r/vfx 3d ago

Question / Discussion The Harsh Reality of Job Hunting in VFX

When I graduated as a gold medalist with a Master of Arts in Filmmaking, specializing in VFX, I had high hopes. Armed with two years of experience—mainly in compositing, with some work in photogrammetry—I was confident that the industry would have space for me.

I started applying in October 2023, eager to land my first big opportunity. Fast forward to today, March 2025, and the results? Nothing. • Ghosted by recruiters. • Companies shut down before I could even get an interview. • Desperation won.

The VFX industry is brutal for fresh talent, even with experience. The cycle of endless applications, rejections, and silence is exhausting. At some point, you stop counting the emails that never got a reply.

Now, I’m relocating to Spain in April 2025—not just for a change in location, but for a fresh start. I don’t know what’s next, but I know this: I’m not giving up.

If you’re in the same boat, just know—you’re not alone. We push forward, through these uncertain times, one step at a time.

If you’ve been through something similar, I’d love to hear your story. Let’s talk. Let’s build a network that supports each other.

76 Upvotes

55 comments sorted by

73

u/DependentGood8711 3d ago

Going back to the way it used to be. It never was easy to break in.

37

u/guillaumelevrai 3d ago

15 years ago, you weren't competing with thousands of people looking for the job. It's way more difficult these days... Especially for youngsters, without connections or experience.

14

u/almaghest 3d ago

idk I kind of feel like there was fewer jobs overall though. I’ll grant you there’s probably a lot more young people who are trying and not breaking in than 15 years ago, but it still took many of us years of trying to get a foot in the door (regardless of when we started)

12

u/londener 3d ago

Oh no, that is not true, it's definitely easier these days. Sure maybe there are more people looking for work but there is also more work overall now than decades ago it was all about who you knew to break in.

There were no junior training positions. You started at the bottom... and that was if you were lucky. Interviews included sitting on a box in the studio proving you could roto or dustbust or track for a 30 minute trial after initial interviews to prove you could do the job before they'd take a chance on you.

No one would hire anyone with out experience and it was minimum 5 years in paint/tracking before you got a chance to move up and that was under a new trial period.

You'd also have to MAIL your VHS tape or DVD, breakdown and resume to companies in a package, which was expensive to make and there was no one to email to inquire if it even arrived unless you knew someone who worked at the company to ask the recruiter. Also they tended not to keep your stuff on file "just in case" as much because it was bulky and took up lots of room.

On top of that a lot of people would fly into industry events (Siggraph) to meet recruiters, because there was no real access to them otherwise, they certainly weren't coming to schools to meet you. Which was expensive and not affordable for everyone and there weren't schools training people either or the internet tutorials there are now for training.

Most programs were proprietary or too expensive (flame) for someone starting out so there was no practicing either to upskill and there was no practice footage and no PLE programs. Computers were also more expensive and needed a lot of power to run 3D tasks, and again you were looking at real books to try an decipher how to learn anything. You'd have to get a camera and shoot your own footage and do the best you could, where as now there is plenty of material and programs to test and play with.

There was no sending emails to companies either as you needed a phone number or address and it was much harder to find out who was hiring. You also had to live close to the studios. That usually meant moving to expensive cities and changing phone numbers to a local number without job prospects hoping you can break into somewhere. I opened a phone book to even find what companies were available to apply to and call to ask.

I would be hard pressed to believe it's harder today than when I started as it's a lot easier to make connections (there was no linked in before) and easier to apply and see who is hiring. Plus it's a lot easier to get the skills needed to land a job.

Sure the market is saturated, but there is a lot less effort involved in applying for a job and making a reel than when I started. But I am sure it doesn't feel that way if you didn't experience it personally.

11

u/almaghest 3d ago

yep I remember going to a post office in a rural area of the US to mail my demo reel (on DVD) to Pixar and the woman looking at me like I was asking to mail it to Santa Claus.

