Nikas Career Report

1. My Top 15 Jobs

1. Animator 6. Web Developer 11. Craftsperson

2. Illustrator 7. Medical Illustrator 12. Potter
3. Computer Animator 8. Cartoonist 13. Professional Athlete
4. Artist 9. Website Designer 14. Data Entry Clerk
5. Industrial Design 10. Video Game Developer 15. Computer Programmer

2. Top 2 jobs

Top 2 Jobs I am most interested in

1. Medical Illustrator

2. Video Game Developer

3. Go to the Interviews on the left side menu. Click on Likes and Dislikes and report on 2 likes and 2 dislikes
from each interview. (See top right of interview page.) Report in point form below. Include your own likes
and dislikes

Medical Illustrator
Likes Dislikes

1. The thing I like most about this job is that
youre constantly learning. 2.
2. I like that theres incredible opportunities
to freelance. For me, freelancing means
working to deadlines
3. Working under the pressure of a deadline
or time limit.
4. Having a flexible schedule rather than
planning out my whole day or week.
1. You spend most of your day working alone.
There is a lack of collaboration between other
people
3. Always having to work in groups. Working
alone is nice sometimes.
4. Having a conflict of ideas with someone else,
especially somebody I am working with.

 Video Game Developer

Likes Dislikes

1. The interactive entertainment we
produce has an educational component.
2. Theres a really diverse genre of
games, so you never get bored.
3. Using creativity to think of new ideas
and make new things.
4. Working with computers and using
different types of technology and digital media.
1. The hours tend to be a lot longer than in other
jobs. You have to work a lot of overtime in the
video game industry.
2. The pay is usually a bit lower than other
industries.
3. An office job doesnt sound like something I
would want to do.
4. Constantly having ideas rejected by people I
am working with.

4. In the interview section, there are many gems or insights each interviewee has shared. For each of the
questions below, give some great advice or information.
Career #1: Medical Illustrator
a) Can you tell me about your background and how you got into this field?
I graduated from university with a bachelors degree in art history, and I made a living off my own art for 5
years. I also did some commercial illustration for a little extra money. I soon discovered, however, that my
detailed style worked well with medical illustration. Since I was already interested in drawing the human
body, I enrolled in a medical illustration program. When I finished school, I went right into freelancing. I
was able to do this because I still had some commercial clients. I used this work to support me until I built
a medical illustration clientele. Now about 95% of my work is medical.
b) What personal characteristics are required for someone to be successful in your job?
You learn something new on every project, so its important to be curious about the way the human body
works. The illustrations must be very precise, and have to convey the right information. The job involves a
lot of in-depth study of technical medicine, so you have to be interested in that. As a freelancer, you must
be extremely motivated. You are solely responsible for making sure you keep working. You have to be able
to sell yourself as an illustrator.
c) What other jobs could you do with the skills you have gained in this field?
Certainly there are many avenues open in the field of health communications. A medical illustrator could
work with the government to convey information about health issues to the public. Medical illustrators are
also trained to understand the subtleties of visual communication. These skills can be used in anything
from art direction in advertising to developing multimedia projects.
d) Are there many opportunities in your field? What should people do to get started?
Because not many people enter this field, almost everyone who graduates from a medical illustration
program gets a job. I dont recommend starting as a freelance illustrator. If you get a job with a company,
you can build contacts while learning the ins and outs of the business. After a couple years of
experience, you can try working on your own.
Career #2: Video Game Developer
e) Can you tell me about your background and how you got into this field?
I have a university degree in philosophy, politics, and economics. I wasnt planning on becoming a game
designer initially. I started working as an intern for a website. From there, I became a QA tester for video
 games. Then I moved up to become a level designer, a lead designer, and an associate producer. Now I
am a lead designer once more.
f) What personal characteristics are required for someone to be successful in your job?
A good game designer needs to have great communication skills, both verbal and written. You need to be
able to communicate complex game systems to programmers and artists and then sell the game idea to
publishers. The best game designers are also creative and very detail-oriented. Its easy to come up with
high concepts, but game designers must be very thorough with their ideas.
g) What other jobs could you do with the skills you have gained in this field?
A lot of game designers can transition into production or project management jobs. Some are also writers
or they work in digital media with websites or online advertising. Game design involves writing a storyline
or dialogue, as does TV writing. A game designer is usually also in charge of the schedule. You bridge the
gap between technical and creative artists. Scheduling and coordinating skills are useful in project
management.
h) Are there many opportunities in your field? What should people do to get started?
If you are willing to move, there are a lot of opportunities for game design. Because of the high turnover of
the industry, one cant expect to necessarily stay in a long-term in a position. But you can still get a job
elsewhere. The best way to gain an entry-level position is to become a game tester, junior artist, or junior
programmer. You should also study digital art or programming, which will help prepare you for a career in
this field.

