College graduates use their education in a wide variety of fields. Your future career may relate more to your individual interests, work values and transferable skills than to any specific academic major. The following resources are intended as a starting point to provide helpful insight as you begin your job and internship search.
JOB SEARCHING
COVER LETTER HELP
A cover letter is a document submitted with your job application outlining your interest and qualifications for an open position. It is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to a potential employer in a memorable way. A cover letter should always accompany your resume.
Helpful Tips
How to Write a Cover Letter Step-by-Step
How to Write a Successful Cover Letter
How Important is a Cover Letter
- ANIMATION 3D Animator Cover Letter
- FINE ART Artist Cover Letter
- GAME ART Game Artist Cover Letter
- GRAPHIC DESIGN Graphic Designer Cover Letter
- ILLUSTRATION Illustrator Cover Letter
NETWORKING
Networking is a vital career development tool that helps establish professional relationships and build industry contacts. Whether online or in person, networking will
help you keep a pulse on the job market and meet prospective mentors or employers.
Networking Sites
Helpful Tips
PORTFOLIOS
Portfolio Sites
Behance, Squarespace, Wix, Virb, DeviantArt, Krop, Adobe Portfolio, WordPress,Cargo, Coroflot, Artstation,Creatively
FREELANCING + ENTREPRENEURSHIP
FREELANCING + ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Freelancers are considered self-employed rather than being employed by a company in one specific role. Opportunities are usually short-term or project-based, but can extend beyond six months. There are pros and cons to this style of employment. Freelancing is a great way to get a foot in the door at larger companies, build experience and make great contacts. Downsides to freelancing include lack of stability and common benefits such as paid vacation and healthcare, usually available to full-time employees. Staffing agencies are a great way to begin freelancing and often provide basic employee benefits.
Creative Staffing Agencies
Creative Circle, 24Seven, Digital People, Aquent, creativeplacement, The Creative Group, Eighty30 Creative
Helpful Tips
How to Earn More Money Freelancing
How to Turn Freelancing Into a Careerq21`
Freelance Sites to Find Your Next Gig
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship vs Freelancing
Finding Your Path from Artist to Entrepreneur
Where to Sell Work
Etsy, Redbubble, Inprnt Society6, Zatista, Imagekind, AbsoluteArts, Saatchi Art, 99
EQUITY IN THE WORKPLACE
The Office of Career Services supports LCAD and The Equity + Inclusion Council in the commitment to a safe, equitable and inclusive environment for all. If you have any concerns regarding job or employer experiences that do not reflect these values, please email careerservices@lcad.edu.
Helpful Tips
How to be an effective ally in the workplace
How Can I Tell If a Potential Employer is LGBTQ Friendly?
RESOURCES BY MAJOR
ANIMATION
RELATED JOB TITLES
2D Animator, Stop-Motion Animator, 3D Animator, 3D Generalist, Video Game Animator, 3D Modeler, Character Animator, Character Designer, Previsualization Artist, Storyboard Artist, Visual Development Artist
JOB BOARDS
Creative Heads, Animation World Network, Animation Jobs
INDUSTRY CONVENTIONS
WonderCon, CTN Animation Expo, Comic-Con, IndieCade, SIGGRAPH, LightBox Expo
INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIPS
Women in Animation, The Animation Guild, Society for Animation Studies
PORTFOLIO SITES
FINE ART
RELATED JOB TITLES
Art Appraiser, Art Instructor, Art Administrator, Art Critic, Art Historian, Art Preservationist, Art Conservationist, Art Restorer, Computer Artist, Exhibition Designer, Gallery Assistant, Gallery Archivist, Gallery Manager, Mold Maker, Muralist, Museum Curator, Portrait Artist, Preparator, Printmaker, Scenic Artist, Sculptor, Sketch Artist, Textile Artist, Prop Maker
JOB BOARDS
California Arts Council, Americans for the Arts, Alliance of Artists Communities, Art Jobs
INDUSTRY CONVENTIONS
College Art Association, LA Art Show, Art Basel, Figurative Art Convention
INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIPS
National Sculpture Society, Laguna Plein Air Painters, National Association of Women Artists, Portrait Society of America, California Art Club, American Color Print Society, American Impressionist Society, American Watercolor Society, College Art Association, Colored Pencil Society of America, National Society of Artists, National Watercolor Society, Oil Painters of America, Pastel Society of
America, Plein Air Painters of America, Salmagundi, The National Association of Independent Artists, Women Artists of the West, National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society, American Art Therapy Association, American Ceramic Society
COMPETITIONS
International ARC Salon Competition, The Artist’s Magazine Annual Art Competition, National Sculpture Society, The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, Art Deadlines List
RESIDENCIES
US National Park, Residency Unlimited, Alliance of Artists Communities
ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY RESOURCES
Professional Artist Magazine, The Creative Independent, Academic Keys, American Alliance of Museums, Aperture Artist Resources, Art Opportunities Monthly, Arts for Los Angeles, Art Therapy Career Center,College Art Association, New York Foundation for the Arts, W.A.G.E.
GAME ART
RELATED JOB TITLES
3D Artist Mobile Games, 3D Generalist, 3D Modeler, Character Modeler, Concept Artist, Environment Artist, Game Designer, Effects Artist, Level Designer, Motion Capture Artist, Technical Director, Texture Artist, Visual Development Artist, Visual Effects Artist, Zbrush Sculptor
JOB BOARDS
Gamasutra, GamesIndustry.biz, gamedevmap, Game Jobs, Women in Games International, Game Recruiter, OPMjobs
INDUSTRY CONVENTIONS
Game Developers Conference, Comic-Con, SIGGRAPH
INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIP
International Game Developers Association, CG Society, Academy of Interactive Arts
PORTFOLIO SITES
ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY RESOURCES
GDC Vault, GDConnect, Game Career Guide, Game Industry Career Guide, Discord
GRAPHIC DESIGN
RELATED JOB TITLES
Art Director, Book Designer, Brand Consultant, Layout Designer, Corporate Marketing Designer, Editorial Designer, Graphic Designer, Interactive Media Designer, Production Artist, Logo Designer, Cartographer, Marketing Specialist, Web Designer, Motion Graphics Designer, Product Designer, Typographer, User Interface Designer, User Experience Designer, VR Developer
JOB BOARDS
Malakye, AIGA Design Jobs, Dribble, Creative Guild
INDUSTRY CONVENTIONS
AIGA Design Conference, Adobe Summit, 99U, SIGGRAPH, DesignerCon
INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIPS
American Institute of Graphic Arts, Society for Experiential Graphic Design, Spark Design Professionals
ILLUSTRATION & ILLUSTRATION IN ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN
RELATED JOB TITLES
Architectural Illustrator, Medical Illustrator, Forensic Artist, Book Illustrator, Botanical Illustrator, Comic Book Illustrator, Concept Artist, Greeting Card Illustrator, Editorial Cartoonist, Fabric Print Artist, Fashion Illustrator, Typographer, Textiles Designer, Caricature Artist, Logo Designer, Cartographer, Muralist, Packaging Illustrator, Portrait Artist, Storyboard Artist, Tattoo Artist, Environment Designer, Scenic Designer, Theme Park Designer
JOB BOARDS
Creative Heads, Gamasutra, Freelancer, Upwork
INDUSTRY CONVENTIONS
CTN Animation Expo, Comic-Con, DesignerCon, WonderCon, SIGGRAPH, The Illustration Conference, LightBox Expo
INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIPS
Society of Illustrators, Graphic Artists Guild, Association of Illustrators, Association of Medical Illustrators, Themed Entertainment Association, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators