Dear AD, I just got my first studio job doing storyboards. I'm almost in shock about it b/c I've been trying for 5 years to break out of freelance into a stable job. The trouble is, I'm paranoid that they'll change their mind about me. I've known a few really talented people who got hired and were told a few months later "it's not a good fit." I'm ready to work really hard and "yes sir, yes ma'am" try my best to do what they want, but what if it's still not enough?
First off, congrats! Getting your first big job takes a lot of work and time!
So, on to freaking out once youâve got it:Â All you can do is your best. Best work, best communication, best attitude. If itâs not a right fit after that, itâs not a right fit, and thereâs not much you can do about it.Â
Remember âright fitâ is only half about your work. Itâs not about just being a âyes manâ but about being a person that the rest of the office wants to work with. Itâs about asking the right questions, being eager (but not needy and desperate), being dependable, trying to make things easier on people around you while you learn instead of harder. Be polite. Take regular showers. The standard person stuff.
But also donât be so freaked out by success (âFear of successâ is a real thing) that you self-sabotage. Just calm down, do you best, and let things develop naturally.Â