Job Advice
polycounter lvl 7
Hey guys,
So I've been lucky enough to be able to land interviews at a simulations company and EA for modeling/texturing. Though I don't have solid offers yet, I've been weighing which option I would choose if it came to it. I'm not 100%, so I was hoping you guys might be able to share insight and thoughts about it. I wrote out some pros and cons below. Also, I understand some of the stuff below is a bit nit-picky, especially for entry-level. I would definitely be excited to work at either company, but trying to think things through as well as possible.
Simulations:
Pros:
- Job Security (Full-time, lots of benefits)
- Would be able to work on different models and projects from various clients; More opportunity to explore other venues of work (Generalist)
- Very relaxed atmosphere; Probably less stress and deadline pressure than the rest of the game industry
Cons:
- Graphics are 3-4 years behind since it's mainly for training purposes
- Style is realistic and mainly vehicles/weapons, while I'm a bigger fan of stylized art and characters
- No Zbrush and limited software options
- Business casual dress code
EA:
Pros:
- Will work in character-related art (what I want)
- More opportunity to do high-end art
- Will work in more programs I'm familiar with
- Will have more opportunity to learn about cutting-edge techniques and software
- Good starting off point because of the EA name and possibility to go to other EA studios
- Will be familiar with some faces
- Casual dress code
Cons:
- Contract work; May be some time before I can become full-time, if possible
- Probably more deadline pressure and crunch time
Thanks for any input!
Tl;dr: First job in the industry - do I start in simulations or EA?
So I've been lucky enough to be able to land interviews at a simulations company and EA for modeling/texturing. Though I don't have solid offers yet, I've been weighing which option I would choose if it came to it. I'm not 100%, so I was hoping you guys might be able to share insight and thoughts about it. I wrote out some pros and cons below. Also, I understand some of the stuff below is a bit nit-picky, especially for entry-level. I would definitely be excited to work at either company, but trying to think things through as well as possible.
Simulations:
Pros:
- Job Security (Full-time, lots of benefits)
- Would be able to work on different models and projects from various clients; More opportunity to explore other venues of work (Generalist)
- Very relaxed atmosphere; Probably less stress and deadline pressure than the rest of the game industry
Cons:
- Graphics are 3-4 years behind since it's mainly for training purposes
- Style is realistic and mainly vehicles/weapons, while I'm a bigger fan of stylized art and characters
- No Zbrush and limited software options
- Business casual dress code
EA:
Pros:
- Will work in character-related art (what I want)
- More opportunity to do high-end art
- Will work in more programs I'm familiar with
- Will have more opportunity to learn about cutting-edge techniques and software
- Good starting off point because of the EA name and possibility to go to other EA studios
- Will be familiar with some faces
- Casual dress code
Cons:
- Contract work; May be some time before I can become full-time, if possible
- Probably more deadline pressure and crunch time
Thanks for any input!
Tl;dr: First job in the industry - do I start in simulations or EA?
Replies
Of course you need to be able to survive, but as long as you have that covered. Go for it.
You actually wrote "What I want" under the EA pros. So I think that sums it up
I actually had a similar choice setup a few years ago, and I chose the "safe" option, I pretty quick ended up unhappy and frustrated knowing I chose the one I did not really want.
only my opinion, but hope it helps!
Think of yourself as a Sim, are you family orientated? Job Security, Career Orientated? Character art, these decisions are hard to give a definitive do this or that, because it really depends on you knowing yourself and making your decision based upon that, so best thing I can say is work out what sim you are lol.
I would recommend going with EA if the opportunity presents itself. You'll be in the industry you want and even if it is temporary work, if you do a good job, you are more likely to get offered another contract once more work presents itself.
Not sure which studio you'd be at, but the EAC one also has a crazy nice campus. Not that it should be the deciding factor... but I'm just saying
Which EA studio?
It is much easier to relax outside of work when the work you're doing lines up with your personal art goals.
One thing to keep in mind though is the likelihood of being hired on full-time and whether you'll have to move. Will you have to move far for the EA position? It would suck if you had to move across the country only to find yourself unemployed 6 months(or however long it is) later once your contract ends