Career Advice needed

Pauleeeeeeee

Recently I've started to have an internal debate about wether having a nice house, nice car and a healthy bank balance is more important to me than the romantic idea of going into the field of 3d animation and probably not living THAT comfortably.

I think the romantic idea of doing something arty is slowly drifting away.
Anyone else ever been in this position?

I've been thinkin' about finishing up this year at an Animation course I'm doing and then maybe getting an apprenticeship as a Plumber or Electrician (both great money I believe). I'm 20 at the moment by the way.

ntlbell

Do whatever you feel is right at the time, your 20 now, what you want and how you feel about your career will more than likley change alot over the years.

In the long term, I would advise being happy in your work and making sure you're ok for means. If your career is what you do for life, then you might find it'd make you happier than a bank balance from a job you dislike.
It's up to you, really.
Maybe you could try animation for a few years, see if you really do like it, and decide then. Surely you can change careers later on.

Pauleeeeeeee

Just out of curiosity...My cousin who is nearly finished his first year as an apprentice electrician has told me that a friend of his who has been a fully qualified electrician for just a few months just made €3000 last week.

Is this bull****?

grahamor

if you are a good animator and have some experience in a good post house you will get rewarded well if you work in london or somewhere else.

You are only 20, stick with it, forget about all that comfort jazz and enjoy your youth. I can imagine you going from being a 3d animator to a plumber.

You should also think about going travelling after college is over, that will open your mind.

Pauleeeeeeee

grahamor wrote:

I can imagine you going from being a 3d animator to a plumber.

I know...it seems a bit ridiculous I suppose.

ntlbell

Pauleeeeeeee wrote:

Just out of curiosity...My cousin who is nearly finished his first year as an apprentice electrician has told me that a friend of his who has been a fully qualified electrician for just a few months just made €3000 last week.

Is this bull****?

You probably won't make it every week and some weeks you could make more.

price getting a whole house re-wired for example

Pauleeeeeeee

Yeh, I read somewhere that plumbers make the same amount of heart surgeons too

Another factor which has got me thinking this way has to do with the kind of people I like to be around and socialise with.

For example, when I think about doing something in the field of CG I think of myself sitting in front of a computer everyday with loads of nerds around me. "Hey guys, fancy a pint after work?", "Sorry Paul, can't, I'm going to a LAN party".

When I think of Plumbers and Electrician I think of North Dubliners who are gas (you have got some eejit scumbags though) and who know how to have a good time while they're young.

ntlbell

Pauleeeeeeee wrote:

When I think of Plumbers and Electrician I think of North Dubliners who are gas (you have got some eejit scumbags though) and who know how to have a good time while they're young.

Choosing a career based on the social aspect might not be a great idea.

I've worked with 'nerds' my whole life but I socialise with all sorts, plumbers, chippys etc, that's what friends are for!

nerds can be fun too...:D

Pauleeeeeeee

ntlbell wrote:

Choosing a career based on the social aspect might not be a great idea.

Hmm...actually. You're probably right. I'm nearly finished this year in college. I'll just get it done and I'll have a couple of months to mull things over.

grahamor

Pauleeeeeeee wrote:

"Hey guys, fancy a pint after work?", "Sorry Paul, can't, I'm going to a LAN party".

thats feckin gas ! , though i dont think you would find many nerds like that in large post houses, alot of them come from fine art backgrounds (the animators) and then do animation courses, there are also more females in this field than you would think.

DublinWriter

Pauleeeeeeee wrote:

I've been thinkin' about finishing up this year at an Animation course I'm doing and then maybe getting an apprenticeship as a Plumber or Electrician (both great money I believe). I'm 20 at the moment by the way.

Firstly, do something in life that you enjoy. Time passes by so quickly. Do you really think you'd enjoy plumbing?

For the nay-sayers that talk about the possible crash in the construction industry, consider this - people will always need plumbers. I've been looking for a half-decent plumber to do a fair large re-plumbing job in my house. Can't get one for love nor money.

TempestSabre

To make it in Design/CGI you have to be creative, talented at the work and determined. Basically you wouldn't need to ask.