Preparing for the VFX Upturn

In times of uncertainty, it is natural to be anxious about job security. Whether it’s a pandemic, industrial action or the cyclical nature of production release windows, confidence in the job market can be quickly eroded. Should the worst happen and your contract end unexpectedly, you don’t want to be scrambling to get your profile in order. It’s best to look at this when time is on your side.

As a Senior Recruiter with PXL Talent , I have regular contact with established visual effects and post production professionals. It’s common to hear that many have been contemplating their next career move, only to discover their resume &/or LinkedIn profile have been neglected.

Updating your profile with your latest and greatest experience is essential and also acts to remind you how much you have developed and what you have achieved. Perhaps it might also provide a moment to recognise why you got into this wonderful / crazy industry in the first place - and why you should persevere.

You are a professional and your story is important. Know that there is nothing wrong with being proud of your career, or indeed actively owning your ambition.

Preparing for change and unexpected opportunity

The information you present on your LinkedIn profile is critical. How does your About section read? Are you describing your diverse experience and what you bring to a role clearly and concisely?

Take a moment to layer up your about section. Treat it as a professional summary or cover letter, as it might appear on your resume. This section might be your foot-in-the-door to a new possibility and has the potential to be the lens through \ which your career is regarded.

With candidate permission, I regularly need to create a PDF resume from a LinkedIn profile; especially when their regular resume is not ready.

Check out what your profile looks like, by selecting “More”, under your LinkedIn profile picture and “Save to PDF”.

Update your Open to Work settings

Tweaking your LinkedIn settings can discreetly indicate to professional recruiters that you are either seriously looking, or just casually considering your next gig. These settings limit people in your existing organisation from seeing that you might be dipping a toe in the market. You can also list your preferred working locations (country and city) and indicate if you are open to remote, on-site or WFH opportunities. Simple steps that can positively impact your career.??

A good profile will work for you while you are sleeping. Talent acquisition professionals often hold LinkedIn Recruiter licences. That’s a high end tool, packed with features that allow recruiters to create job profiles and projects that include a range of hiring parameters. By changing your profile details, you are increasing the likelihood of appearing in their saved searches and getting contacted for the opportunities that are more closely align with your career.

Own your professional skillset and experience

If you have held multiple roles within the same organisation, break down each position and include a some information on what you did. Embrace your career trajectory - each step is important. Recruiters enjoy reading about your progress. I always consider each candidate’s past experience, as it may provide an indication on where they might be heading. If you have held a lead creative role for some years, I’d likely ask if you are open to hearing about upcoming supervisory roles.

Engage

If your profile is working for you, recruiters will invariably reach out to better determine if an opening aligns with your experience. Across that call, it’s ok for you to be inquisitive. Explore the angles of the role and consider it from different perspectives. We love it when candidates ask questions in screening and interview calls. Getting a solid match is as much about the company as it is about you. So prepare some questions in advance and be inquisitive about the opportunity. It’s expected.

Here’s to new beginnings

Downturns keep us on edge. My heart goes out to anyone that may have had their circumstances unexpectedly change. With any luck, new opportunities will be just around the corner. Television and feature film content creators, supervisors, producers and technical crew will likely be in high demand as projects quickly and concurrently become green-lit.

Until then, get cracking on updating your profile and resume. Momentum is important if you are going to ride the next wave. Be prepared and use this time to work on… You.

Marcus Wells is a Talent Consultant with PXL Talent and has over 20 years of Visual Effects recruitment & management experience. He has held a range of production, recruitment and human resource roles and has a deep understanding of the visual effects process and the talented teams who create brilliant work. A member of the Visual Effects Society (VES), Marcus contributes to conversations aimed at improving the strength of diversity of the industry.

About PXL Talent

PXL Talent is a specialist global executive search and recruitment agency for the VFX, Animation and creative industries.?

People are at the centre of everything we do. We sre focused on those who shape VFX, animation, interactive entertainment and creative industries. Working closely with people we admire and whose passion we share, we build long-term partnerships that bring together world-class studios and talent.

Our focus is your success. If you’d like to discover more about what we can do for you, let’s talk.?

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