Turning an Industry Setback into a Dream Job

When we first met Kayleen, she was at a crossroads. A talented lighting artist with credits at Disney, her career had been derailed by the brutal industry layoffs of ’23 and ’24. Freelance agencies had gone silent, job applications led nowhere, and eventually, she found herself substitute teaching and living back with her parents.

She told us it felt like the industry had moved on without her. Openings were scarce, competition was intense, and she didn’t see a way back in.

But Kayleen still had a vision: marry her fiancé, spend time in the Philippines, and eventually land her dream role at Polygon Pictures in Japan. She just didn’t know how to get there.

When she joined our community, it was clear that the first step was to rebuild her confidence and update how she communicated with old clients. Within a few weeks, she landed her first contract. And then the next one.

Those early gigs gave her space to breathe again. She moved to the Philippines and got married. With her personal life on steadier ground, it was time to aim higher.

Next, we helped her land a five-month contract at Sunrise Animation. It was her return to feature film, with more responsibility and a new sense of direction.

Alternating between growth and stabilization, it was then time to focus on the dream.

We built a clear outreach plan for Polygon Pictures. Together, we worked with her on her emails, tailored her story, and worked through each response as it came in. When she was invited to interview, we prepared for that too. From negotiation strategies to presentation style, we made sure she could speak with confidence about the value she brings.

A few weeks later, she got the offer.

And even better: she negotiated a remote position, so she could stay with her budding family.

When we asked what stuck with her most from our time together, she said:

"I was trying to use my career to stabilize my life. Thoughtful3D taught me to stabilize my life first, and then my career followed."

From feeling locked out of the industry to landing her dream job in Japan, Kayleen’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right support and a clear plan, real change is possible.

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