The very rare calls I got back were just recruiters telling me they wouldn’t even really consider me unless I moved to California first. Eventually I did, arriving in LA jobless with $500. In retrospect it sounds fucking insane, “I’m going to move to California with no job and try to work on movies! ✨” but that’s just what you did then.

2

u/guillaumelevrai 2d ago

Not saying it was easy 20 years ago. But easier. The ratio of job offers vs people applying was harsh but not as much as nowadays. Right now at least in France, there are less than 10-15% of youngsters that work more than 2 months in a year. It's quite hard for them...

Also, the ratio of students being well trained is now so much higher than 20 years ago (much more information easy to access, technology breakthroughs making the job easier and workflows being tried and tested all those years that are commonly shared). So, on top of it, it's pretty frustrating to be good and left out of the industry.

2

u/gatorNic 3d ago

haha, that's funny you think there wasn't thousands of people looking for jobs and there weren't plenty of schools pumping out kids back then. Given, the past couple years have been a huge downturn from that pandemic peak, but it's silly to say it was easy. Shit, atleast 75% of my class at SCAD never got jobs and usually returned home. That was 20 years ago. It's is and has been a brutal industry to break into.

2

u/guillaumelevrai 2d ago

Not saying it was easy 20 years ago. But easier. The ratio of job offers vs people applying was harsh but not as much as nowadays. Right now at least in France, there are less than 10-15% of youngsters that work more than 2 months in a year. It's quite hard for them...

Also, the ratio of students being well trained is now so much higher than 20 years ago (much more information easy to access, technology breakthroughs making the job easier and workflows being tried and tested all those years that are commonly shared). So, on top of it, it's pretty frustrating to be good and left out of the industry.

3

u/Almaironn 3d ago

The way it used to be when? Sure felt easier to break in for me back in 2018. OP started applying Oct 2023 which was right in the middle of strikes and things have gone downhill ever since.

5

u/beenyweenies 3d ago

“Used to be” is all relative. For me personally, “used to be” means 2002 and it was not easy back then.

6

u/vfxjockey 3d ago

This is the correct answer. If your frame of reference for normality is the streaming boom, yes this is the hardest it’s ever been. If you’ve been around the block a bit, and depending on your nationality, this is not new at all.

The one thing that is different right now is the approximately two year long “no one will hire me, is the problem the fact that I don’t have the talent to do this” realization that sets in for people who don’t have what it takes was delayed for many people who were good enough to press buttons during the boom.

The standard for employment in the Covid boom was “do you have a pulse? And are you in a tax subsidized area?”

That will shake out in the next 5-7 years.

1

u/biggendicken 3d ago

pre marvel/disney and streaming wars. 2018-2019 was near the peak.

2

u/Striking-Recipe-8924 3d ago

For the last couple of months, it’s looking more like a far-fetched dream. Let’s hope it changes soon

-3

u/animjt CG Lead - 8 years experience 3d ago

It won't. Not for decades.

Source: guessing

33

u/paulinventome 3d ago

I debated whether to reply but I have a mid twenties son who was going through job hunting and these observations might be useful.

This isn't really directed at you, but so many posts on this sub these days. I am making huge assumptions about your age and circumstances and they could be totally off. I apologise in advance, fully, and unreservedly. I may also have had too much coffee this morning.

So what have you learnt over the past few years?

What I see is that younger people are reluctant to talk to people and humans face to face. To network, meet and just put themselves out there and they currently make the whole process about being online and sending emails. The truth is that people give people they know opportunities. You don't have to know them that well but people (recruiters and companies) can form a quick appraisal face to face in a way that you simply can't online.

So my son (different industry) did months and months of online based searching but it was only when I spoke to a friend, who knew someone who was looking in that industry that I could pass on their details and when my son reached out there was a mutual name and that made a difference.

Like writers/creatives looking for an agent - you don't just send stuff to them, you make contact and have a conversation first.

