As preparation for our interview, we selected groups and came up with typical interview questions as a class.
Questions we may be asked with my answers so far:
- What can you do for us that other candidates can’t? Don’t slag other candidates. I often take a leadership role if time is of the essence and preparation and organisation is necessary for the production of a project. Natural leader? Put into a position of leadership within a few weeks of working with a new company.
- If a group conflict arose in a group project how would you deal with it?
- How would a position at this company fit into your future career path?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years time? If you’re going for entry level explain how you’d like your career to progress (team leader, progress to a senior modeller). If you’re going for a senior position explain how you’d be looking to move the company forward. I would like to progress to a lead modelling role and be able to have more control of the team I work in and have more input on the overall aims and looks of the project.
- How comfortable would you be in a leadership position?
- What are your weaknesses?- I could mention confidence and speaking in front of many people. Mention time management- dealing with this by becoming more organised. Stressing- makes me more organised.
- What is your favourite thing to do within animation or outside of it? Modelling and sculpting. Throughout high school I sculpted with clay and porcelain and it’s amazing to be able to create my own characters with a similar yet digital technique of doing so.
- Give us a time you used your initiative in a difficult situation? problem/people solving. put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Recently a couple of team mates were struggling with personal issues and balancing their social life with the workload. I gathered the rest of the team together to see the amount we could do together and tried to make a list of things that the others could possibly work on without making them feel forced or without leaving them with something they aren’t comfortable with so they would enjoy it more.
- tell us about yourself? – dont lose sight of the job position. 2-3mins long briefly cover your education, interest in the field, work history and experience. REHEARSE From a young age I’ve been watching films created by disney, pixar and don bluth. I grew up watching technology advance and more work being created in 3D. I was always interested in the arts and knew this would be the path I would choose, yet I never imagined I’d be working in the animation industry. When avatar came out in 2009 I was hooked and I never imagined id be taught my someone who worked on this. I tried to get into the course straight away but I had already applied to foundation year and was also advised that this would be good to have anyway. I want to eventually produce something so cinematic and cutting edge.
- Favourite thing from your showreel or something you’ve had a problem with: My sculpted character based on a concept by Nicholas Kole and his project Copernicus. Sculpting was something I always wanted to try and this was my first time really delving into it and creating a full creature from it. I went through so many problems from trying out zspheres and ending up with warped meshes and holes in my meshes. I ended up making a terrible base in maya but continuously working on this in zbrush to get better and with my current project I have worked more with zspeheres and find them so much easier.
- Why should you get this job? from what we’ve discussed so far you’re looking to X. In the past I have demonstrated X, Y and Z which have really helped my previous employer. In the past I have demonstrated my abilities to take initiative, be passionate and to be determined to do well and get projects done. More recently, I showed my abilities to lead and communicate well and Kevin Beimers, director of Italic Pig noticed this and appointed me as project leader while he was out of touch for a few weeks.
- What are your salary expectations? No need to negotiate. Give a broad salary range and be prepared to back it up. between £20,000 – £30,000.
- Why do you want to work here? explain how you want your skills to grow….talk about the work they’ve produced. making kids smile etc. I want to expand the skills I have in the subject I am passionate about and the subject I also consider my hobby. I look up to your work and think this job is best suit to what I see as my future career path. I never imagined I’d be capable of what I can currently do two years ago and within these two years I have learnt so much and know that this will keep happening.
- experience of working in a company can make a person stick to that style: show yourself as versatile. transfer your skills. Working with Italic Pig, we were asked to come up with weirder and weirder character and creature designs. The team came together and we drew out what was on our minds, passed these around and let others characature them.
Questions we can ask: wrong answer is no.
- What are the main objectives and responsibilities of the position? unless it’s in the job description
- Is there potential room to work my way up in the company? Am I able to look into different roles such as texturing and lighting if I am placed in a more modelling role to keep strengthening my skills?
- Whats the mobility of the position in this company and where would you like to see your employee in five years? its up to us to be the driver and it’s our growth and work.
- Is there extra curricular activities you encourage your employees to be a part of? or training programmes.
- Is there extra pay for overtime? maybe not discuss this in the interview.
- are there opportunities to change positions in the company to develop a the wide range of skills.
Strengths: communication, team work, good attitude, problem solver, quick learner, determination, flexible.
Pick the three biggest attributes that you think will get you the job.
Cover Letter
what job have you applied for. modelling and sculpting is the same area.
see reels. websites. cv. cover letter (no more than half a page). can make up the job if you address it to paula campbell.
Paula Campbell: NI Screen
T shaped if generalist- sculpting and modelling . deeper understanding towards this but also exploring texturing and lighting for the future. or sculpting further…
top of the t to be the broader area- bottom to be better expertise.
things they are looking for:
- voice:
- interpersonal skills:ability to establish rapport with interviewers. relationship.
- manner: ability to speak with confidence and interest. passion.
- listening: analysing the questions properly.
- answering skills: address issue, present explanation/incident, all information presented should be relevant.
Add Michael Kane from Rockstar on linkedin