AO
Hiring Runbook · Art of Work
2D Animator
Done-for-you hiring kit

Hire a 2D Animator for @ArtOfWork

A 2D animation channel in the faceless business & war history space. a new faceless 2D channel spun out of The Art of War (1.6M subs). This kit is grounded in Tim's Module 5 + the AOY HR SOPs - follow the six phases in order.

You pay

$1,500/mo

Per-video in month 1 (trial), salary from month 2

To land 1 hire

150-200 apps

about 10 completed test tasks

Golden rule

Hire 2

Month-1 dropout is the #1 risk

🧭 How to use this: phases 1-6 are the do-it-now path, top to bottom. Firing rules and funnel math sit in Reference for when you need them. Do not skip the test task - it's the only real filter.
1

Decide & Budget

Lock timing and pay before a single post goes out.

Hire after the channel's visual format is set. Two at once to de-risk month 1.

Pay benchmark

$1,500/mo

Comp model

Per-video in month 1 (trial), salary from month 2

How many

Two in month 1 - compare, keep best

Why two? Month-1 dropout is the single biggest risk in this hire. One hire is a coin-flip; two is insurance.
2

Post the Job

Get your listing in front of talent - weekly, on the right channels.

Watch first - how to hire on Telegram

Posting rules

  • Post weekly in your top 4-5 channels - posts get buried in ~1 day, a post lives ~1 week
  • Posting costs ~$7-15 per post; never pay more than $20
  • Never stop the pipeline - keep a bench of 3-5 ready candidates even after you hire
  • Hire TWO animators in month 1 (month-1 dropout is the #1 risk), compare, keep the best

Job post - 2 English + Русский

📎Post with an image, not a wall of text. Attach a banner - a simple graphic with your role + channel name centered (like the box below). Posts with an image get far more eyes than text-only ones.
Your Job Banner
Job post
Join us in creating a cutting-edge faceless 2D animation channel focused on business and war history! We're building a founding animation team with a vision to reach 10M views/month. This is your chance to grow with us as we scale.

🎨 Position: 2D Animator  
💰 Salary: $1,500/mo  

What you'll do:  
- Animate from ready scripts + voiceovers (e.g. 5-6 videos/month)  
- Hold readability, pacing, and a consistent style  
- Be a long-term part of the team  

What we're looking for:  
- 1+ year in Adobe Animate  
- Strong sense of rhythm, staging, smooth motion  
- Organized, responsible, deadline-driven  

What we offer:  
- Fully remote, flexible schedule (deadlines matter, hours don't)  
- Steady long-term workload, not one-off gigs  
- Minimal revisions - you own the final result  
- Bonuses for viral videos and creative initiative  
- Growth path: lead role / channel producer as we scale  

Apply here: https://forms.gle/aow  
Message @aow_hr for more details.
Ready to make your mark on a new faceless 2D animation channel? We're chasing 10M views/month and need a talented 2D Animator to join our founding team!

🎨 Position: 2D Animator  
💰 Salary: $1,500/mo  

What you'll do:  
- Animate 5-6 videos/month from scripts & voiceovers  
- Maintain style, readability, and pacing  

What we're looking for:  
- 1+ year in Adobe Animate  
- Strong rhythm and motion skills  
- Organized and deadline-driven  

What we offer:  
- Fully remote, flexible schedule  
- Long-term workload, minimal revisions  
- Bonuses for viral videos  

Apply here: https://forms.gle/aow  
Message @aow_hr to connect.
Присоединяйтесь к созданию нового анимационного YouTube-канала без ведущего, посвященного бизнесу и военной истории! Мы строим команду аниматоров с целью достичь 10 миллионов просмотров в месяц. Это ваш шанс расти вместе с нами!

🎨 Должность: 2D Аниматор  
💰 Зарплата: $1,500/мес  

Что вы будете делать:  
- Анимировать по готовым сценариям и голосовым записям (например, 5-6 видео в месяц)  
- Поддерживать читаемость, ритм и единый стиль  
- Быть долгосрочной частью команды  

Что мы ищем:  
- 1+ год в Adobe Animate  
- Хорошее чувство ритма, композиции, плавности движения  
- Организованность, ответственность, соблюдение сроков  

Что мы предлагаем:  
- Полностью удаленная работа, гибкий график (сроки важны, часы не важны)  
- Постоянная работа, а не разовые проекты  
- Минимальные правки - вы владеете конечным результатом  
- Бонусы за вирусные видео и креативные инициативы  
- Возможность роста: роль лидера / продюсера канала по мере нашего роста  

Подайте заявку здесь: https://forms.gle/aow  
Напишите @aow_hr для получения подробностей.

🇷🇺 The Русский tab is a ready translation - post it in Russian-speaking Telegram chats for noticeably higher conversion. Keep your form in English and add an English-level question.

3

Collect Applications

Build an application form that sells the company - not a survey.