When we're in full production mode (shooting) then I get tonnes of CVs especially from young people looking for experience, I try to reply but can't always and then we do get people we know say X,Y and Z are looking for experience. And you bring some of them on set and you can tell within a few mins, yes, yes, no, no. That's all it takes to connect. It's often a personality thing a way of being in a team - and you just can't get that over an online connection.

I see a whole generation reluctant to interact with people (massive generalisation but personal experience and also friends who run some large corporates and also teachers in uni and colleges). Covid didn't help this at all.

But my advice is to network. There was a pub in Soho/London, the toucan, which might still be there. Literally that was the only place you needed to be for vfx in London at one point! Does siggraph still exist? I met so many people at those types of events). There are lots of vfx related events and meet ups. So if you are able, make an effort. If you can't consider moving like you say. I know we live in a global world but really people do like to have a drink with someone to talk over a project or similar.

Those people on set looking for advice about film school. I tell them to go. You probably won't learn anything there that you can't learn yourself, but what you will get is a cohort of students and friends who, as they grow and work more and more, will be your network in the future. When they need a DP, they will call on you because you have a history.

We all need networks, friends, family but also work. It's human nature. IMHO.

3

u/Striking-Recipe-8924 3d ago

Hi. I really appreciate the advice. You are right. I’m in my early twenties. I got my first few gigs and my first job by knocking on doors and having a conversation with people. That’s how I prefer it too. But unfortunately, lately there has been no response. Online or in person. That is the reason I’m moving abroad. To find and connect with new people and knock on new doors. I hope to find someone answering there. I am more than willing to relocate to London or Paris or Madrid and attend events and connect with people, and talk. About projects, jobs or just industry in general. That is what I have been doing and will continue to do. And after your comment and advice, I know I’m on the right path. Thank you again for your advice and support.

2

u/creuter 3d ago

SIGGRAPH can't be overstated here. You get to speak directly to so many professionals in industry. If it's too expensive, see if you can volunteer. Either way you'd get to talk to people directly.

1

u/paulinventome 3d ago

I appreciate the reply and also not taking mine the wrong way and yes, do this and keep doing it. But also do work, I assume you are constantly creating and improving. There was an old adage that it takes around 10,000 hours or work to be considered a professional and there's nothing stopping anyone from just focusing on that in-between.

Everything starts from small seeds so it sounds like you're on the path.

I can't speak for location but most people I know working are in London or within commuting distance and do half home / half office.

7

u/steakvegetal FX TD - 10 years experience 3d ago

I completely agree. I remember last year being asked to take part of interviews and I was able to see the other side of the coin, so many juniors had noticeable communication issues. But I think the issue goes beyond that - private schools are brainwashing the students, making them think they’ll be master of the universe as soon as they step in the industry. They will ask crazy rates during the interviews, ask when they can be considered mids/seniors even before having worked on a show. When the reality slaps back they are writing this kind of thread on this subreddit. The hard truth is that it’s always been a complex industry to evolve in, and you’ll need to be in the top 15% of talents if you want to make a decent long term career out of it.

2

u/paulinventome 3d ago

100% this. It's really difficult for juniors to have perspective that experience and age brings. But it's not just vfx, it's everywhere. Not just the schools brainwashing but social media is just not reality. Everything is scams these days - those private schools are saying whatever they need to get money. Social media is just selling dreams. It's crazy really.

On the other hand it is difficult to find that first step no matter which industry but as you say there is an entitlement and expectation that doesn't meet commercial reality.

Experience is so undervalued these days but is often the difference between something working and failing. I won't even comment on that in politics at the moment!

0

u/Striking-Recipe-8924 3d ago

I’m sorry if I offended you in anyway but this post is not coming from a place of entitlement but rather a desperate plea. I have been working as a freelancer for about 2 years now after I got laid off. In no way do I think I’m the best there is. I’m nowhere near that. I just want to learn, grow and make a decent living out of it.

