Career change from animation (payment, degree, jobs, company)

[alonsovg]

Hi everyone. I need some advice here.

I went to college and got my bachelors in Computer Animation. I didn't know what to study after high school, and I always enjoyed drawing as a hobby; so I decided to "follow my passion" and study animation. I quickly learned I didn't like it as much as a career, but I still worked hard to finish my degree. It took me a long time due to several factors and I graduated at 26 years old.

Somewhere along the line I did get a job in the field as a computer animator, working for a small company doing some web animation, motion graphics and video editing. It was alright but I left after 8 months due to low payment and lack of work (some times there were no projects to work on so I just went home).

Now that I finished college I am so burn-out that I can't even bring myself to draw or open the software in my computer to do animations. And actually it has been like this way before I graduated. I have been thinking of a career change but like many people here, I don't want to go back to college. I have thought of something in the trades or outdoors but I have no idea what to do now. I worked in call center for a while, and while I hated the job, I loved my coworkers, the payment, the benefits and the stability. The animation industry can be very volatile, and sometimes not very stable (I have experienced this before).

I have no idea what to do with my life. I feel like I am still young to do a career change, but I also feel like I am running out of time. I do know that I want a balanced, low-stress lifestyle, so that I can pursue what I love on my on time. I don't feel like I need to love my job/career, but I want something that I won't hate and that is stable. The things I love, I would never do them 8 hours a-day, that would kill those activities for me. I am the happiest when I have a stable work-life balance and plenty of time for the people and hobbies I love.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[usamathman]

With your degree and experience you could easily find work in the field of web programming as a UI/UX designer.

Those jobs pay extremely well and are in high demand

Get your portfolio together and do some research on computer human interaction and UI design/wireframing.
Also look into learning some HTML/CSS (www.codeacademy.com)

Great field and one where you can make some really good money if you have the artistic ability.

Inbox me if you need more info.

[alonsovg]

Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate it.

[JTE1969]

I thought CA was ok to get into! What software do you use for CA?

I was thinking of learning 3ds Max and Maya.

Have you tried contract work doing CA?