More networking tips

Networking is not just about giving your business card to everyone in the room. Its about making a lasting connection.

But how do you do that when you meet them? Chances are you have only spoken long enough to grab their name and business card. How do you keep that connection so that they remember you the next time they meet you? You have established a connection and now you need to maintain it.

The best way to do this is to send them an e-mail after meeting them. I recommend the next morning but within the next two days is crucial. You don't remember what you had last week for breakfast do you? How about 50 breakfasts ago? Well the person you connected with probably met at least 50 to 100 other people that night for a SMALL event. Events like SIGGRAPH and you are one in several thousand trying to establish that connection. The longer it takes you to e-mail them the harder you are to remember.

If you can, try to arrange a meeting. Buy them lunch or dinner or a beer after work. Many people will take you up on this number one because it doesn't cost them anything and number two they need to keep making connections too. You could be the next John Lasseter or Milt Kahl. How would the know if they didn't take the chance?

(By the way, if you don't know who the aforementioned names are and you are in the animation industry please do some research!)

Also, be nice to people. Offer to help them with a project or with something personal if they mention it in passing. Offer to volunteer with them. Volunteering is one of the best ways to meet people. Volunteer for your local film festival or for an animation mixer. People you meet there are likely the kinds that are either in the same industry or are like minded individuals such as yourself. The more positive connections you make with people the better.

LinkedIn is another great way to maintain that connection. LinkedIn is great because it not only connects you to that person, it adds all their connections to your extended network. This can be a great tool when trying to find out who the recruiters are at a company.

There is one major thing to keep in mind when trying to connect with people. If you can't connect with them quickly or can't seem to find some common ground thank them for their time and for listening to you, give them your card, then move on. Don't try to force a connection with people who aren't willing. Sometimes you just can't click with person and it is no fault of your own. You can't possibly be friends with everyone but what you can be is polite and professional. By thanking them for their time you acknowledge that maybe they don't have time to take to you now but you are leaving your business card signifying that you are willing to contact them again soon and maintain a professional relationship. That in itself demands respect.

All that being said it is not impossible to start up a conversation out of the blue. Keep trying and you will get better every time you get out there.

Good luck and remember: have fun! This is supposed to be fun!

Toronto ACM SIGGRAPH launch event.

On Tuesday June 24th I volunteered for the launch of the Toronto ACM SIGGRAPH chapter.

It was a screening of the 2012 SIGGRAPH's animations and technical papers at the Royal Cinema downtown Toronto. It blew my mind to see some of the amazing pieces that people around the world were doing and I was inspired to create some of those pieces on my own some day.

The event was followed up with some socializing (i.e. Networking) at the Monarch Tavern just around the corner from the cinema. I met many people that night. One of whom got hired for the same job as me. Turns out Nelvana hired two lighting TDs. It was great to get to know her before starting work so I was able to have a friend that i knew prior. We now sit right next to each other!

The night was absolutely amazing. I very much enjoyed meeting one person in particular named Valerie whom was a great person inside and out. She offered to help me find a job which was incredible of her but I had already just gotten hired at Nelvana. Her support and endorsement made me feel like I have been doing the right thing. That this path was the one I was meant to take.

Get out there and network yourself! You could get a job for it too!

Why is NETWORKING so important?

Networking. This word is a powerful one. Networking can mean the difference between interning for a year or more before landing a job and landing one straight out of school. By far networking is one of the greatest skills you will learn in life and should try to learn before you leave school.

Director from Nelvana, a large animation studio in Toronto, Ontario, says in his launching lectures at Sheridan College, "Look to the left of you, now look to the right. Be nice to these people. One day you will either be working with or for them." Here he introduces students to the reality that they have to present themselves professionally and practice that with their peers. When you get into the real world, you might be working right next to the person you might have made fun of in school. Or, worse in that case, working under them.

Networking is also about getting yourself out there. Being shy is not really an option anymore. If you want the jobs you have to get yourself known. Especially in this industry. If people have no personal connection to you in anyway but they do with another candidate, who do you think they will choose? Try to attend as many networking events as possible to meet people and start getting yourself known.

Last summer I attended the Pixar Animation and Story Masterclasses in Toronto hosted by VanArts. During the breaks before and after these classes I introduced myself to as many people as I could. I became close with a few and most importantly, I kept in touch with them over the past year. Now we are coordinating going to another network event together, we give each other advice or opinions on each other's posted work and we encourage one another. I would hire these people in a moment if they were applying somewhere I worked.

In another instance, my 3rd year internship at GUS VFX was obtained from a connection I had as a student that I kept in contact with. She was in third year when I was in first but someone I was dating was in the same year as her. I made many connections with the third years in there and, again very important, kept in touch with all of them throughout the years. When a position came up for a graduate to become an intern, I was first in line.

These connections are crucial and you need to start making them now. The perfect opportunity to do that soon is at the Welcome To The Industry Party hosted by TAAFI. This is a networking event that will allow people in the industry or just entering to connect with one another. You meet people there, keep in touch with them, and who knows... one day they might just have a position for you! I have hooked up a few friends from back at school with great internships and I would be more than happy to do that again.

So get out there and NETWORK! You never know what amazing opportunities will follow.

Get in touch with me! Introduce yourself! We may be working together in the future.

E-mail me at karenwonderswhy[at]gmail[dot]com.

If you want to be added to the mailing list for future networking events just send me an e-mail stating so and I will be more than happy to add you to the list.

What Your Internship REALLY Teaches You

As I enter in to my last week of my 3rd year internship I am taking time to process what I have learned not about the software but of the industry.

Turns out I was wrong.

I went through school with the presumption that if I did really well in school and got myself a good internship that it would be easy to find a job after school. In this sense I was wrong. There is so much more to it.

I am learning very quickly that this is a very small industry. The people you go to school with will be your coworkers. Networking with your peers on all levels will help you get a job after graduating.

The harsh reality is: you are not guaranteed a job after graduating. You are not guaranteed a job within six months, even. The only way you can keep yourself in the game is to constantly be aware of what is happening and where.

Some suggestions:

Look on job boards regularly, find new job boards, apply even if there is no posting, attend networking events, keep in touch with your peers, and try to make yourself known on the web. Be active with twitter and keep your linked in updated. These things will help keep you connected.

Don't ever think that anything in life is guaranteed. I have been on top of the class for all three years and worked my butt off. Luckily for me I am also good at networking. When you get into the industry you are going to need to be.

For those who make excuses about being busy or already having a job or being busy with internships...too busy to attend the networking events... I implore you. Attend anyways. The connections that you make may just get you a job one day.

There are some that I now know in the industry who may not be the best animators or lighters or modellers but they are really good at meeting people and making themselves known. This is a crucial skill in life.

So try your best at networking and always remain professional with your peers. You never know what the future may bring.

As Nevada director Jason Groh says "Talent will get you in the door, networking will get you the job"