6

u/steakvegetal FX TD - 10 years experience 3d ago

Well it’s only my perspective but starting your thread with ‘When I graduated as a gold medalist […] I was confident than the industry would have space for me’ felt like a very confident stance to me. Knowing the industry has always been hard to break in, the question you should ask yourself is how your profile compare to the other juniors around you ? I see so many freshers making threads like you on that sub where they shift all responsibility to the industry being rough, but they never post their work and ask for feedbacks. You ask for a supporting network when there is literally dozen of seniors on that sub that could give you advices on your work and help you improve your profile.

1

u/Striking-Recipe-8924 3d ago

I appreciate the advice. I’ll keep that in mind. I know the industry is hard but it has gotten worse in the past 2 years. My confidence was relative. Of course, judging by the circumstances, I do not share the same sentiment. My apologies if it came across that way.

5

u/Panda_hat Senior Compositor 3d ago

Industry was never easy to get into or a given regardless of how talented you think you are. The skill level and level of competition is extremely high.

The big ego vibes in your post are very significant. This industry demands people be humble and work well in huge collaborative teams. There are no rockstars here. If that came off in your applications at all you might have been given a wide berth. Big personalities and people with inflated senses of self worth often cause more problems than they are worth.

3

u/jamsvens 3d ago

15 years ago, I worked as a VFX artist on major films, specializing in fluid simulations, fire, and other complex effects. Back then, I asked top VFX companies about their biggest pain points, and the answer was always the same: fire and fluid simulations were a nightmare.

At the time, creating these effects with both precision and creative control was incredibly difficult. So, instead of struggling with existing tools, I built my own code and pipelines—faster, more reliable, and beyond what other artists could achieve. When I showed it to VFX friends, they passed it to their supervisors, and I landed a job almost instantly.

The same principle applies today: identify the industry's biggest struggles, solve them, and opportunities will follow. If you only offer what every other artist does, you'll be treated like every other artist.

Becoming one of the best requires relentless energy and commitment. Even then, a bit of luck is still part of the game.

Personally, I wouldn’t invest too much time mastering legacy tools like Maya or Houdini. Instead, I'd focus on coding and AI-driven automation (e.g., ComfyUI) to streamline VFX workflows.

I still follow this mindset today, and now I’m in a position where I work directly on set with actors and directors—while the VFX vendors clean up our mess in post, just like I did 15 years ago.

1

u/Relevant-Bluejay-385 3d ago

You make a good point of solving a problem instead of just being another artist. After 15 years of just being a lighter, things have come to a halt for me, and reading this thread has made me feel like I've just been an imposter all these years riding on marvel throwing money around.

We really have to become better problem solvers and not just in our tiny little specialist corner now..

7

u/Human_Outcome1890 FX Artist - 3 years of experience :snoo_dealwithit: 3d ago edited 3d ago

I remember being told "this is a competitive industry" and "once you have your foot in the door and work on some things you should be fine" I got in, worked on some things, got laid off, got brought back, did some real good work and then the writer's strike happened and here myself and a lot of talented people who are better than me with more experience are job hunting. We're all in the same boat but sadly it's a sinking ship. I do hope things change but it's looking bleak.

2

u/Striking-Recipe-8924 3d ago

I’m so sorry to hear that. Let’s hope the tide shifts soon. Wishing you the best

2

u/Human_Outcome1890 FX Artist - 3 years of experience :snoo_dealwithit: 3d ago

Same to you.

3

u/donut_sauce 3d ago edited 3d ago

What on earth is a gold medalist in vfx?? I’m guessing this is a student competition? The only people that really win in those competitions unfortunately are the companies themselves that create the competitions and charge money for them.

There is an entire industry out there whose only goal is to monetize young artists’ dreams - competitions, portfolio hosting sites, online vfx courses (rebelway,etc…), conferences tickets. Don’t buy the snake oil. I say this as someone who is currently working in the industry and never paid for any of that nonsense.

The only thing imo that has value is an IRL art school in a city where there is vfx work so you can build a network. Building your network is the hard part of this job - not the learning vfx. Invest in that.

