Learn to Recognize Your Unfair Advantage
The Power of Strengths: Shifting Focus in Your Career Transition
Life transitions are daunting.
Whether you are getting married, moving to a new country, or saying goodbye to a loved one, moving on from where you are today into an unknown tomorrow can feel overwhelming. The same is true for career transitions. For 3D artists, moving from animated films, VFX, and video games to new fields like apparel, footwear, product visualization, or architectural visualization can often feel like an insurmountable challenge.
In my experience, one of the biggest challenges in this journey is overcoming the tendency to focus on our weaknesses rather than our strengths. When first applying for jobs, it’s common to see a list of required skills and immediately zero in on the areas where we fall short. However, this mindset can be a significant barrier to recognizing and leveraging the strengths that make us valuable candidates.
Recognizing the Bias Toward Weaknesses
Human nature often inclines us to fixate on our shortcomings. Things that come naturally to us are easily ignored in favor of the obstacles we constantly struggle to overcome. This is particularly true when faced with job descriptions that enumerate specific skills. For example, a job listing might include ten essential skills, and while we may excel in six of them, our attention gravitates toward the two or three we’re not confident about. Let’s look at this shorter list:
For this imaginary job, you must:
Be proficient in 3D software
Collaborate effectively
Do that move in “Sleepless in Seattle” where Meg Ryan peels an entire apple with a knife in one go
If you are like me, you completely ignore the first two and jump straight to that last one. “I mean… I’ve never done that, but I think I might. Right? Or is it harder than she makes it seem? Wait… I’m clumsy. I would probably cut myself…”
This focus on deficiencies can overshadow our substantial expertise and diminish our confidence. Recognizing and emphasizing your strengths in the transition can transform your career transition from a stressful ordeal into an exciting opportunity.
Emphasizing Transferable Skills
One of the most valuable steps you can take is to identify and highlight the skills that are transferable and highly sought after in your new industry. Here are a few examples of how skills from the entertainment industry can be applied elsewhere:
Technical Proficiency: Mastery of software like Maya, Blender, or ZBrush is not confined to entertainment. These tools are equally valuable in product visualization, where creating realistic models and textures is essential.
Attention to Detail: The meticulous attention required in VFX and animated films is a significant asset in product design, architectural visualization, apparel, and footwear, where accuracy and precision are paramount.
Creative Problem-Solving: The ability to find innovative solutions to complex visual problems is a universal skill applicable in any field, from apparel design to product visualization.
Project Management: Experience managing large-scale projects with tight deadlines translates well into any industry, showcasing your ability to deliver high-quality work under pressure.
Reframing the Narrative
When applying for jobs, it’s crucial to reframe your narrative. Instead of focusing on what you lack, present your strengths in a way that aligns with the needs of the new industry. Here’s how you can do it:
Tailor Your Portfolio: Customize your portfolio to showcase projects relevant to your target industry. Highlight pieces demonstrating your transferable skills and how they can be applied in new contexts.
Craft a Compelling Resume: Focus on your achievements and the impact of your work. Use metrics and specific examples to illustrate how your skills have contributed to the success of past projects.
Prepare for Interviews: Practice articulating your strengths and how they relate to the job you’re applying for. Be ready to discuss how your unique background provides a fresh perspective and adds value to the company.
Having Difficulty Recognizing Your Strengths? Ask Others.
We can often struggle to recognize what we are good at. That’s where our friends, coworkers, and loved ones come in. Be open, honest, and vulnerable with them, explaining that you are applying for work and would like to highlight your strengths but don’t feel confident identifying them. These people can offer a unique perspective that you might not have noticed.
Maybe you are more compassionate than most or can get the most out of people as a leader. You could be someone who keeps calm during the most stressful times, assuming everyone can do the same.
The things that come quickly to us are often the things we are best at, and we might not even realize we are doing them.
Building Confidence Through Strengths
Focusing on your strengths doesn’t mean ignoring your weaknesses. It’s about building confidence and creating a balanced narrative that showcases your comprehensive skill set. By recognizing the value of what you bring to the table, you can approach your career transition with greater assurance and enthusiasm.
For 3D artists, the journey from entertainment to new industries is filled with potential. Your expertise is not just limited to one field but is an asset that can drive innovation and excellence in many others. Embrace your strengths, leverage your unique experiences, and confidently step into the next chapter of your career.
The 3D Artist Community Updates!
Updates:
The group is up to 31 members!
We now have a VFX Supervisor, 3D Fashion Designers, a Leader of Digital Content Creation for apparel, a Photographer and Art Director, a Lead Artist from Pixar, a modeler, an Asset Supervisor for TV Production, and many more amazing artists!
Our community members learned fantastic advice on Product Visualization from Industry Specialist Misty Aminloo!
This week, we will host an AMA session with Jonathan Beals, the former Director of Virtual Materials at Nike.
We started a book club and kicked off with Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being.
We also have regular online meetups where community members can connect, ask questions, and make connections around the world!
3D News of the Week
See the new features in Golaem 9 in this release video - Before & Afters
Maxon releases Redshift 3.6.02 - CG Channel
Twinmotion 2024.1 Is Now Available - 80.lv
Get This Landscape Auto-Texturing Plug-in For Unreal Engine 5 - 80.lv
MPC - Halo: Season 2 VFX Breakdown - YouTube
3D Merch is here!
3D Tutorials
3D Job Spreadsheet
Link to Google Doc With A TON of Jobs in Animation (not operated by me)
Hello! Michael Tanzillo here. I am the Head of Technical Artists with the Substance 3D Growth team at Adobe. Previously, I was a Senior Artist on animated films at Blue Sky Studios/Disney with credits including three Ice Age movies, two Rios, Peanuts, Ferdinand, Spies in Disguise, and Epic.
In addition to his work as an artist, I am the Co-Author of the book Lighting for Animation: The Visual Art of Storytelling and the Co-Founder of The Academy of Animated Art, an online school that has helped hundreds of artists around the world begin careers in Animation, Visual Effects, and Digital Imaging. I also created The 3D Artist Community on Skool and this newsletter.
www.michaeltanzillo.com
Free 3D Tutorials on the Michael Tanzillo YouTube Channel
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