3D artists build 3 dimensional models to be used in a variety of fields like TV, film, advertising, or video games. Having a degree is not required but is often recommended, especially if it’s related to graphic design, art, animation, or illustration. However, if you don’t have a degree or related background you could easily take courses or certifications online. Early on, you might decide whether you want to be a 3D generalist, or specialize in a particular area in 3D Modeling, 3D Animation, Visual Effects, etc. Further along in your career, you can work your way up to a position as an Art Director, Senior Artist, or Creative Director.
3D artists should have a working knowledge of tools and software such as Revit, Adobe, 3D Studio Max and 3D Slash and you can highlight these in your 3D artist resume. As a 3D artist, you will be constantly collaborating with others, so excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential to include in your 3D artist resume. Since you’ll also be working under strict deadlines, you’ll need to be good with project management and time management.
3D artists are generalists responsible for building 3D models using both software and illustrations. As you progress in your career as a 3D artist, it’s important not just to have experience but to be able to quantify with metrics what you were able to achieve or accomplish in each of your roles. Or, as you earn certifications or advanced degrees that will set you apart, include these in your resume.
Using data is always better than being vague. This 3D artist resume template says, ‘....resulting in a 50% increase in overall productivity.’ You can also use metrics to describe the number of people you managed or models built. Metrics are helpful when hiring managers are reading your resume because they emphasize what you contributed to the team or project.
Having a Master’s degree, especially a Master’s in Business Administration is unique in the 3D artist field and is something you would want to draw attention to. This will allow you to stand out as highly educated and will also show that you have both the leadership capabilities and experience to succeed in more senior roles.
A game artist is an animator that designs 2D and 3D art in the gaming industry like scenery, characters, or backgrounds. To advance as a 3D game artist, you will need to show past experiences of how you’ve grown with previous companies or in past roles. You can also use strong language and verbs throughout your resume to show your technical skills and most important achievements and accomplishments.
If you want to continue to grow in your field, you can use previous positions in your resume to show hiring managers how you advanced to different roles in the company. This will also indicate that you have the leadership skills to advance and that you’re able to take on new roles and responsibilities.
You always want to make an impact by using strong action verbs to start off your bullet points. This could include using verbs such as, “Created,” “Illustrated,” or “Designed” to show future employers that you already have the skills that you will need in future positions and that you focus on action and what you’ve specifically achieved.
Game artists are specifically focused on developing visual assets for games, and thus they employ a different skill set than most game designers. You should be sure to name specific tools you’ve worked with. Additionally, including any internal promotions will help convey your commitment to companies.
Having a working understanding of the tools of the trade adds value to your application. Be sure to reference your work with tools like Revit, 3ds Max, Maya, or any other relevant software as it solidifies your familiarity with crucial applications. Add in the big projects you’ve worked on to further impart your experience.
If you can demonstrate that you’ve done well at past companies - to the point of being promoted - you should do so. This imparts to hiring managers that you know what you’re doing as a game artist. If relevant, you can also include how quickly you earned your promotions.
A 3D modeler is a special type of animator that uses software to create 3D models for television, gaming, movies or websites. As a 3D modeler, your technical skills are your greatest assets. By displaying a wide breadth of skills, you show that you are adaptable and can learn new skills. Also, while job titles can vary, pay close attention to the verbiage of how managers list the titles.
If you decide to include your job title on your resume, you should always make the job title on your resume exactly the same as it is listed in the job description. This will help with the Applicant Tracking System and will make it clear to recruiters that you have exactly the experience they’re looking for. If your title has multiple names you can use a slash and include both titles.
You will need to have strong technical and software skills to succeed as a 3D modeler. You can list the programs that you’ve worked on. If you don’t want to mention them all, look at the job description and list the ones that the job requires. You could even provide a link to an online portfolio to show more examples.
For 3D artist jobs, having strong technical and software skills are essential because you’ll be using a wide variety of programs from 3D Studio Max to Adobe Photoshop. You’ll want to read through the job description carefully and then place any relevant skills throughout your resume as bullet points or in your skills section. You might include something like, “Developed 20 game settings in Revit.” Doing this will help you get past the Applicant Tracking Systems. This tracking system is simply an automated filter, and by intentionally including the specific keywords that the system is looking for, you’ll increase your chances of moving to the next stage of the interview process.
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on 3D Artist job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.
3D artists need to have experience designing innovative concepts, planning and organizing ideas, and communicating well with clients and colleagues. Make sure to emphasize these skills with your action verbs - examples: use Developed and Created to display your creative skills.
As you structure your bullet points, start with an action verb first. This will allow you to really place the focus on what you’ve accomplished in previous roles. Employers are looking for 3D artists that are highly specialized, so use your action verbs that will showcase your area of design expertise.
For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs.
If you're a senior-level employee, or you're changing careers to become a 3D Artist, it's useful to add a paragraph at the top of your resume highlighting your most impressive accomplishments. This is called a resume summary.
Here's an example of a summary that can be used on a 3D Artist resume.
A resume summary is a totally optional section, and in most cases, it's better to leave it out of your resume than include it. For example, if you're a student or mid-level hire, you should not include a summary, and instead use the space to add to your work experience.
To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your 3D Artist resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Resume Summary Examples for Job Seekers: When To Include One.
