I want to build things! Electronic things!
February 9, 2008 3:04 PM Subscribe
I think I want to work on the tech team for a film/media arts/physical computing program. How can I improve my resume for this type of job? Alternatively, what other jobs might appeal to me?
I'm currently in grad school and dissatisfied with how much of my time is spent writing papers versus developing systems, to sum up a complex situation in one sentence. I find myself more interested in the sort of work that the support staff for my department does than in my actual responsibilities -- we have a team of skilled technicians who each perform duties that are part IT support, part production tech/management (lighting design/setup, video and conference production, equipment maintenance, etc), part software-developer (implementing projects specced by people in the department, etc). I realize that in such a role, I'd have even less agency in terms of what I was working on, but in the past I've found solving technical problems more satisfying than the high-level academic stuff I'm currently doing. I'm interested in pursuing a position in this type of work.
Now here's the rub: I have a liberal arts degree. My knowledge of physical fabrication and programming are almost entirely self-taught. I do have a minor in a computing-related field, and I've worked both in in IT support & consulting and in film/video production. However, all my pro-level work has been near the bottom of the food chain because I'm just a couple of years out of undergrad. I know several programming languages, basic server admin stuff on Unix/OS X, microcontroller development and electronics fab, the nuts and bolts of theater/film/video lighting and sound, and have a decent aesthetic sense. I have some freelance and student work that proves this, but I'm not sure how to best illustrate it on a resume / application. I love helping people out with projects, sharing what I know, and digging into documentation/experimenting to learn new skillsets.
If you work in this kind of program, what could a relatively young (early 20s, only out of college two years) candidate for this kind of position bring to the table that would seriously impress you? Alternatively, what other kind of positions use this kind of "jack of all trades" skillset and would be accessible to a relative neophyte? I think electronics development/prototyping could be very interesting, but I doubt my degree can compete with the EEs in the market. Also, location-based entertainment development (ie Disney Imagineering/etc?) Any advice or new approaches greatly appreciated!
I'm currently in grad school and dissatisfied with how much of my time is spent writing papers versus developing systems, to sum up a complex situation in one sentence. I find myself more interested in the sort of work that the support staff for my department does than in my actual responsibilities -- we have a team of skilled technicians who each perform duties that are part IT support, part production tech/management (lighting design/setup, video and conference production, equipment maintenance, etc), part software-developer (implementing projects specced by people in the department, etc). I realize that in such a role, I'd have even less agency in terms of what I was working on, but in the past I've found solving technical problems more satisfying than the high-level academic stuff I'm currently doing. I'm interested in pursuing a position in this type of work.
Now here's the rub: I have a liberal arts degree. My knowledge of physical fabrication and programming are almost entirely self-taught. I do have a minor in a computing-related field, and I've worked both in in IT support & consulting and in film/video production. However, all my pro-level work has been near the bottom of the food chain because I'm just a couple of years out of undergrad. I know several programming languages, basic server admin stuff on Unix/OS X, microcontroller development and electronics fab, the nuts and bolts of theater/film/video lighting and sound, and have a decent aesthetic sense. I have some freelance and student work that proves this, but I'm not sure how to best illustrate it on a resume / application. I love helping people out with projects, sharing what I know, and digging into documentation/experimenting to learn new skillsets.
If you work in this kind of program, what could a relatively young (early 20s, only out of college two years) candidate for this kind of position bring to the table that would seriously impress you? Alternatively, what other kind of positions use this kind of "jack of all trades" skillset and would be accessible to a relative neophyte? I think electronics development/prototyping could be very interesting, but I doubt my degree can compete with the EEs in the market. Also, location-based entertainment development (ie Disney Imagineering/etc?) Any advice or new approaches greatly appreciated!
I'm not sure you need a sixty thousand dollar master's degree for this, though the contacts you'd make would be great. I'd suggest: make stuff. Create interesting small projects, the kind that get featured on boingboing and make magazine. Try to get your little gadgets into gallery shows, your noisemakers into concerts, your interactive video works in stage plays. Go to dorkbot meetings or something similar, for inspiration and to meet people and to present your own work if you can.
If you can show actual interesting work that straddles the border between engineering and art, you'll have an advantage over people with engineering degrees and no neat stuff to show off. Collaborations and stuff you've helped out with count too. Put it all on your resume/CV.
If you don't have this kind of experience to show, consider working a less exciting job for a year or three while doing projects in your spare time. But I wouldn't discourage you from trying sooner-- it couldn't hurt. I'm sure there are digital/media arts departments that are very strict and snooty about academic qualifications, but that doesn't describe all of them. My department is pretty informal.
Another job that might interest you: exhibit fabrication. Little companies that put together trade show exhibits, shop window displays and the like. It's more commercial but still in that nice art-engineering zone.
Established media artists often hire assistants to help build robot sculptures, program interactive videos, etc. You'll need to make contacts to find a job like this, but when you do, they will only be interested in the cool stuff you've done; your degrees or lack thereof will make no difference.
Good luck!
posted by moonmilk at 11:57 PM on February 9, 2008
If you can show actual interesting work that straddles the border between engineering and art, you'll have an advantage over people with engineering degrees and no neat stuff to show off. Collaborations and stuff you've helped out with count too. Put it all on your resume/CV.
If you don't have this kind of experience to show, consider working a less exciting job for a year or three while doing projects in your spare time. But I wouldn't discourage you from trying sooner-- it couldn't hurt. I'm sure there are digital/media arts departments that are very strict and snooty about academic qualifications, but that doesn't describe all of them. My department is pretty informal.
Another job that might interest you: exhibit fabrication. Little companies that put together trade show exhibits, shop window displays and the like. It's more commercial but still in that nice art-engineering zone.
Established media artists often hire assistants to help build robot sculptures, program interactive videos, etc. You'll need to make contacts to find a job like this, but when you do, they will only be interested in the cool stuff you've done; your degrees or lack thereof will make no difference.
Good luck!
posted by moonmilk at 11:57 PM on February 9, 2008
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posted by lia at 4:36 PM on February 9, 2008 [1 favorite]