Getting a Job in LA Part 1: Deciding that I was Ready

In July 2021, I began the biggest job application sprint of my life. I was working at a company in Michigan and I was determined to get to LA and work as a motion designer/illustrator.

Before starting this wave of job applications, I was currently working as an Assistant Editor at a production house in Michigan. I had always wanted to move to LA, but I wasn't sure if my skill level was on par with professionals, so I decided to accept this job because I wanted to compare myself to the senior editors at the company and gauge how far I was from working at a professional level. I learned a lot about corporate workflows and processes which gave me a lot of insight that I couldn't have gotten from my freelance projects. I definitely think it was a good decision to use the Michigan position as a steppingstone to LA even though at the time it felt like I was increasing the time it would take me to get to where I wanted to be.

So how did I know I was ready?

Even though the position was so comfy - there's nothing like the sweet security of a salary and benefits - in my heart, I had never lost sight of LA. I had two options. I could stay an Assistant Editor in Michigan for a year or two, work my way up the ladder, become an editor, and build enough cred to attract LA employers. Or I could start looking for entry level positions in LA and just shout into the void until someone shouted back.

I felt confident in my technical skills as an editor/motion designer. After working on a few projects as an assistant, I was able to keep up with the senior editors' requests so I at least felt confident I could hold my own as an assistant editor at any company. So knowing that, I just had to ask myself "Do I need to wait any longer to live the life I want to live?"

I decided the answer was no.

So that meant it was time to start trying for LA because that’s where I truly wanted to be. And even though I believed in myself, I still was uncertain I would succeed. So I gave myself a time limit. I decided from July to September I would be relentless in my pursuit, and if by the end of September, nothing had come to fruition, I would slow down, take a big nap, and stay in Michigan a little longer.

I cannot stress how much uncertainty surrounded this whole endeavor. I questioned every application and email I sent. There were days where my belief in myself and my faith in the process were LOW, but I never stopped. Even when I felt like I was dragging myself along the ground instead of confidently sprinting toward my goal, I didn't stop. I just kept doing the motions.

When it comes to big goals, I don't think you can ever be 100% sure that you are ready or that you will succeed. But I think if you're willing to set a deadline for yourself, commit to consistency, and persist even when depleted, you can truly work some magic.