The Current State of 3D Game Modeling: Do Graduates Face Immediate Unemployment? Is it Really That Competitive?

　　I've met some young people interested in 3D modeling, whether students or those already in the workforce. They are both curious about this field and considering entering it, yet also hesitant and confused. Many doubts remain, influencing their choices.

　　The vast majority of university students face the problem of unemployment after graduation.

　　Why can't universities cultivate the 3D game modeling talents needed by the industry? Many universities position themselves as teaching "knowledge," not "skills." This is why education in China is divided into undergraduate and vocational programs: undergraduates learn knowledge, vocational students learn skills. However, the embarrassing reality is that most people, after completing their undergraduate studies, have neither learned "knowledge" nor "skills." Vocational students also don't learn any "skills".

　　There are many reasons for this, such as:

　　(1) Students randomly chose their majors when applying, so they don't like the major at all;

　　(2) The school's teachers and curriculum design are outdated, and what they teach is out of touch with society. For example, many schools haven't yet offered ZBrush courses, and students don't even know what next-generation game modeling is;

　　(3) No matter how well Chinese university teachers teach, they don't receive much benefit, so their focus is naturally not on teaching. It's normal for students to find the courses boring; school teachers probably haven't participated in any actual projects, so the teachers themselves can't keep up with industry developments, and the courses are even further behind.

　　Today, let's systematically discuss several major concerns about the 3D game modeling field. This includes: what careers you can pursue after learning 3D modeling, industry salaries and benefits, the time and money investment required for learning, whether to self-study or find a mentor, and how to choose.

　　Hopefully, this will resolve your mental concerns, alleviate some anxiety about the future, and help you find your direction.

　　I. Regarding Careers: What can you do after learning 3D modeling?

　　Learning 3D modeling can lead to many jobs. China's game and animation industry is in a period of rapid development and golden opportunity. Currently, the domestic animation and game industry needs a large number of high-quality young people to join the game art industry. Currently popular mainstream employment directions include the next-generation direction of 3D game modeling, working as a modeler in the game modeling industry.

　　In a game company, you can become an excellent next-generation environment modeler, next-generation character modeler, or low-poly hand-painted texture modeler. There is also a wide range of other job demands, such as 3D environment designers and game designers, which are becoming increasingly popular choices for young people.

　　II. Regarding Salary: Can you really earn a high salary by learning modeling?

　　Every industry has experts and novices, and the 3D modeling industry is no exception. If we divide 3D modelers into four types of people: the first type: elite, powerful masters; the second type: successful company leaders; the third type: ordinary modelers who work diligently; the fourth type: lazy and deceitful slackers.

　　After learning 3D modeling, your salary will change dynamically with your skills and attitude. If you become the fourth type, your salary will not be high. If you can work diligently as a modeler, at least you can live comfortably. If you have dreams and the drive to become the second or first type, an annual income of hundreds of thousands or even millions is possible.

　　The average salary for a mid-level 3D game model designer can reach an annual salary of 150,000, senior 3D artists can reach 300,000+, and game product directors can reach an annual salary of 500,000+. Finding a job depends on both talent and luck. Some graduates can go to large game companies and participate in high-end project production, naturally earning higher salaries.

　　The 3D modeling industry is a sunrise industry with a promising future, but this is just a platform. You still need to work hard to build your skills and grow step by step. With real skills, your salary will be what you say it is.

　　Many bosses in this industry complain that although their companies have many people, few can truly master game modeling. Most are in support or administrative roles. Companies spend high salaries recruiting these talents, but the number of truly skilled people is limited. If you offer a high salary, other companies will offer even higher salaries, so truly skilled people are in high demand, while those who are incompetent are unwanted.

　　As for the salary in this industry, if you are just starting out or have limited experience and haven't worked on any major projects, it's impossible to expect a high salary. In the beginning, we don't do it for the money, but to build our skills. Generally, those with average skills can easily find a job with a salary of no less than 10,000. Many skilled professionals earn millions annually. So don't focus on whether this industry has a future; it does, and it's there. Focus on improving your skills; skills are power, and learning is the key to development.

　　Secondly, 3D game modeling is at the end of the entire game development process. Becoming a 3D game modeler doesn't mean you fully understand the entire game production process. The greater satisfaction comes from the sense of accomplishment you feel after creating convincing 3D characters based on original artwork. After learning 3D modeling, your salary will change dynamically with your skills and attitude. If you are a slacker, your salary will not be high.

　　III. Regarding Time: How long does it take to learn 3D modeling?

　　This depends on the individual. Some students have zero foundation and will learn more slowly, while others come from animation majors in colleges or are working professionals, and will naturally learn faster.

