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How to land a job in concept art
I have been trying to land a job in concept art for years. For movies or video games, and I send out emails all the time but I keep getting rejected. What am I missing? #video-games
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Andy’s Answer
Hi Daniel,
That's a pretty tough question. Breaking into the industry can be very difficult. And even staying in isn't so easy.
First and foremost the main thing that you should look at is your portfolio. Get honest feedback from teachers and peers to see what you might need to improve, what pieces to remove, and even how to organize and group things for specific employers.
Secondly, check with your school's career center. They might have internship opportunities or career fairs where you might be able to meet with recruiters and potential employers. Unfortunately employers may get dozens, even hundreds of applicants and it can be difficult for them to sort through them all. But if you can meet with people face-to-face you have a shot at standing out and making a memorable impression.
If you're out of school that might be more difficult. You might try attending industry events like the Game Developer's Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, E3 in Los Angeles, or SIGGRAPH (locations change annually). Attendance can be expensive and in some cases limited to industry professionals. So as an alternative you can look into volunteering at those events. You would have to work some shifts but you could use down time to network and mingle.
I used to volunteer at GDC and got to meet a lot of people. Not just employers, but other volunteers as well who shared a passion for the industry. Ultimately, I landed my first job as a concept artist through a friend I had made in university. Making connections with people and showing hard work are very important.
I hope that this information is helpful. Good luck with your job hunting.
Andy
Get honest feedback on your portfolio
Check with your school and other companies for internship opportunities
Look for volunteer opportunities at industry events
That's a pretty tough question. Breaking into the industry can be very difficult. And even staying in isn't so easy.
First and foremost the main thing that you should look at is your portfolio. Get honest feedback from teachers and peers to see what you might need to improve, what pieces to remove, and even how to organize and group things for specific employers.
Secondly, check with your school's career center. They might have internship opportunities or career fairs where you might be able to meet with recruiters and potential employers. Unfortunately employers may get dozens, even hundreds of applicants and it can be difficult for them to sort through them all. But if you can meet with people face-to-face you have a shot at standing out and making a memorable impression.
If you're out of school that might be more difficult. You might try attending industry events like the Game Developer's Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, E3 in Los Angeles, or SIGGRAPH (locations change annually). Attendance can be expensive and in some cases limited to industry professionals. So as an alternative you can look into volunteering at those events. You would have to work some shifts but you could use down time to network and mingle.
I used to volunteer at GDC and got to meet a lot of people. Not just employers, but other volunteers as well who shared a passion for the industry. Ultimately, I landed my first job as a concept artist through a friend I had made in university. Making connections with people and showing hard work are very important.
I hope that this information is helpful. Good luck with your job hunting.
Andy
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Irit’s Answer
Do Art! Don't over think this. Create your "art" from your ideas. Show your work. Create your brand. Sell yourself.