Animator Resume: Example & Writing Guide [20+ Tips]

Who doesn’t LOVE animated movies and video games? Even ads and explainer videos become much more enjoyable if they’ve got cool animated characters. So it looks like getting a job as an animator is as easy as sending recruiters a link to your portfolio.

But, sadly, job applications don’t work this way, and you still have to write an animator resume that shows how your animation skills can fuel companies’ business results.

This guide will show you: 

• An animator resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write an animator resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on an animator resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for an animator to get any job you want.

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Targeting other creative jobs? Check out our guides:

• Artist Resume
• Filmmaker Resume
• Video Producer Resume
• Graphic Designer Resume
• Photographer Resume
• Video Editor Resume
• Videographer Resume
• Cinematographer Resume
• Game Design Resume
• Illustrator Resume
• Professional Resume Examples

Animator Resume Example

Here’s how to write an animator resume that will leave the recruiter positively animated:

1. Choose the Best Format for Your Animator Resume

Listen—

Your animator resume needs to prod the recruiter into action.

Here’s how to make them call you: 

• Put a resume name header at the top of your document. That’s the section where you put your personal information on a resume.
• Make sure all parts of your resume are labeled with reader-friendly headings.
• Most of the time the best resume format is the chronological resume layout. Why? It draws the recruiter’s attention to your latest achievements and experience.
• Remember: the best fonts for resumes aren’t the fancy ones, but the legible ones.
• Don’t put too much information on your resume. Keep it succinct, and use white space.
• Save your resume as a PDF. PDFs are better at keeping the formatting right. Go for the Word format if you’ve been specifically asked to.

2. Write an Animator Resume Objective or Summary

If your animator resume has to make an instant impression on the recruiter—

You need to know how to write the best profile in a resume. It’s a brief section that serves as a kind of elevator pitch.

Your 3D animator resume could open with:

A resume summary statement is a fantastic choice for candidates with at least 2 years of experience. A summary is all about your professional experience and key accomplishments.

A job objective is a perfect opening for your fresher animator resume. A resume objective is about the skills that make you a perfect fit for the position.

To make your resume profile as effective as possible, add some numbers. Numbers show how effective you really are.

Pro Tip: It’s the first section of your resume, but you can write it at the very end. When you have the entire document ready in front of you it will be much easier to pick out the highlights.

3. Create the Perfect Animator Job Description for a Resume

It’s the experience in your resume that matters most. Period.

Your job description must send a clear message:

You can do it way better than the rest.

To send this message, you must tailor your resume to the job posting:

• Put your current position up top.
• Make sure each job entry has your job titles, dates worked, locations, and, of course, company name.
• Present your experience on a list of bullet points. 6-7 per job will be ok. Don’t write full paragraphs.
• Your resume bullets should begin with powerful resume words, such as created, implemented, collaborated, crafted, etc.
• Try to put numbers wherever you can.

Pro Tip: It may be hard to come up with numbers for each bullet point. Rather than despair, find up to 3 things you can quantify and list them in a dedicated key achievements subsection.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.

4. Make Your Animator Resume Education Section Move

Yes, your resume education section is important.

Here’s how to get it right in a couple of simple steps: 

• More than 5 years of experience? Just list your graduation year, degree, school name, and location. You’re done.
• Less experience? Add info on your relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, academic achievements, and GPA if more than 3.5.

The certifications on a resume should be listed in a separate section to make them stand out.

5. Highlight Your Animator Skills

At the end of the day, it’s what you can do that really matters.

The list of skills below will help you identify what you’re great at.

Animator Resume—Skills List

• 3D math skills
• 3DS Max
• Animation compression techniques
• Animation principles
• Blender
• Blend shapes
• C++
• Character-based VFX animation
• Computer vision techniques
• Dynamic posing
• FACS poses
• GPGPU programming (CUDA, OpenCL, etc.)
• GPU shaders
• Machine learning/deep learning (ML/DL)
• Maya
• Motion Builder
• OO design
• Optimization and multi-threading techniques
• Photogrammetry
• Python
• Rigging
• Skeletal hierarchies
• Skinning
• Technical knowledge of Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC
• Unreal Engine

• Analytical skills
• Teamwork skills
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Decision making
• Problem solving
• Time management

Here’s how to pick out the best skills for your animator resume:

• Make a big list of all your skills to put on a resume that includes your soft and hard skills, and obviously your technical strengths.
• Cast another glance at the job offer to see what skills it mentions specifically.
• Find them on your list and focus on them exclusively.
• Select up to 10 of your key abilities and put them in a key skills section of your resume.
• Place your skills strategically across the entire resume. Put some in your resume profile and job description as well.

Pro Tip: Feel like your resume is not exactly what it should be but cannot put your finger on it? Read our guide with the best resume tips to take your resume to new heights.

6. Add Other Sections to Your Animator Resume

Use additional resume sections to show how unique you are, and that you’re a cultural fit.

Consider including info on your: 

• Personal interests
• Volunteer work
• Language skills
• Accomplishments

7. Attach an Animator Resume Cover Letter

Is a cover letter important?

No.

If you don’t want to instantly beat half of the applicants, you don’t need it.

If you’re planning on underdelivering to 50% of the recruiters, you don’t need it either.

In all other cases, follow these hints to make the best cover letter out there:

• Make sure your cover letter follows cover letter formatting rules.
• Learn to write good cover letter openings.
• Tell the employer what you can bring to the company. Not what you want.
• End your cover letter with a call to action.

And make sure the length of your cover letter is just right.

Pro Tip: Learn how to write a follow up email to show you’re a serious candidate.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Here we go!

This is how you make a job-winning resume for character animator positions.

Are you writing an animator resume for the first time? Or perhaps you’re a seasoned pro eager to help the rookies out? We’d love to hear from you, leave your comment below!

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