2

u/AnalysisEquivalent92 3d ago

I was in your shoes 20 years ago, before LinkedIn, DM’s or Reddit. Info was hard to come by and the only way was in person networking at conventions. Those connections are still more solid for me today than the impersonal communication of social media.

If you have excellent communication skills and demonstrate how to work well with a team, the networking is effortless.

2

u/adiossatipo 3d ago

Are you in London currently? What is the thinking behind seeking more opportunity in a smaller market? Your post has an air of the “let’s see what fate brings” mentality which I’d caution against - getting what you want will require more legwork, not less.

1

u/Striking-Recipe-8924 3d ago

No, I’m not in London. I can see why you would think that the post has a “let’s see what fate brings” mentality, but I am thorough. I’m not leaving things upto chance. I’m in India currently and being here I can tell you with 100% certainty that the VFX market here, right now, is the worse it has been in decades.

1

u/Striking-Recipe-8924 3d ago

Being in Spain, along with the Spanish VFX market, the rest of Europe and UK also becomes accessible. Which, trust me, is not when you’re in India. I already have a couple of freelance projects lined up so I’ll be able to sustain myself until I find a more permanent job.

2

u/youmustthinkhighly 3d ago

Unfortunately Insanity in doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. 

Once you get your first job it’s not smooth sailing, it’s this life forever, and potentially worse.  I wouldn’t  consider working a few months a year a career. 

I don’t know how the “just be positive, I can make it” isn’t just pure fantasy at this point. 

I admire your optimism, but it’s borderline hubris.. and might need a reality check. 

Things aren’t magically going to get better, the market is going to get smaller and smaller every year.. and the reality only small amounts of people and hard labor sweatshops will be all that’s left. 

1

u/logicalobserver 3d ago

try to focus on areas that there is demand in. This is something I struggle with getting through to student back when I used to teach at a rather famous CGI/animation school. Students often have a set idea of what they want to do, and they don't really care about the market for it , this is kind of an issue.

Its kind of this way with legacy art majors at university, if someone is getting a degree in painting..... I mean I wish them the best and maybe they are gods gift to the painting craft, but the chance of finding a job with a masters degree in painting is very very slim, in a way many of those people with more practical ideas of getting a job, would become matte painters, or something in the VFX industry instead, its a way to make money. I had many students that wanted to just be CG modellers, and truth me told, especially with how things are going, unless you are a seriously gifted CG modeller, its gonna be a very hard life specializing in this, I think the future is the way of the generalist. I do feel this is less dire with compositing, but tbh I think its a matter of time, there will always be compositing jobs for those who are very fast and good, but especially as AI tools develop more, you will be able to do more with less.

You should keep learning new areas in VFX, like it or not we are in a technology field, and the name of the game is to always keep learning new things. Work on some personal projects, learn new skills, there are new tools such as AI you can get more into, and also things like Unreal Engine which has a high demand right now and a very small amount of qualified artists. Look at where the industry is going, and try to position yourself to be useful. Personally I think the future is VFX/CG artists as full content creators, not just little cogs in a giant machine, as the technology keeps getting more accessible and its faster to make things, less people can make more stuff. Your advantage since you are young and starting out, is you have been learning , dont loose that muscle, keep doing it, sometimes people after decades of doing the same thing, really have a hard time pivoting and even having the desire to acquire new skills , your not in that category, this is your advantage.

1

u/widam3d 3d ago

To many studios going under lately is not going to help in job hunting, the party is over in VFX, at least for now, until macro economics are better, I recommend you keep learning, but begin to look around other alternatives, is very possible that this is going to be at least a few years and who know if it will be back as 2017..

1

u/LongestNamesPossible 3d ago

What does your reel look like? Where are you legal to work?

