Why They're Not Hiring You... | Creative Career Tips

[@sotografik]

Hey Ben, thank you for everything. I was recently hired for a videographer/ graphic designer/ and MOTION GRAPHICS . Your tutorials has changed the trajectory of my life and I will be forever grateful. Thank you.

[@BenMarriott]

Footnotes: 1. Yes, I'm visibly salty about not yet being asked to design an adorable bat companion for a star-wars property. I'm sure Obi-wan would have loved the company & merchandising opportunities whilst waiting it out on Tattooine. 2. In experimenting with different locations to film I discovered that the last one in this video from the lower angle was in fact TOO flattering. For the safety of myself and my viewers in the future, I will not be reusing it without an onscreen warning.

[@ramonmff5158]

This made me chuckle 😂

[@samstucky9984]

Your shimmering beauty has rendered me blind, unable to finish my work day. Expect a letter from my lawyer.

[@juaniferritto3249]

The one with the toy dinosaur is the best by far. Please keep him in your upcoming videos

[@juaniferritto3249]

THERE'S ONE IN YOUR HAND TOO I JUST NOTICED

[@quos3683]

You forgot gender, race and place someone live matter, even with a great portfolio. I say that from +10 years of experience, the movie studio I made my first internship where racist and hated women, and those people worked on the bigest syfy movie, they never paid me :). Same shit if not worse in the gaming industry, some people need to create their own art and sell it themself, because the reality is they will never be hired by anyone. I wished someone told me this when I was 21 yo, I lost so many years and money ... but this subject is very taboo.

[@OliverJustChillin]

Ben, I want to tell you that I recently interviewed with a company and I brought up your channel, specifically your "We always name our layers" line, and the animators in the interview knew exactly what I was talking about. I was interviewing for a motion designer position, and needless to say, I got the job.

[@user-os8gp7eh2v]

Haha same here! It got me my first job out of college

[@obv_design9310]

Congratulations!!!! 🎉 And don't you ever forget to name your layers😅

[@ryanrodriguez3370]

Congrats man. Wish you a beautiful and bright future. Show them who you are 👋❤️

[@Yahya98]

I'm still in the process, wish me luck like you guys!

[@bulletjump7795]

this man is so unfathomably smooth. dude got the cinematography in a video about business for animation. he's just him.

[@dementedpenguinz]

As a recent music graduate trying to get a foot in the door and build a decent portfolio, this is some great advice that definitely feels applicable to my field :) thanks as always for providing some inspo

[@BenMarriott]

Thanks Joshua! Yes I defintiely think these would apple to almost creative career. :D Maybe not taxidermy... actually maybe moreso for taxidermy...

[@user-yo5yr9yr2h]

Some advice to add on here for young designers. The best thing you can do is be specific in your portfolio about the work you want to do. If you want to work in news, have journalism focused personal projects! If you want to do logo animation, have logo animations! If you want to do branding, do branding. Being a generalist is good but when it comes to job applications, the more specific your portfolio is geared towards the industry the job is for, the more likely you're to be hired! And ideally do work you're excited for. Ben is right about not filling your portfolio with boring corporate work (unless that's your jam). Also don't bother putting print work in your portfolio unless you want to do print design. Never put work in your portfolio you don't want to do in the future---->advice I wish I had as a recent college grad

[@obv_design9310]

Precious tips, as always! Thank you so much, Ben!!!! I'll never going to be allergic to your videos! 😊👍

[@ehkoi]

Thanks Ben!

[@cgtechie]

00:53 THOSE EYES!!!!

[@jefferylawson9409]

Amazing content! Thanks!!!

[@chaztoons]

I'm an animator with 2D cartoony, vector based corporate, and some 3D style experience. I've heard it's a good idea to have multiple reels to show to the appropriate corresponding job that you're applying for. Would you recommend having a general reel, a 2d reel, a corporate reel, as well as a 3d reel? In case a job only needs 3D, or 2D or Vector stuff? Or is that all just too much?

