency has been a little too quiet but I just got a really random email about a virus going about from the person dealing with my applications so bla.
Going to try hit up Travellers tales aswell on monday.
I really appreciate the advice guys, knowing my luck Il balls it, but it is my 1st
you could ask for 40,000 then negotiate down ha ha.
I wore a suit...
Every Job Interview I went to super nervous I failed miserably. Every one I went to pretty casual and relaxed I got without issue.
Try to tell yourself (and this is really hard, but possible) that you really don't give a shit if you get the job or not. No, really, it's not that important, it's just a job, plenty more out there etc.
There's a reason that people who already have a job have a better chance of finding another than those who are unemployed. The person with the job already is hoping for a new one, not desperate for anything.
That's all I got.
Almost a sign haha
good luck
Oh please...doesn't it always rain over there?
Asked everything I could remmber and it was a really good 1 on 1 interview, took me around the place and i got to see all the cool toys/wip. I was definately nervous but it was made easy for me heh.
General feel is good, art guys are outnumbered something stupid which is awesome hehe. From what I was told there are 2 animators there so itl be busy busy. I was told for a junior 14k is whatl be offered and Ive an animation test to do yet.
So overall im happy, think il definately be making it a go
Im got offered 12k back in 2002 at Blitz Games
I would look elsewhere if I was yu.
you are what you earn and if you take that salary ,you are selling yourself short. ask them for 18 and see what they say seriously.
there is always room to negotiate.
(except that one time I got offered a job with where they explicitly said there was no room to negotiate...)
still, they probably have a limit on what they will spend that is a fair bit higher than what they offered. Just tell em you need more to make rent and eat.
Living costs might be insignificant, but unless you are living in a flat share, sharing all bills, that's going to be really difficult to live on if you want to do anything apart from pay rent. You'll want spending money - I spend 14k a year on hookers alone.
Im going to get this test done and ask for atleast 16+ nothing concrete as of yet. Rick, damn you da man :P
Edit> Oh, and good luck on the test man