5. Go to Education on the left side menu. This will take A LOT OF TIME TO RESEARCH & it is important to see
the options available to you.
When you click on Education, you need to scroll down until you see the name of the program.
Your screen should look something like this:

!
Now, glance through the titles of the Programs and click on the one that sounds most interesting. Read about the
content of several programs, the length of time to complete, the cost, and decide whether or not the program might
be the right fit for you. Here you might decide to choose between two schools and report on both. Include the
school information above in this section. Repeat this for your second career option.

6a) Medical Illustrator: Health Studies What did you find interesting about this program?
I found this program interesting because to pursue a career as a medical illustrator, you must not only be skilled at
drawing but also know about the human body and health. There are varying levels of the program you can take,
even up to a masters degree, but there are simpler options available as well. Biology is one of my favourite
subjects, so this program seems like it would be enjoyable for me. This combined with art, a longtime passion of
mine, makes the job one I will definitely consider in the future.

6b) Video Game Developer: Computer Graphics What did you find interesting about this program?
This program was interesting to me because I have already taken electives where I learned about animation and
3D models, as well as how to design simple games. The program is already one I have been interested in for a
while so I would be very happy to take it. The requirements are very simple and the program itself does not take a
lot of time. This job also ties in to art, which as I mentioned, is one of my favourite subjects.

7. Grade 11 and 12 courses I will need to take

Career 1: Medical Illustrator

Grade 11 Grade 12
English English
Mathematics Mathematics
Biology Biology
Chemistry Chemistry
Social Studies Social Studies
Visual Arts Visual Arts
Drafting & Design Drafting & Design

Career 2: Video Game Developer

Grade 11 Grade 12
English English
Mathematics Communications & Media Studies
Science Mathematics
Social Studies Science
Visual Arts Social Studies
Dramatic Arts Visual Arts
Computers Dramatic Arts
Drafting & Design Computers
Drafting & Design

8. Final Reflection. Answer these questions underneath each question. Format neatly. Your response should be
longer and deeper than this.
What did I find interesting in this assignment?

This assignment was interesting, for it showed me a lot of different paths I can take about the future. The website
was very useful and supplied a great amount of information about hundreds of different jobs. It opened my eyes
and made me realize that I should start thinking about my future career more, while giving me a great place to start
researching.

What did I learn doing this assignment?

I not only learned about jobs that are suited for me, but I read about a lot of jobs I never knew even existed, but am
now interested in. I learned that the jobs that I always wanted are the ones I am most suited for, even though they
may not make a lot of money. The site taught me about the courses and programs I need to take for these jobs, so
I can be prepared in the time ahead.

What programs will I possibly want to take?

Programs I will possibly want to take in the future are a mix from both the jobs I researched. From the medical
illustrator career, the biomedical communications interested me very much, as well as health studies. As for the
video game developer career, I liked the more art-focused programs. Ones I would consider taking in the future are
video game development, Digital Media, New Media and Interactive Multimedia, and computer graphics.

What did I like and dislike about the programs?

One thing I dislike the most about the biomedical communications program is that universities in British Columbia
do not offer this program. I would prefer to stick to a university closer to home, so this is a disappointing fact. Many
of the art related programs are offered in the Art Institute of Vancouver, which I liked. It is a place I would love to
study a few courses at. The thing I really liked about the computer graphics program is that I have already taken a
similar elective last year, so I would be very prepared for the content. Moreover, for the most part, all the programs
seem exciting and achievable.