[@user-yo5yr9yr2h]

I'd say it's better to have 1 outward facing reel and if you really need the other reels keep them private. I personally think it's better to have a single reel geared to the industry you want to work in most

[@MotionHatch]

Hi Chase I agree with M it's better to do 1 really amazing reel with the work you actually want to do. If you have some other work that you get work from and are regularly asked for you can always have another private reel but I think most people would be able to see what you do from one. If you're thinking of niching in an industry usually you would still get hired for the same old work you do so I think the same applies here. Hope that helps.

[@chaztoons]

@@MotionHatch Thank you! I definitely appreciate the feedback from you both. I've just been applying to a lot of jobs on linkedin with a reel that has vector based stuff, 2d animation, and 3d, to show I have a diverse skillset. But I was just thinking from the employer perspective, if its for a motion graphics corporate role, they may get to my cartoony stuff and think, hmm, not the right style? As for 1 reel focusing on the work I'd like to do, I'm honestly okay with doing any work I can as long as I make a living off of my art. I'm currently in an animation role I really enjoy, I just want to make sure I have the best options for when I need to move forward. Thanks again for the reponses!

[@slade9989]

Love the font you use on your thumbnails. What font do you use?

[@JeremyLord5000]

Amazing video Ben! Love me a good food analogy :)

[@jeffchristensen4034]

Great tips - like always, thanks Ben!

[@zorbozog]

Ben does one have to be great at Illustrator to be a working motion designer?

[@BenMarriott]

Not at all. I think a solid understanding of design fundamentals like composition and hieratchy will make a massive difference though :)

[@michaelcullis5214]

I’m currently creating a business identity and portfolio. I just want to say that this is spot on with all the research I’ve been doing. Also, I want to take your class. Don’t know when. But I’m interested

[@JosephConnor360]

0:52 His eyes. This freaked me out a bit lol

[@kamelistanbuli1221]

Ben!

[@BenMarriott]

Kamel!

[@dodmedia]

"What a segue" 😂😂 brilliant video and brilliant advice! 🙇

[@McCoy_Buck]

I'm not getting the 'no reply necessary' response. How exactly do you hear back?

[@larsgadeby]

Thanks for this! Also go too distracted looking at the dinousaur beeing flinged around.. :D

[@tektakin]

Ben this video is too good!

[@BenMarriott]

Thanks Tek! the next one will be 2x too good

[@krayways]

Ben please take my first born Son and raise him up as your own! We need more of your knowledge in this world!

[@slackdave]

Hey man, I really need your thyme to improve my showreel for my benefit. Anxiously, looking forward to your reply

[@angelbear_og]

"Friendly ... and pointy" 🤣

[@moseskisuge7568]

Hey Ben, I love Deekays process videos but I don't know how to render out the anchor points on shape layers. I was hoping you would have some advice on the topic. No reply required

[@MotionHatch]

It's a plugin called Cyclops I believe by Kyle Martinez :)

[@evaniresmith7160]

I have a full time job as a designer that's safe and fine but want to focus on animation and illustration since that's what I love. (Posting under an alias in case my current company stumbles on this post somehow!) I've read the Joey Korenman freelancing book, and it helped demystify the process of contacting people for work... but I think I'm procrastinating the contacting phase since I'm not sure if freelance path as he describes would work with my schedule, and I'm not quite ready to quit my job. Do studios usually want illustrators/mograph people for entire day/s or week/s or are there gigs available for more part-time schedules that kind of ease you into the mograph world?

[@user-yo5yr9yr2h]

Evan, there are absolutely part-time gigs to ease you into mograph. I've been a freelancer for close to 2 years now and a good portion of that has been contract jobs that last a couple months.