　　Don't worry about lacking an art foundation. Many modelers have transitioned from jobs such as doctors, tour guides, and sales. Director Jiaozi of the hit summer movie "Ne Zha" a few years ago graduated from medical school and switched to 3D modeling.

　　To learn 3D modeling from scratch to success, it generally takes 6 to 9 months. In addition to systematically learning various software used in post-production, you also need to do character modeling, understand the structure of muscles, the correct distribution of bones, learn human anatomy, and learn basic art knowledge. You not only need to learn the basic application of software, but also focus on improving your aesthetic modeling skills.

　　Some people are dedicated and can master 3D modeling skills well in five or six months. To reach the level of a master, you need to practice for two or three years on top of a solid foundation. Regardless of your background, as long as you are fully committed to learning, becoming a 3D modeling master is just a matter of time.

　　Some may think that learning 3D modeling takes too long and give up. But think about it, what skill is easy to learn? Life is not like a fictional TV series; there are no masters to pass on their skills and make you invincible in a short time. Mastering a skill requires perseverance and determination, not a restless heart.

　　IV. On Self-Learning: Is Self-Learning 3D Modeling Feasible?

　　Those who have this doubt can first consider the following questions:

　　1. Do you have plenty of time to learn without work or study?

　　2. Are you exceptionally intelligent and have a particularly strong learning ability?

　　3. Are you very self-disciplined, strong-willed, and able to overcome setbacks?

　　4. Do you have a scientific and systematic learning method?

　　5. Do you have high-quality and reliable tutorials and learning resources?

　　If all of the above conditions are met, then congratulations, you have the conditions for self-learning, and you can even learn well. If some or none of the above conditions are met, and you want to learn properly rather than just for fun, it is still recommended to find a teacher and learn systematically from an institution. This is the wise choice.

　　For beginners or those with some foundation, who are still unclear about what to learn first, what to learn next, and how to improve learning efficiency, I sincerely advise you not to randomly find messy and low-quality tutorials online. Not only are they difficult to understand, but they also easily lead to detours. Although you can seek help online when encountering problems, some problems cannot be solved by Baidu, and the specific problems encountered may not match the search results. Only when you reach a certain stage of learning and have more targeted questions can you find answers.

　　A problem that can be solved in 10 minutes under the guidance of a teacher might take a week to solve on your own. The longer it takes, the greater the gap, the more confused you become, and the more time and energy you waste. Sometimes, leveraging the power of others can better achieve your own goals.

　　If you have always had a strong interest in learning 3D modeling and want to master a cool new skill, you can visit DCGART for 3D modeling. 3DMax, Zbrush, and other next-generation game and animation modeling software are shared, from zero-basis beginners to practical exploration.

　　If you can be a solid modeler, at least you can live comfortably. If you have dreams and the drive to reach the second or first type of person, an annual income of hundreds of thousands is possible.

　　The modeling industry relies on skills. Those with good skills naturally earn high salaries. No industry is without embellishment or negative news. Salaries of four to five thousand, or even lower, are for interns; those lacking skills earn this much. Those with excellent works earn six to seven thousand, entirely based on ability. Explosive workloads are because newcomers are slow.

　　What a veteran can finish in a day, a newcomer might take two or three days, making mistakes and requiring rework. Do you think the workload is large? Whose fault is it? Is it the project's difficulty, or your lack of skill? Many are unskilled laborers; even freshly graduated college students who think their major is relevant haven't mastered the basic software. Those wanting to enter the field, who are not considered talents and lack project experience and the ability to work independently, still need training.

　　I've written so much, and what I really want to tell newcomers is that learning modeling is not necessarily easy, but it's not as difficult as climbing to the sky. The most difficult part at the beginning is the various annoying operations of the software. Having someone to guide you will help a lot, but self-learning will be much more painful. Although you can use Baidu when you have problems, I want to say: show me what you've found on Baidu.

　　Some problems cannot be solved by Baidu. It's not that there are no answers, but your description may not match the search results, and those are often not what you want. Only when you reach a certain stage of learning and have more targeted questions can you find answers.

　　Almost all 3D game modeling companies are switching to next-generation models. There is a large gap and market in this area, but the requirements are also high, requiring daily dedicated study and research.

　　V. On Choice: Sometimes, choice is more important than effort.

　　Regarding choices, there are three great tragedies in life: not knowing how to choose, choosing but not persevering, and constantly making choices. The best state is to clarify your dreams; the best choice is to choose what your heart desires and then persevere to achieve your goals.

　　For young people who want to learn 3D game modeling, I hope you will stop hesitating, make up your mind to learn properly, and take the first step. You'll be halfway to success; if you don't want to learn, continue to look for an industry you find ideal.

　　Whatever you do, please do not disappoint your ideals and career.

　　Wishing young people who bravely make choices will no longer be lost, and their dreams will shine brightly.