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And while I thought they were fairly obvious things to be doing, it turns out they're not. Some people put way to much pressure on finding a job and lose sight of the right way to go about finding employment and furthering your career.
Being unemployed is often stressful, worrying and dare I say it, boring. But it doesn't have to be. Panic, is a common trait for the unemployed. They panic about not having work, money, anything to do or worry they are unemployable. I know, I've been there. But what I learnt from being unemployed is that you don't have to panic and it is a great time to polish yourself and your skills.
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Here are the top tips, both from the article and a few of my own.
- Build an online presence. I can't even stress how important this is for people in film and visual effects. You need to have a LinkedIn profile and an online reel that is kept current. This is how recruiters are going to get in touch with you and view your work. It is also where you are going to hear about work directly from the companies. Once you've started that you could develop a blog and a website. You don't have to just talk about your work either. Blog about the industry, films you watch, different techniques you're trying.
- Start networking. Networking is how you build your professional relationships. And don't be a networking snob. Connect with other artists. Connect with recruiters or people you want to work with. Make an effort to develop a relationship. Don't just send a standard email, make it personal. Make an effort to go to networking events or meet up with an old colleague. Build strong relationships with the hiring managers of the jobs you are applying to. Even if you don't get the job, thank them for their time or connect with them on LinkedIn. Here's some tips for LinkedIn, http://www.slideshare.net/AndyPriestner1/linked-in-20-tips-tricks.
- Freelance. This is pretty common anyway in the film and visual effects industry. But perhaps build on what you can offer as a freelancer. Create a webpage to promote yourself or design a poster that you can post to your LinkedIn page or your website. Getting your name out there is important. If you are trying to generate your own work and business, it looks great and says a lot about your professional character.
- Keep your skills current. Often if you are unemployed for an amount of time, you start to become less familiar with programs or professional communication. Keep these skills current by working on your own projects, writing a blog and contacting your connections. Artists in VFX should be working on their own personal projects. The industry is fickle at best so you are protecting yourself by keeping your own passion and skills alive and current.
- Volunteer. While I'm not a believer in volunteering, sometimes the experience or the opportunity is worth it. I think that the work we produce in this industry demands respect and we should be compensated for our talents. That being said, sometimes an opportunity comes up that is truly great. Perhaps you can assist at an industry job fair or do some work on a community project. These opportunities can also tie in with the 'networking' you should be doing. Volunteer type events are always packed full of influential people in the industry and the community.
- Taking a time out. Sometimes you need a break so being unemployed can be a long awaited time of relaxation. If you are burnt out from a previous project you need to relax and recharge. Spending time with family is important and taking time for yourself so that when you do jump back into employment you are refreshed, positive and ready to work hard again.
Here's the original article by Careerealism. It really is a great site for employment, interviewing and resume tips. http://www.careerealism.com/things-should-doing-unemployed/
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