[@MotionHatch]

Hi Evan, Hayley here nice to meet you. You definately can do work on the side of your day job to get a few clients under your belt. I have some students in my course who are currently doing this successfully with a plan to go freelance later this year. I would get out there and start contacting people. If it becomes an issue where they want you to be available during the day you could offer a small discount but you must say when you go freelance what your rate will be and include it on your invoice as a discount. I would think you probably won't have to do this tho and would advise that you should be as clear as you can when you can work etc. Hope that helps

[@lichtfilme]

Don’t you dare reply 😄😄🤣🤣

[@andresr.852]

heh nice “$” In your eyes

[@hvanjos]

Awesome video already (still watching though) But, Ben (or someone who have noticed it too), what happened to your eyes here? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hX-5kGyYgq6hec0

[@hvanjos]

OH, the Dollars xD

[@m4r_art]

Companies will only hire someone that will facilitate their hardships. Why would they hire someone with "potential" yet no proven practical skills. Think about it, would you, you the person reading ever give your precious money to someone who you are not sure could do what you need him to do to fit your money making chain? No, you won't. You'll just find someone who does answer your problems. Yes, it's difficult to get a start but also what most artists don't understand is you need to build up those social skills. Working as a pizza delivery guy might help you understand what it means to serve others, because life is about "serving others" , that's literally why they "pay you". Nobody is granted a job, you have to earn it the hard way. And if you earn it in a smooshy way, you will be considered a bother. So be like a samurai, and stand your ground. Prove your strength, start low doing menial stuff. Your first task might not be After Effects, it might be paperwork, hell it might be assissting the After Effects guy by bringing him his coffee at 08:45, because that's the exact minute he wants it served. Start low, be humble, grind your way up. Society will see your worth if you show candor and purity in your effort. If you are a slacker and want to spend half your life getting praised by your parents or comfront zone watching Netflix feel free. But the real world is hard, cold and difficult to get started in. When you get a taste at overcoming difficulty that's when you'll start overcoming your impostor syndrome and when things will start turning good for you, whoever it is you are.

[@frederikeksteen2587]

Awesome video! I used to struggle with the first point, but started doing personal projects that I love and now it's the majority of my income.

[@BenMarriott]

Thats Amazing! It's no surpirse looking at the work on your channel :D You've got skills my friend

[@MOGRAPHTUTORIALSALENA]

It's just awesome pieces of advice, Ben! I wish I knew it when I started working as a freelancer! Luckily you saved someone's time by this video now haha

[@chaardewar]

[@BenMarriott]

He's much MUCH better. It's been a spectacular recovery the last 2 days

[@chaardewar]

@@BenMarriott Thank GOD he is recovering now. I was really worried about after knowing about his condition. Lots of Love for Kimchi

[@FLOWTUTS]

cool

[@angelicakluh8025]

Hi Ben, Thank you very much for this video ! :). I'm a graphic designer and ever since I took an animation course at university I knew it was what I most wanted to do, I started making animations for social media and decided to find my luck and dedicate myself more to animation, I've been trying for months to get a work and have only had rejections. Your tutorials have helped me a lot. I think that something is still missing, every time I receive a rejection from an employer I ask myself what I am doing wrong. I think my animations are not good enough. I would also be interested to know if you could do a review of my Show Reel. I'm about to give up.

[@adamnigro705]

Hey Ben, love this style of video geared more towards business. Keep em coming! Also, I can't quite afford your course at the moment. Any word of a DISCOUNT in the forecast? Perhaps a "summer special" 20% off deal?

[@robdaniels7228]

Let me tell you I was not at all interested in clicking the next video. But something about the no reply necessary made it SOOO TANTALIZING. I had to click it. It actually works.

[@MotionHatch]

Great video Ben! Definitely agree with show your process. Client education is really important. Also the ending was great 😂

[@BATOOST]

Sometimes I wish I could sign off my emails with "Replying is forbidden".

