A reel is essentially required — most animation employers will not review a resume without accompanying work samples. Lead with your strongest 30 seconds. Tailor reel content to the role: character animation for game studios, motion graphics for broadcast or agency roles, product visualization for architecture or manufacturing clients.

Rigging is a specialized skill that many animators don't have — if you can build character rigs, mention the software, rig complexity, and any proprietary pipeline tools you've worked with. 'Built production-ready facial rig with 60+ blend shapes for 3D character in Maya, compatible with studio's custom Python pipeline' signals technical depth beyond standard animation.

Broadcast and film animation often prioritize visual quality and specific style fidelity. Game animation prioritizes game engine integration, real-time performance, and blend tree logic. These are distinct technical disciplines — game animators should highlight engine experience (Unreal, Unity) and state machine/blend tree knowledge; broadcast animators should reference deliverable specs and client brand standards.