Question Would graduates be willing to volunteer to get experience

[supertom44]

Just curious if graduates of a 3d degree of some sort would be willing to volunteer at a place in order to get work experience. By this I mean work part time hours in a studio environment, for no pay, but so when they apply for a job they can say I have experience and can also show what they made while volunteering as such.

[edge_666]

No. I like getting paid and if your work is good enough quality for them to use its good enough for them to pay you for. If you get offered something like this they have seen your work and like it, but they just don't want to pay for it, so I wouldn't expect any payed work off them in the future anyway.

[Squash-n-stretch]

So like, part time internships? I would prefer full-time internships myself...but regarding the pay issue; if the person in question lives close by at home with mummy and daddy then they should have no problem with taking that route for a while. But I would have to relocate for something like that, and that costs money (relocation/rent/food etc.)

Why do you ask?

[Zerflag]

i think that an unpaid internship could be worthwhile for someone to take so long as it's at a place that's well thought of in the particular industry that said student is trying to break in to. now, of course, getting paid for your work is better, but let's be honest, the really good places will only give students fresh out of college a paying job if they're REALLY good. and by REALLY good, i mean, you have frontpage 3dtotal, cgtalk work.
if you are, in fact, REALLY good, then you can apply for jobs, if, however, you feel that you're just good, but there's room for improvement, then taking an unpaid internship (if your finances can allow it) seems like a fine idea. there's nothing that's tying you to that place.
once you take the position, you can continue to apply to OTHER places for REAL jobs, but in the meanwhile, you're getting experience, and most likely learning a thing or three.

[Kris]

As long as you have a side job making money in the meantime, why not.

[ChrisPerr]

i've had a number of internships without pay that could be some of the best experiences of my life. If they're in your chosen field and your having fun why not?

[Setsuka]

i think its pointless working for someone else for free. You can get 3D knowledge and workflow advice from so many websites and tutorial DVD's it doesnt seem to make sense to work from someone for free.

If you have never had a job at all, then maybe this might be more worth your while because your be able to demonstrate kimekeeping, team playing and etc for an employer.

Even if you had a job in Tesco for instance, that still shows a potential job holder your ability to be employable (assuming you do a good job).

I got my first freelance job by working at Nationwide and showing them my 3D work i completed through my own skills. The company said they didnt need to see work experience at an actual media company, i just had to demonstrate that i could be employable.

The only major bonus of working in a media company for work experience would be that your be able to get an inside look at how the company structure works and how each design team relates to eachother. Get contacts and stuff.

But at the end of the day, your be working for someone for freeeeeee and gummy bears are not free so no gummy bears for you!!

[sandmanninja]

If you're young, no bills, live-at-home, then do it.
If the alternative to your current (i.e. no school) situation is either work for free & get good experience, or stay at home with mummy & daddy and sponge off them, then do it for free.

As you get older, you get a family, a mortgage, bills, etc.

Or (as been previously suggested) you work a 2nd job to cover the free-ness of the apprenticeship.

[ragupasta]

Originally Posted by Setsuka

i think its pointless working for someone else for free.

Wow....really wow. If I got a chance to work alongside industry proffesionals in the genre I want to work in (VFX), even if monetary motivations was a problem I wouldnt even blink at the chance. 3d is a VERY competitive game and if you want to work in the industry and you get a small opening like that (which to me would be a massive opening), I would jump at the chance.

Ive had some seriously shitty jobs, and they paid money, some of them good money as well. But to get the experence I would like, I would work for free to gain that experence, no questions asked!!

For anyone to say "No I would'nt" without prior thought needs to seriously think about what they want to do. These industry parts are not a joke. If you falter and waine they will get someone else more willing to take that place, and if that was a "known studio" then its your loss, as one of the best ways to get about is through networking, and if you got a opening offer with a large studio and you said no, shit flies faster than you think!

£0.02

I vote Yeah!

EDIT: to put things in perspective, im 29 and have responsabilities like everyone else. So to go unpaid to gain experence would affect me and my life in a bad way.

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Last edited by ragupasta; 01-01-2009 at 01:35 AM.

[Setsuka]

Too much money in the world to be working for free. As for the whole competitive thing, someone whos done time in industry vs someone who hasant, it kinda means jack because a persons portfolio work will speak for itself and get the job at the end of the day.

If an opening came up, id at least get um to pay for uni course or ask that they help contribute to skills development financially.

I know some kiddies on my uni course got a 3rd yr placement and worked his ass off, he was stunning at 3D and they didnt pay up anything or offer to help him any further whereas another guy got his entire 4th year paid by the company.