[@educationmadeeasy]

Please recommend a monitor for AE

[@vfx.360]

so glad that i have adblock on for this video. This video is legit just an ad for whatever and you talking about the most obv stuff.

[@ZentageHD]

Gotta love the dino toy in hand at the start

[@biographix]

Ben, everytime you open your mouth, you have my attention. You really provide valuable information and life lessons. No need to reply :)

[@bek8796]

i absolutely love videos like this a video on WHERE and HOW to get clients step by step would be extremely useful too

[@macaulayshaw3834]

No one cares what you make lol. All what employers care about is what they want and the style you fit. Creating videos you like is not going to work

[@oshoel]

Had to rewind a watch the first few seconds as I honestly thought you were waving around a smoking pipe.

[@paradoxxmkml]

"Keep It Friendy & Point-y" Ben Marriott 2022

[@speaktheunspokentruth]

Ben, what type of computer would you suggest that has maximum storage and ram to run adobe cloud smoothly

[@ohshiet6726]

They're not hiring me because I'm black.

[@dejangotic]

my my... that brachiosaurus must have suffered brain concussion by the end of the video...

[@asafindy]

When I grow up, I’m going to Bovine University.

[@nickbravos5473]

Wait, Ben... why were you holding a dinosaur?

[@Keasper7]

That thumbnail scared me thought you were crying

[@taregzamel]

Just wanted to say I loved the dollar signs in the eyes. Sooooo sooo fun thanks

[@jackhancock9862]

I thought that was a pipe being waggled around. It was a toy dinosaur. I’m just making a portfolio for free lance work, thanks for the tips and encouragement! I did just politely decide not to follow some advice to be more generic, choosing instead to go all in with my own flow so it’s good to hear that approach being backed up!

[@ismailmadeit]

Ben. I like your new haircut 😂 and thanks ❤

[@AndrewMarston]

Where's the grey t-shirt? I'm concerned.

[@matlollo8514]

What an amazing and helpful video! Thank you, you are helping creators, designers and artists all around the world.

[@benschoenbachler]

Ben Marriott's videos are excellent. They're articulate and well polished.

[@peyajays]

amazing tips!!!

[@filipemecenas]

Andrew Cramer is our after effects father , thanks for the tips ,always Golden info !!

[@andrewsthings]

This is a pretty timely video for me so thank you so much!

[@ryanrockers]

Ben, you are the best.

[@shurt703]

Wow, I wish I had seen this 5 years ago lol

[@MISSINGMO]

You are so charming 😳

[@madstanch]

This is very insightful. Thanks.

[@codycessna5038]

Hey, Ben, great video. No reply necessary.

[@BenMarriott]

Dammit Cody! No I'm compelled to give this the most thoughtful reply I've ever made.

[@iamYork_]

As full time freelancer of 8 years and someone who has worked in the arts for over 20 years I recently have been sending my resume to a few studios in NYC where I live... I fear my portfolio is too creative despite all the corporate work ive done I feel most people hiring dont want overtly creative when they mostly want to hire generic button pushers... That's what I keep telling myself anyway... Love your videos as always... Great advice... You're an amazing talent..

[@beretaniastreet6384]

Too creative? What does that mean?

[@stijnvankuilenburg2545]

Thanks Ben! these videos are really helpful

[@gustavoshini]

Thank you for this, Ben Cheers from Brazil, mate.

[@BenMarriott]

Obrigado meu amigo!

[@MrBeaun]

Great video Ben! That a Diplodocus you got there?!

[@BenMarriott]

That my friend is a Brachiosaurus. I find ther vertical neck posture much for effective for wild gesturing

[@MrBeaun]

@@BenMarriott a fine choice of pointing implement, well done!

[@BrianQuinal]

I’m starting on building a good portfolio. This video can’t get any timely. Absolutely helpful for aspiring freelancers like me 🤩

[@Vezitos]

It's so true about the email sign offs! I get a lot of emails from folks who keep asking how their business can partner with my business. They want me to be a client SO bad! I often get sign offs like "When are you available?" "Are you free this Wednesday?" Trash.

