Pixar’s Andrew Gordon says: “For the new animators it’s just getting experience and if you don’t have access to experience, get yourself goals and assignments to do. Sign up for a class; do something where you are basically doing work, getting feedback on it and so growing and getting better. There’s so many ways to get that now. The internet has basically opened up new worlds.

Sometimes it comes down to a wildcard, you know, ‘That person is crazy but we’re going to go for it.” And then there’s the people that are obviously gifted and then the people that have potential. There’s not one specific reel that’s going to bag you a place.”

We asked our Twitter followers if they had any interview or application tips for animators looking for jobs in the industry? Here were some replies:

@animationjobs don’t show up in a studio unannounced. People are working. Send and email first and make an appointment!

— Paula P. (@PlanetPP) January 22, 2015

@animationjobs Keep show reels to a minute. 1 min 30 MAX. That should be the main thing.

— Jane E Davies (@UpstartThunder) January 23, 2015

@animationjobs Just graduated? Think about your showreel content. Is it silly humor that an employer wouldnt appreciate? Show it to your mum

— Jane E Davies (@UpstartThunder) January 23, 2015

@animationjobs Just graduated? Dont JUST have course exercises on your SReel. Do self initiated things, something different than every1else.

— Jane E Davies (@UpstartThunder) January 23, 2015

@animationjobs I went to a lecture by @CurtisJobling he has some great advice for animation juniors.

— Lorna Bailey (@lornabailey) January 23, 2015

@artrenegadeanim @animationjobs yes, once an studio tell me they will keep my cv on record i use to keep sending notifications of my updates

— Jerzy Pérez González (@animator_jerzy) January 24, 2015

@artrenegadeanim @animationjobs it works for me pretty well since the studio receives tons of app per day

— Jerzy Pérez González (@animator_jerzy) January 24, 2015

@UpstartThunder@animationjobs where was all this advice when i graduated? better late than never i guess

— Gabby Michel (@thegabsite) January 24, 2015