Planning on travelling to the UK next year, what's the job market like in vfx?

[cr0ss]

Hi All,
I'm not sure if this is the best place to post this question so feel free to move it if its not appropriate here.



I am planning to go to the UK next year on the Youth Mobility work and travel visa however I am hearing mixed things about finding work over there. On one hand I hear from people that there are no jobs in Europe, the economy is really bad at the moment etc. On the other hand I hear that London and the UK is one of the places that has the most vfx companies per capita in the world. So I guess my question is, is it hard to find work over there at the moment in vfx? (My main area of expertise is compositing and I'd say I'd be between Junior and Mid weight having been in the VFX industry for 2 years now, have a couple of movies under my belt, though I've had more experience on tvc work.)

What's the best method of finding work over there? Agency, direct contact with company, any special job boards/mailing lists specifically for the UK industry?

Many thanks for your responses.
Thanks~

[tommy138]

When are you going?
From what I've heard, it's going to ramp up again in London from about oct/nov.
Just start applying to all the companies.
Good luck!

[scrimski]

Check the job sections of MPC, Framestore and the like.

[cr0ss]

Thanks, for all the info I'm planning on going February/March next year.

1) How long would you recommend applying in advance to companies? Like would it be too soon to apply now for a position in Feb/March next year?

2) Granted that I'll be going on the Youth Mobility scheme and a company won't have to sponsor me, how hard is it to compete with jobs with say someone who's a citizen of the country?

Thanks for your responses.

[tommy138]

1) I'd start applying now, and if they're looking for people before you arrive in the UK, you can always contact them later.
At least you'll have someone to contact other than the generic email

2) Don't think it would make a difference. It's prob best if you're already in the country and all ready to go.

[quety101]

Thanks, for all the info I'm planning on going February/March next year.

1) How long would you recommend applying in advance to companies? Like would it be too soon to apply now for a position in Feb/March next year?

2) Granted that I'll be going on the Youth Mobility scheme and a company won't have to sponsor me, how hard is it to compete with jobs with say someone who's a citizen of the country?

Thanks for your responses.

They don't care. Its just down to experience and how much you cost. But London is not looking so busy for next year at the moment. Probably best to apply early and keep trying

[cr0ss]

They don't care. Its just down to experience and how much you cost. But London is not looking so busy for next year at the moment. Probably best to apply early and keep trying

Ahh cool thanks for the information.

1)How likely is it to find something fulltime?
2)If most work is freelance/contract how long are they usually for?
3)If I decide that I like it in the UK and want to move there permanently, do companies look upon sponsoring more favourably if a) You are with the same company for a long period of time or b) if you try and get as much experience/work as possible from as many companies you can find?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[radders]

1)How likely is it to find something fulltime?

Not very likely at all. I was at Framestore for 3 years but I was always on a rolling contract that would be renewed at the end of each project, once they knew they had something else lined up. There was no break in-between so if I had kept that up for 1 more year I would have been made permanent.

2)If most work is freelance/contract how long are they usually for?

3-6 months generally.

3)If I decide that I like it in the UK and want to move there permanently, do companies look upon sponsoring more favourably if a) You are with the same company for a long period of time or b) if you try and get as much experience/work as possible from as many companies you can find?

I don't know which they'd favour. They are more likely to care about the quality of the work you had done. It could be hard to get sponsored though. A couple of years ago the government introduced a cap to the number of foreign workers each industry can sponsor. The VFX industry got a pretty low number. This means that it is generally saved for senior people. I know an Aussie who had been in London for a few years who had to move on because of this cap.

[tommy138]

I don't know which they'd favour. They are more likely to care about the quality of the work you had done. It could be hard to get sponsored though. A couple of years ago the government introduced a cap to the number of foreign workers each industry can sponsor. The VFX industry got a pretty low number. This means that it is generally saved for senior people. I know an Aussie who had been in London for a few years who had to move on because of this cap.

He's going on a youth mobility visa, so he wouldn't have to worry about being sponsored

[cr0ss]

He's going on a youth mobility visa, so he wouldn't have to worry about being sponsored

No tommy I did say, "If I decide that I like it in the UK and want to move there permanently"..

So what strikes me is it seems there's no vfx hotspot place in the world where one can settle down, buy a house and know they'll never need to move for work (unless of course your a senior and even then that's not certain)...

So how many years does it take to be classified as a 'senior' in the uk?

[metalrahul]

[/I][/FONT]So what strikes me is it seems there's no vfx hotspot place in the world where one can settle down, buy a house and know they'll never need to move for work (unless of course your a senior and even then that's not certain)...

I guess that's one of the issue with the globalization which we artists have to pay for... From a Asian perspective now, now India and China might be having some sweat jobs but soon or later even those will be shifted to more cheaper places such as Vietnam or Philippines.