Desperation is Bad Cologn 👎

Onegai shimasu (おねがい します)  🙇

When you are looking for your next gig don't sell yourself short, be smart and honest with yourself. There are many people out in the industry who want to take advantage of someone who needs a gig, AKA will work for free. Some will actually adhere to what they say and get you money or a job after their product ships and success comes their way, passing it on to you. There are others who are merely looking for free labor. There are predators.
Sometimes its difficult to know the difference. My advice is the following:

Do your research!
If you can find out who it is that wants your work. Seek them out in some fashion via your network. What is their reputation like? Have they made anything before? Are they legitimate? Do you know more about the project than they do? Don't be afraid to ask about them questions. The more you search for the truth the better prepared you will be for anything.

Talk to a mentor!
Mentors are more likely to have seen a great deal. They can guide you on whether or not this gig sounds legitimate. They can think of questions that you may not have thought of and can give you advice from their experience.

Weigh the risks!
Remember my Rule #1: Cover Thine Ass. You have to look out for yourself before you can help anyone else in this industry. Will this gig impact you financially in a negative sense? Will it take up valuable time (especially if you have a family)? Will you be able to show off the assets you worked on any time soon? Will you retain ownership of anything?
Basically ask yourself: What are you willing to risk? And be truthful to yourself.

One thing that many people have in this industry is a sense of desperation of others. People can smell it on you if you are not careful. Some will take advantage of that desperation, to advance themselves and not care about you. That's not to say that there are not good opportunities when it comes to giving away work, not at all. What you need to do is be realistic with yourself and ask the hard questions you may not want to answer.
Too bad. This is a tough industry. Don't make it tougher for yourself,

Someone to Mentor Over You 💪

Onegai shimasu (おねがい します)  🙇

Just because you finished schooling does not mean you're totally prepared for the industry of your choice. You may have the chops to get your first job, however that will not be enough for the future. Everyone needs a mentor. Someone they can connect with on a deeper level than just pro work. Someone who can continue to teach things you didn't learn in school. Someone who can connect with you as a person. Maybe even become the wiser friend.

A mentor will be of your industry, have a few years of experience on you, and know the ropes better than you. A good mentor will look out for your best interest, especially of its something you really don't want to hear because of your stubbornness. A good mentor will play the Devil's Advocate and be your champion at the same time. Remember that even your mentors will have had mentors (may not be a bad idea to know them as well, if possible). The more you are able to garner knowledge from your mentor(s) the clearer the road a head will be for you because they may have already traveled that same rode and, perhaps, can guide you so you can avoid the pitfalls they may ran into.

"Where do I find one?" you ask. I can't tell you because it's different for everyone. Sometimes you may find one at school, a social group, or even at the job you go to. And if you have more than one it may be at different times.

I had 2 industry mentors that I found on the job at different points of my career. One who taught me how to deconstruct projects into smaller manageable parts. Another who taught me organization and to be deliberate in my work and how to refine my natural instinct for find, groom, and lead the next generation of excellent artists.

My life would be so very different now without them and I have no idea where I would be right now. They have helped me unlock potential in me that I had no idea was there. I say "had" mentors because I now understand that they see me as their equal and we are friends. One day my proteges will be my equal. I look forward to that day 😁