Creating a CV

A CV is a document used when applying for jobs. It allows you to summarise your education, skills and relevant work experience enabling you to successfully sell your abilities to potential employers. It should be a document used to sell your skill sets to an employer when applying for jobs.

I researched what is required to make a good CV and I found the following points:

• The right CV format
• Education
• Achievements
• Contact details
• Qualifications
• Work experience
• Eye Catching
• Personal Statement

I started researching CVs that I found eye-catching and appealing which are also animation examples.

These two CVs above are contrasting designs yet both are very effective. Junaid’s CV on the left is eye-catching, and to the point and displays their design skills. Keeping the software skills simple by adding visual scales and clipart images. Justin’s CV is also an animation CV and is a lot more formal, they display important information neatly and well spaced out while still incorporating the visual skill sets so it is quick and easy to see which is important for an employer to be able to pick up on at a glance.

With these aspects in mind, I wanted to incorporate them in my personal CV, specifically the visual skill sets used in both and the attractive colour schemes used by Junaid. I want more my CV to be attractive to look at but still informative.

My first attempt at creating a CV

I really liked the colour schemes, the design and the attractiveness of this CV. I used a Canva template to create this CV so I was limited to adding much more detail. The picture I used was also rushed. I took the colour scheme inspiration from Junaid’s CV  as well as displaying my skill sets visually on a bar and the simplicity of the information I needed to give, making it quick and simple to gauge my CV. When looking at Justin’s CV, I wanted to include my picture, conveying my bright and friendly personality and still including my hobbies to display my other interests bar animation.

CV Feedback

After discussing my CV with my lecturer about what I needed to change and improve on with my current CV, there was quite a lot I needed to change. It was clear that my first attempt was very simplistic and lacked important information that employers would be looking for such as more details on my experience and my skill sets as well as examples of my work. I realised that I should have taken more inspiration from Justin’s CV instead of Junaid’s. A few points that my lecturer had were moving my contact details further up on the page, making it clear how to get in contact with me. My links weren’t clickable either which he suggested adding which I didn’t know I could even do on a PDF,  he pointed out that I should align everything as well on the edge of the page to clean the look of the CV up more. A big bit of advice was to add more about myself in the ‘About me’ column, to explain more about my specialisms and to show why they related to the Billy Goat entertainment requirements and responsibilities. The last point my lecturer made was to fix up my experience, put everything in order from recent to oldest and to add my current group projects in bullet points, making sure that I list the skill sets that aligned well with the 3D generalist position that I was applying to. With all of this in mind, I went back to my CV and began changing things around.

I added links to the portfolio list and added references as I completely forgot about that aspect which was very important. I found a more appropriate photo as well, still highlighting my bright personality but in a more professional photo.

I believe that the difference between this CV and my initial interaction is huge. I think my most recent one depicts my professional attributes while also clearly and visually conveying my skills and experience without coming off as obnoxious or simple.

Creating a showreel

A showreel is a short video showcasing a person’s previous work involving past projects and animations that depict a persons strongest skillsets and their abilities. For a 3D generalist, it was important that I show an array of skills such as:

• Modelling
• Sculpting
• Rigging
• Animating
• Texturing
• Posing

I needed to show an employer my strongest examples of the listed skills above and create a short 1-minute video. I began looking at other animators’ showreels for 3D generalist positions.

I watched Tibor Janás’ showreel for a junior 3D generalist position and liked the aspect of having model turnarounds showcasing the model, wireframe and textures used in the process.

Creating a Cover E-mail and Finding Job Listings

A cover letter introduces you to an employer and asks them to think about your application. It’s a short letter meant to leave a good impression of the applicant. It’s important to connect with the employer and convey how much you care for the job position and the company.

When it comes to looking for job applications many sites can be used. I looked on Indeed, handshake UK, LinkedIn and the NI Screen Placement opportunities. The job post that I found that interested me the most was a 3D Artist for Billy Goat Entertainment which is situated here in Belfast.

I began making my cover email based off the same design as my CV in order to keep cohesiveness in my application and to convey the importance of design in my work. I found a sample cover email that I liked made by Taylor Foster. I liked the way that they structured the email, giving a brief description about themselves, then moving onto why they would be suited for the company and ending the email with what they can bring to the company.

My first attempt at creating a cover email

My original attempt covered the basics that I thought were good, I talked about what kind of person I am in the beginning and my previous knowledge of the company, in the second paragraph I discussed why my skills are well-suited and adaptable to the position and I ended the email with what I would bring to the company.

Cover Email Feedback

I asked my lecturer what I could change about my cover email and I got a lot of good pointers. I was told to look at the job descriptions which I didn’t know were there to start with.

I added in aspects of their criteria into my skill sets to prove I knew a lot about the position being offered. I was also told, instead of mentioning that they have given guest lecturers, to give specific names which I did in my new addition. I was told to not delve too much into my interest in VFX as it wasn’t in the job description but instead talk about aspects of VFX that I have utilised in my projects and used in Unreal Engine like UDIM maps and real-time rendering. I was told to expand on the description I gave to myself, instead of just saying that I am a bright and kind person, explain why. I also expanded on my experience and how that has shaped me to be able to work better in this kind of role. I added to the conclusion of the email by expressing why I would like this position in more detail and talked about their game ParcelCorps.

A portfolio is a showcase of all your work, a grand display of your development as an Artist. Linked below is my Art Station containing my own works, containing assets, models and animations including my knowledge of textures and starting with my best quality.

https://www.artstation.com/sarahclrk

This portfolio contains more of my work and pipelines of my project that aren’t seen in my showreel which is important for companies to see.

When preparing for interviews I had to keep in mind to be myself but be calm and collected. I tend to get nervous and shaky so I did some breathing exercises before my mock interview. Overall the interview went really well! They really enjoyed that I didn’t use the words ‘weakness’ but instead said ‘something that I’m not as strong in’ which is an aspect I will definitely take with me into future interviews. I also did more research on the company JAM Media and related my skills to their projects to show that I care for the company.