Although I'm not completely sold on the whole "networking will get you places" theory. I will use this as a hopeful example of how hammering out communication with people may get you remembered in the long run. Upon graduating college I did what any fresh bright eyed grad would do.. listened to her professors I networked and emailed and handed out resumes and interviewed..etc. NOTHING HAPPENED.. and nothing has happened since.. no job offers.. no internship offers.. nada!
Until a few months ago my family & friends will remember I went on a "working vacation." One of the many companies I bombarded was Anime North a convention located in Toronto, Canada that celebrates anime, manga, music, games and all other forms of Japanese Culture. Well just this Summer they emailed me back asking for my help as their resident graphic designer could not produce their Program Book this year. Yeah that's right, that book you carried around with you the whole weekend that told you what was going on and who was there!
Let me tell all the future graduating IMC's out there that haven't had any workforce experience past our classes & professors.. IT DOES NOT RUN AS SMOOTHLY AS YOU WANT IT TO! Granted I have met many nice business people in the GTA with great products & services. It was fun to help fix-up last years ad's and even create brand new ones for companies. Along with being the liaison between editing, production, sponsors & printing. Plus as it was my job to put together the front & back cover and the centrefold insert I technically got to play Cover Contest judge and pick out my favourites to put in the middle. What great artists we have in Canada who all love anime - you all did a wonderful job and I wish I could've just filled the Program Book with all of your entries!
With any work that involves so many hands in one pie you are often left waiting past midnight to hear from 5 different people on only two different subjects.. then you have to redo your work once a decision is made and then resend your work to be reviewed again and of course someone will send you something extra just as you hit send you have to start over again, haha! The process was exciting, frustrating, tiring, creative & I'm so thankful that I had the chance to work with a convention I've wanted to long to attend. Of course they offered me tickets as thanks.. but I was unable to go - maybe 2016.
All in all I had a blast, although it took up about 50% of my vacation time, haha but my family was proud and very interested in watching me work so I guess everything worked out... I'm just glad my laptop died after I finished. Maybe they'll even ask me to help next year. Thanks Anime North!
Until a few months ago my family & friends will remember I went on a "working vacation." One of the many companies I bombarded was Anime North a convention located in Toronto, Canada that celebrates anime, manga, music, games and all other forms of Japanese Culture. Well just this Summer they emailed me back asking for my help as their resident graphic designer could not produce their Program Book this year. Yeah that's right, that book you carried around with you the whole weekend that told you what was going on and who was there!
Let me tell all the future graduating IMC's out there that haven't had any workforce experience past our classes & professors.. IT DOES NOT RUN AS SMOOTHLY AS YOU WANT IT TO! Granted I have met many nice business people in the GTA with great products & services. It was fun to help fix-up last years ad's and even create brand new ones for companies. Along with being the liaison between editing, production, sponsors & printing. Plus as it was my job to put together the front & back cover and the centrefold insert I technically got to play Cover Contest judge and pick out my favourites to put in the middle. What great artists we have in Canada who all love anime - you all did a wonderful job and I wish I could've just filled the Program Book with all of your entries!With any work that involves so many hands in one pie you are often left waiting past midnight to hear from 5 different people on only two different subjects.. then you have to redo your work once a decision is made and then resend your work to be reviewed again and of course someone will send you something extra just as you hit send you have to start over again, haha! The process was exciting, frustrating, tiring, creative & I'm so thankful that I had the chance to work with a convention I've wanted to long to attend. Of course they offered me tickets as thanks.. but I was unable to go - maybe 2016.
All in all I had a blast, although it took up about 50% of my vacation time, haha but my family was proud and very interested in watching me work so I guess everything worked out... I'm just glad my laptop died after I finished. Maybe they'll even ask me to help next year. Thanks Anime North!
