Description
Just as designers create a brief before starting a project, you need a brief for your own career. This assignment asks you to think carefully about where you want to go and who you are targeting. This document becomes your compass for the rest of the semester, every assignment builds from it.
Learning Objectives
By completing this assignment you will be able to:
- Articulate short-term (2-year) and long-term (5-year) career goals
- Identify specific companies, studios, or clients you want to target
- Define the audience for your portfolio and professional materials
Steps
- Do some online job searching. Find 2-3 companies or studios you would genuinely love to work for. Note what they make and what skills they list in job postings.
- Write a reflection (~250 words, 1 page double-spaced) covering: Where do you see yourself in 2 years? In 5 years? Are you targeting a staff job, freelance clients, grad school, or a combination? Who is the audience for your portfolio?
- You may include a visual diagram showing different possible career paths alongside your writing.
- Be honest. There is no wrong answer. These are your goals, not a performance.
- Submit a PDF here for instructor feedback. Classmates will not see this.
Example
A strong goals statement is specific, not generic:
✗ Weak: “I want to get a job in animation after I graduate and work on cool projects.”
✓ Strong: “My goal is to work as a motion graphics artist at a production company creating title sequences and broadcast graphics. Within two years I want a junior position. Within five years I want to lead a small motion team. I’m targeting Phoenix companies first but open to remote work.”
Note: Do not use AI to write this. Your instructor will be checking. The value is in the thinking you do.
How to Submit
Save as PDF and upload here. Your instructor will leave written feedback.