Your demo reel is your most persuasive tool and it must be findable in under 5 seconds. Include a direct link to your reel in the contact header, not buried in a footnote. Use a clean URL — a personal domain, Vimeo, or ArtStation link — and make sure the reel opens immediately without requiring a password or download.

Animation covers a huge range of specialties. Be explicit about whether you work in character animation, motion graphics, VFX, stop motion, 2D illustration, or 3D generalist work. Recruiters at studios filter candidates by discipline, so vague terms like 'experienced animator' don't help. State your primary discipline in your summary and back it up with tool-specific skills.

Professional animation studios run tight pipelines. Show that you've worked within one — referencing collaboration with rigging artists, directors, or compositors, and your familiarity with asset management and review processes. Even student productions or short films have pipelines, and demonstrating awareness of how your work fits into the larger production chain signals professional readiness.