Computer Graphics World

February 2009 44 n n n n Recruitment and key studios within it, she continues. "Where at all possible, make the most of conferences as a chance to meet potential employers," advises Rodgers. "A smile and a hello go a long way." Gavgavian, proposing another method of industry involvement, encourages sea- soned creatives to become a mentor or an instructor at an art college during the down cycles. "at need is becoming more prevalent, and these slower times are the perfect opportunity to get out there and exercise creative abilities in a more diverse way." Gain Experience Interning presents another opportunity to get your foot in the door and gain greater experience during economic hardships. "FMC is a strong proponent of interning," admits Rothberg. Interns can learn a great deal about the business, whereas employers can get a sense of who will make a good employee and become a valuable member of the team. Interning is no guarantee of future employment, but FMC (www.fmc- training.com) has hired interns to full-time positions based on their desire, willingness, and aptitude. "Having the ability to intern can definitely pay dividends if one has the time and desire," he explains. One way to set yourself apart is with manufacturer certification, a valuable tool to have in your digital tool kit. "e achievement of an industry-recognized cer- tification can only help in the employment process," continues Rothberg, who has ex- perienced an upward trend in certifications offered by Avid, Digidesign, Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, and other solutions providers. "Being able to differentiate oneself from the competition is an excellent idea in case of unexpected layoffs or downsizing." Attitude Is Everything Gavgavian and her colleagues look for "soft-skill" qualities—such as the ability to be a strong team player, a self-starter, and have a great attitude—when filling all po- sitions at Digital Domain. "We seek indi- viduals who are open and willing to learn new software and processes for the techni- cal and/or artistic positions." Similarly, Rodgers seeks proven team players whose reel demonstrates the po- tential to produce world-class visual effects for the cinema. He also endeavors to avoid people with large egos and who want to do their own thing, because they don't fit into Double Negative's culture. "You can't pretend to be passionate and enthusiastic about what you do," he says. "People who commit to do their best, have integrity, and are willing to learn, stretch, and challenge themselves are worth their weight in gold and should always be able to find work." Know your Stuff When all is said and done, it is paramount to be knowledgeable about the process, workflow, and the latest tools. Rothberg recommends "really knowing your stuff, becoming an expert in the software of your choosing and more. Today's editors, for ex- ample, are no longer just storytellers. Today's artists are often called upon to add effects, adjust audio, deal with outside production elements, and to be comfortable with com- pression and output issues; therefore, it is critical that one know as much as possible." Strong and varied technical skills ensure that students and graduates are better pro- tected from economic considerations, says Norman I. Badler, professor of Computer and Information Science; director, Center for Human Modeling and Simulation; di- rector, Digital Media Design; and faculty executive director, Computer Graphics and Game Technology at the University of Pennsylvania (cg.cis.upenn.edu/cggt). "For example, in the initial Web boom of eight to 10 years ago, many companies had 10 to 20 employees developing a single Web site. ey had front-end designers and back-end programmers galore. When that bubble burst, our students survived be- cause they had been educated to do both jobs; thus, two salaried employees could be replaced with one person. Likewise, in animation, special effects, and games, the closer a graduate is to the boundary be- tween being a technical artist and a techni- cal director, the more choices that student will have for each job he or she considers, and the more valuable the person will be to the employer. By being conversant and knowledgeable in the culture and lingo of both, such students serve a critical interdis- ciplinary, yet flexible, role." Badler and colleague Amy Calhoun also Qualified applicants may find themselves in the main conference room, called "the whale," or the adjacent executive office in Digital Domain's studio. Most recently, the VFX facility finished groundbreaking work on the feature film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

• Cover