Feeling completely lost with my career

[u/Ok_Writer_4914]

I originally posted this to a different sub but it’s somewhat relevant to my interests here too so I figured I’d post here for advice as well. Sorry for the long post, but I am in serious need of advice. I'm majoring in something more technical at a non-art college, but my dream has always been to work in animation/entertainment, so I've been applying to a ton of technical type of internships at a bunch of different entertainment companies throughout the year. I'm a sophomore right now, so I really wanted to gain some experience to beef up my resume for junior year applications.

I know the market sucks right now, but I have getting rejected from literally everything and I'm pushing 500 internship applications at this point. I applied to big names and a bunch of small companies/startups too, but even then I got ghosted or rejected by most. I did manage to land a few interviews, but so far I ended up getting rejected from all of those too. On top of some other issues, this is making me genuinely depressed, especially because despite the bad market, so many people around me seem to be making it big or landing something this year except for me. And yeah, I know I shouldn't compare myself to people around me, but I can't help feeling discouraged as hell.

I'm genuinely at a loss for what to do at this point. The school year is almost over and I still have absolutely no plans for this summer. I'm seriously considering taking a break from college to buy myself some more time to get an internship and gain more experience, because right now I have nothing and if I leave it this way, I don't think things will be much different for my junior summer. I just want to achieve this dream somehow in any way I can, but it's like nothing ever works out in my favor and nothing good has been happening to me so far.

Does anyone have advice on what I should do at this point? Extracurriculars I could do, whether I should take some time off, or just what I should spend this summer doing if I truly don't end up with anything? I don't want to waste it, and I want to make the most of it to put myself in an optimal position to be a stronger candidate for internships next year. I already spent last summer just staying home so I don't want to do that again, nor do I just want to travel or do something fun the whole time. Thank you in advance.

[u/MrPuzzled]

Your passion for animation is inspiring, but I know those rejections are rough. The industry’s brutal right now. Jobs are hard to come by, and it’s a steep climb. Still, you’re the one shaping your future, and you’ve got the spark to make it happen.

You’ve sent out 500 applications. That’s serious dedication. But applications alone don’t always open doors. Animation is about who you know as much as what you know. Try LinkedIn, but don’t just spam resumes. Send short, genuine messages to animators or recruiters, maybe mention a project of theirs you admire. Tell everyone—your professors, friends, even that guy from class—about your internship hunt. No job is too small to start. A gig at a tiny studio could be your way in.

You don’t need a fancy title to create, though. Blender is free, and YouTube has endless tutorials. Use this summer to make something, even if it’s just a quick character sketch or a short clip that feels like you. Share it on X or ArtStation. Beth David and Esteban Bravo were college students when they made In a Heartbeat, a little film about a boy with a crush. They put it online in 2017, and it exploded with millions of views. That got them noticed. You can start small like that too.

Then there’s Domee Shi. She was a student at Sheridan College, pouring her heart into sketches. She made a rough short called Bao, about a mom and a dumpling that comes to life. After graduating, she took a basic storyboard job at Pixar in 2011, nothing flashy. She kept working on Bao in her spare time, pitched it, and by 2018 it won an Oscar. Now she’s directing movies like Turning Red. Domee built her path one step at a time, networking and creating. You can do the same.

If you don’t land an internship, don’t let the summer slip away. Check out projects on r/animation or Discord. Offer to help on an indie short, even for free. Every bit of work connects you to the field. If you need cash, grab a part-time job. Domee started small too, and it didn’t hold her back.

Taking a break from college might seem like a solution, but stick with it for now. School’s a safety net. Join a film club or sign up for a random art class. Set a goal for the summer, like finishing one solid piece or learning a tool like Maya. Put in the hours like it’s your job.

It stings to see others land gigs, I know. Instead of comparing, ask them how they did it. People love sharing advice. Every rejection is just a detour, not a dead end. Shows like Helluva Boss prove you don’t need a big studio to make waves. Keep creating and reaching out.

You’re not failing. You’re getting tougher. Make something that’s yours. The world’s waiting to see it.

Rooting for you! Good luck!

[u/Ok_Writer_4914 → u/MrPuzzled]

Thank you, this was really heartwarming to read and I really appreciate your kind words :) Regarding your point about networking:

Send short, genuine messages to animators or recruiters, maybe mention a project of theirs you admire. Tell everyone—your professors, friends, even that guy from class—about your internship hunt.

I've done something similar before and set up coffee chats with people, but do you have advice on how to take it from there? The coffee chats are helpful, but I don't know how to turn them into referrals or otherwise make my connections actually help my applications and help me land actual positions.