The form is marketing. It sells the channel, it doesn't just collect data. Add a banner, a short intro (what the channel is + its numbers + the role + "we reply within 1 business day"), keep it under ~2 minutes, and pipe responses to a Sheet. A generic Google Form gets fewer - and weaker - applicants.

How to build it - copy these rules

  • Open your role's template (link above) as the model - or if you have its EDIT link, use the 3-dot menu -> Make a copy.
  • Title that sells: '[Role] for [Channel]' or 'Join [Company]: open roles'.
  • Settings -> add a header / banner image - it's marketing, not a survey.
  • Intro paragraph: what the channel is + its goal / numbers + the role + 'we reply within 1 business day'.
  • Add the questions below; mark the key ones Required. Keep it under ~2 minutes.
  • Turn ON 'Collect email' and keep the Source question for UTM-style tracking.
  • Responses tab -> link to a Google Sheet so applications auto-collect.
  • Send -> link -> copy (shorten it), then drop it into your job posts as the apply link.
  • Test-submit it once yourself before you post anywhere.

Questions the form should ask

  • Full name (required)
  • Age (required)
  • Country / city you're currently in (required)
  • Contact: Telegram or WhatsApp link / number (required)
  • Portfolio / reel link (required - but don't over-filter; the test task is the real filter)
  • What you're currently doing (job / studies / freelance) (required)
  • Role you're applying for (required - if the form covers more than one role)
  • Link to a video closest to the style you can make (required)
  • Software / experience (e.g. Blender, Maya, C4D, Adobe Animate, Premiere) (required)
  • English level (required)
  • Salary expectation (required)
  • A few words about yourself (optional)
  • Source: 'where did you see this post?' (so you know which channel converts)
4

Run the Test Task

This is the real filter. Everything before it is just funnel.

Deadline: 3 days
Test task spec
Make a short video matching the reference channel @theartofwarrr's style. Focus on maintaining readability, pacing, and a consistent style. Remember, never just copy - improve!

To build the actual test-task asset, your coach chains AOY_Program_write_script (script from the reference) + AOY_Program_voiceover (the voiceover). This kit gives the spec; those two build the files.

Message to send with it

Script - Test task invite
Thanks for your interest in the 2D Animator role! Please complete the following test task to showcase your skills:

Make a short video matching the reference channel @theartofwarrr's style. Focus on maintaining readability, pacing, and a consistent style. Remember, never just copy - improve!

Looking forward to seeing your creativity!
Give feedback on every test within 48h Interview AFTER the test - never before
5

Hire or Pass

Move fast on the winners; close out everyone else cleanly.

Script - Invitation to interview

Send after the test passes
Hi! I'm Tim, recruiter at Art of Work. We're excited about your application for the 2D Animator position. Let's set up a time to chat!

Script - Accepted

The offer
Congratulations! We’re thrilled to offer you the 2D Animator position. Join our team chat here: https://t.me/aow_team to get started.

Script - Refusal

Keep the door open
Thank you for your time and effort in applying for the 2D Animator position at Art of Work. Unfortunately, we will not be moving forward with your application. We wish you the best of luck in your job search!
6

Onboard

Onboard while they're still excited - momentum matters.

  • Onboard while they're excited - momentum matters
  • Give Gmail access (Google Drive, Sheets, YouTube Studio run off it)
  • Add them to the team Telegram chat - all comms there, not DMs
  • Add them to Asana for task assignment + feedback + approvals
  • Point them at the dashboard's ONBOARDING tab first
  • Trial = 4 weeks. Month 1 per-video (trial), month 2+ salary (lifts retention)
  • Assign one simple first task - do NOT overload day one
  • Never become the approval bottleneck - set fixed reply windows and step back
Reference - consult when needed

Not part of the launch path. Come back to these once someone's hired and running.

When & how to fire

  • Fire trigger (data): 2 consecutive months where their cost > revenue from their output
  • Fire trigger (gut): if it consistently feels wrong despite borderline metrics, trust it
  • NEVER fire by text - always a short 5-10 min phone call
  • No negotiation, no reversal - the decision is final before the call
  • Pay everything owed within 24-48h, then revoke access immediately (Asana / Drive / Telegram / Studio)
  • Offer a referral / testimonial - people talk in the hiring communities
  • Alternative to firing expensive talent: pause the relationship, don't burn the bridge

Funnel math - what to expect

100post views
40applications
3completed tests
1hire
  • Post -> form20-60%low = weak post, wrong platform, or form too long
  • Form -> test10-30%low = test too hard, unpaid, or no pre-test pitch
  • Test -> offer10-30%low = vague criteria or misaligned expectations
Reverse-engineer from your goal (Tim's example): 5 hires needs ~25 tests -> ~250 applications -> ~1000 post views. Baseline: 1 solid hire is about 10 completed tests and 150-200 applications.