[@madiko]

8:26 🤣 Well, yes! Thank you for sharing your insights, Ben. Two additions and thoughts you might like, that I established: #1 Write "7 sentences"-mails (with max 7 words per sentence). Right after greeting your reader, let her:him know, what your intentions or expectations are. If neccessary point to "more information" at the end of your mail or via link. Then right away send your kind regards. If you have more to say, now is the space, you can elaborate. I usually put a vertical line between the note and my "appendix". So they can see right at opening the e-mail, that it is short. Make sure to format the appendix (bold text or even headlines), so that peeps can "scan" it more easily with fast reading. #2 concerning the "no need to reply" statement of yours: I prefer to write something like this: "However you decide, a reply would be welcome. Thank you!" Be nice. Be short. Make people feel apprechiated for their effort. When I read "no need to reply" in such a context I ask myself: Then why did you write me (disturb me *cough) in the first place? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (This might be cultural differences between the USA and Germany though.) Ask yourself: Why bother people with something "for info" you do not know. E-Mail is the wrong format for that. A newsletter, an up to date website, social media (that point to your website) with regularly new content is much more with regard of "making people know, you exist". Trust in people. They will look for inspiration in times of need. The time you spend on creating personal projects (rather then bothering people with unwanted emails) is much better spend. This principle is called "resonance". If you force people they might react in pushing further away. Not what you like them to do. Quite the opposite in fact. Good success and have a nice day! 😊

[@Patiencesampson-t6n]

Thanks Ben

[@GreatJobTy]

Your other no reply examples cracked me up. Don’t heart or reply to this comment or I’m calling the ploice

[@KyleWoodard]

This video = 💯🦖

[@camelmotion2685]

Thank you Ben!

[@janjaapdeboer8355]

Hi Ben, great video! I was wondering what the font was called that you used in this thumbnail. Looks really clean! Thanks already.

[@ultravioletidea]

Great video, thanks! The real Chad Move: Manhandling a Brachiosaurus throughout the video.

[@lawrydenyer]

Ben love your videos. Also I need 1 trillion dollars. Don’t you dare respond…

[@SweetRemiix]

Hey Ben! Thanks for your great advices! Which type are you using in 0:20 ? Big Thanks :D

[@sharanjitkaur4737]

💜

[@Irene-jn5sb]

Love u Ben

[@timok.8300]

Method #4: Always bring a toy Brachiosaurus to meetings. Ultimate icebreaker!

[@jamesmcgurk268]

heck yeah ben

[@marem0t0]

My monthly internet comment to thank u Ben for always helping the community, truly appreciate you

[@111tv]

It is wonderful how you understand life! Awesome!

[@christianosanjo]

Early squad where yo at!

[@BenMarriott]

Show yourselves!

[@christianosanjo]

@@BenMarriott lmao

[@DaftRebel]

That bit ant the final payback! great script, for a motion grapher! :P hahaha

[@shkicaz]

being freelancer yourself and helping others to find better jobs is the ultimate Chad move :D

[@RickyMartinVideos]

Great stuff as always, Ben. And that was a nasty trick at the end. Now I have to watch the next video!

[@mauroubel]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Ben! Interesting video. Cheers.

[@caperdoodle]

I needed this. Cause finding a job in the creative field in general is tough, but more so that I just got laid off. So thank you so much for putting this in.

[@zymmiu]

Hi

[@BenMarriott]

Well hello there

[@sajjadabouei6721]

Wow Your video quality is now in whole another level. You are the best🌸🌸🌸

[@danececchelli3057]

Appreciate the wisdom Ben. No reply necessary.

[@mrjuicejar_yvk]

See what you did at the end there. This video is so valuable omg

[@sarahhalawa5926]

Honestly I love your intro so much it's so unique I don't think you should stop including it