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| Interview, by Mikkel Okholm and Mikkel Brons-Frandsen |
Why? Because the thing that counts for most in getting hired is your demo reel. They are not hiring you for your good looks or charming conversation - they are hiring you for your skill and talent in digital media.
That said, interviews do matter. They are important mostly because this is the point at which many otherwise excellent candidates blow it, and throw a great opportunity away. How does this happen? Below are some of the most common reasons why good candidates fail to get hired.
1. Turn up late
You'd be amazed how many people do this. Why are people late? Often, they haven't figured out how long the journey might take. Or, they didn't leave enough time for getting lost. The problem is - first impressions count. Keeping the person interviewing you waiting is a bad idea.
Rule 1 - turn up on time
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| The glamour of talking dogs |
A few years ago I was looking for animators at a London VFX house for a talking dog movie. It was not the most glamorous of animation assignments, but it was a chance to get really, really good at animating lipsync.
One of the animators we interviewed said yes, he wouldn't mind doing talking dogs for a while - as long as he could move on to better work afterwards. We didn't hire him.
Rule 2 - Only interview if you really want the job.
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| Google it first! |
Companies don't like candidates who appear to know little about what the company actually does.
At the very least, you should check out the company's website before the interview. And don’t ask questions that you should be able to answer with a quick Google search.
Years ago, when I applied to Blue Sky Studios for a job, I was just about to leave for the airport when I realised I had not watched their last film, Ice Age. Frantically, I speed-watched the film all the way through, just about got to the end, and ran for the airport.When I go to the interview in New York, I was interviewed by almost the entire animation department. They all wanted to know what I thought of their shots in Ice Age. What were my favourite bits? Did I like the film?
I got the job.
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| Look people up first |
A quick IMDB search will tell you who has worked on what. There is nothing like a bit of gentle flattery ("I really liked the work you did on Fast and The Furious 12") to make sure the meeting goes well. Everyone likes to be complemented on their work. And, knowing who your interviewer is shows that you have done your homework.
Rule 3. Do your research
4. Talk about yourself at great length
As with dating, so it is with job interviews. No-one wants to hear someone bore on about themselves and their achievements. Listen carefully, speak when spoken to, and don't ramble. Interviews are not the place for lengthy anecdotes, however amusing.
Rule 4 - don't be a bore
5. Be rude.
I once interviewed a candidate who was on the phone when I came to find her at Reception. I assumed she would hang up, but instead she waived me away and chatted for ten minutes on the phone, while I waited. She didn't get a place.
Rule 5 - Be polite
6. Criticise your current (or past) employer.
Badmouthing your boss is a common and disastrous interview offense. Employers know that if you publicly criticise your current employer, you are hardly likely to be discreet about your next position. Even if you really hate where you work, or used to work, try to find something positive about the experience. After all, you must have learned something useful, however unpleasant the job.
Rule 6 - don't air your dirty laundry in public
7. Claim credit for things you didn’t do.
Never ever put work you did not do yourself on your demo reel. If you worked on a joint project, only show the shots that you did yourself. If you shared a shot with others, explain what you did (and did not do) in detail. Don't ever pass off someone else's work as your own. Our industry is a small one - you will get found out.
Rule 7 - Be honest about your work
8. Ask how much you will get paid.
An interview is not usually the place to talk about money. At least, not a first interview. Generally, money is the next stage, once the company has decided they like you, and this will typically be handled by someone in Human Resources. You may, however, get asked by your employer at your interview how much you were paid in your last job. Remember that you don't have to answer this question if you don't want to (especially if you weren't paid much). You can always be vague or evasive. Say "oh, the market rate", or ""I don't remember exactly - I'll have to check and get back to you".
Rule 8 - don't raise the subject of money at your first interview
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| Wikimedia Commons |
We all have dreams, but an interview for a roto tracking position or a running job is not the place to air them in detail. Entry level jobs involve menial drudgery, making tea and doing repetitive tasks. If you tell your future employer you want to be Steven Spielberg, they will think you are an unrealistic dreamer. Much better by far to tell them your dream is to be a well-rounded visual effects artist. This is a practical goal that they can actually help you achieve.
When I taught at CalArts back in the late 1990s, one of my most talented students blew a great opportunity at Warner Bros by doing exactly this at an interview for an entry-level position, saying he really, really wanted to direct. The producer who interviewed him was simply annoyed - everyone in Hollywood wants to direct. The job was a production internship - doing the boring stuff that no-one else wanted to do. My student did not get the job.
Rule 9 - Be modest.
This isn't an exhaustive list, of course. There are as many ways to mess up an interview as there are stars in the sky. But these are some of the most common errors. Learn from the mistakes of others and don't repeat them.
----Alex
The Escape Studios Animation Blog is a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To find out more about our new BA/MA starting in September 2016, follow this link. To apply, visit the offical page here.
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