Start off Illustrating... you should know how to concept things out before you create them in 3D. Typical software using Photoshop or Painter (or both). Working on a demo reel a lot of guys tend to use Zbrush to model and animate in Maya/Max although there are many aspects of the 3D industry (Concepting, Storyboarding, Modeling, Texturing, Lighting, Rigging/animating, compositing/FX's...) Not every person can be good at all of them, but if you are good at a few of these its a bonus. Once you have targeted what parts of 3D you want to excel at, check the industry standards... they always change. Zbrush was not even thought of as a professional 3D Movie app in the early 2000's... now everyone uses it... as times change, so does the software.