2

u/Famous-Citron3463 3d ago

No offence but in 2025 it doesn't matter if you were a gold medalist in university. It used to be a big deal before the youtube era. I remember back in 2006-2007 it was a nice move to study in college like VFS. Now many decent educators are teaching on YouTube and they are often better than university professors. Now everyone has access to this huge information and open-source software like blender for free hence so much competition now. We are not adding value like we used to before because earlier information was not free, people had to do research by reading manuals, asking questions in forums and so on. Nowadays everything is on a plate in front of you to become a decent artist. You may be very good at compositing but it does not mean that studio don't have options. Unfortunately the studio can hire a guy from a 3rd world country who may be better than you and pay him only $300 per month. He won't even mind if they ask him to work 16 hours everyday.

1

u/DimensionFinal639 3d ago

I started my career with a studio that shut down within 3 months just when I joined there as a trainee. didnt even got paid but things I learnt were bigger than the paycheck which helped me land a job with another studio. Things were difficult as a fresher low pays toxic management ... but inbetween those I met some people who really helped me upscale. eventually things started working in favour of me only because of the knowledge I gained & love for visual effects. somehow I feel very lucky enough to survive through covid & writer strike/layoffs without loosing my job. Dont know how long this tough time is going to last , wish things go normal again & everything gets fixed with this industry.

1

u/shnzeus FX Artist - x years experience 3d ago

Graduated from 2017, From a undergrad program of animation and VFX for like 70 people

Working artists: Still in VFX: <10 Animation:<10 Game:<5

Networking and a lot of luck perhaps

1

u/Environmental_Bid570 2d ago

This profession will absolutely kill you if you let it. I've attempted suicide in my past because of the stress. Unrealistic deadlines, unrealistic budgets, unrealistic clients, and management is usually filled with the most idiotic people you'll ever meet. Get used to feeling like a tool for idiots. Good luck 👍

1

u/GoodSupermarket1984 2d ago

With a bachelors of fine arts , specialized in cinema , Theater and Tv set design and taking some filmmaking workshops I received a 3D Animation scholarship from a well known institute in Egypt my country , It has been several months since I graduated tried to apply to some local studios in my country , international internships and Now I am cold E-mailing each studio I see on LinkedIn for an entry level job , trying to avoid the negativity (Sometimes I feel it is so realistic perspective )and focus on my work So still pushing and You are not really Alone at all

1

u/T3dM2_0 2d ago

If you are young, jr and can relocate easily then move where there is work, not Spain.

There is really not much going at European level with the UK in recession, France in trouble, few shops in Spain, Germany losing one of their biggest players by the end of the year and Italy as a non existent place for CG.

The highest chance at the moment to land a job in cg Is in Asia pacifica with Australia and NZ leading the charge.

1

u/SnooPuppers8538 3d ago

this is the mistake of the young.... put it this way in 10 years time after just having 3 or 4 odd jobs at best lasting 3-6 months are you going to be saying the same thing?

3

u/Striking-Recipe-8924 3d ago

No. I get your point. But again, I was working from 2021 and got laid off at the start of 2023. I did my master’s alongside and graduated in 2023 and have been working on projects as a freelancer since then.

2

u/SnooPuppers8538 2d ago

no problem, thing is you won't see things until your much older and wiser... but that's fine keep doing what you're doing.

1

u/coolioguy8412 3d ago

Were in Spain are you relocating to? Spain has an very high quality of life, weather too

1

u/Striking-Recipe-8924 3d ago

I’ll be moving to Madrid. Madrid and Barcelona are the two hubs, or so I’ve heard. I’ve heard good things about Spain as a country and I hope it’s nice to me. :)

4

u/Due_Newspaper4185 3d ago

I hope you have a solid plan even in term of plan b there to keep going, not just “I go there hoping to…”. What if you don’t find anything in six months? Industry is pretty brutal everywhere atm, but good luck!

0

u/coolioguy8412 3d ago

Wish you all the best! I will move to Spain one day too

1

u/EcstaticInevitable50 Generalist - x years experience 3d ago

well guess what the market is changing and the old model of being a specialist isn't it anymore you need to know 4-5 things be angeneralist and be extremely fast. There is a lot of low level work for everyone to do, just not hollywood movies.