Personal Inventory

First of all, nice comment anonymous!

What are you doing for employment in Japan?

In a nut shell, I do all of my work for American clients and clients I can find on the internet. I freelance. In addition, I look for a job here in Tokyo. This answers a part of your question, but there is something left unsaid.

Perhaps it is time I took a look at my strategy and weighed the results. I think there are three important steps I have taken. First, I decided to choose what I wanted to do and go for it. Secondly, I decided to move to Tokyo for more opportunity. Thirdly, I decided to brand myself.

Well, actually choosing what you want to be is rather childish, isn't it. We also have to weigh the opportunities available. So, I have kept myself aimed at PR and Advertising making my specialty the web. Of these similar but sometimes opposed fields, PR and in particular event planning is open to foreingers. Advertising, is a bit harder to get into. Luckily, my IT skills have made me more marketable. Let's just say this step was personally significant but publicly trivial, shall we?

Then, there was moving to Tokyo! Great idea, necessary for one to actually get interviews. Even recruiters forgive you for freelancing if you can come in that day. Since moving to Tokyo, I have had over 100 hits on my resumes, whereas in Kansai, 3.

Finally, branding myself. There is a saying that even bad publicity is good publicity. My business card works with my website and my portfolio. There is collusion, showing cohesion. Let's face it. People only get so much of you in one go, but having a good disposition, which I do, and having a unifying theme makes you rememorable.

In tallies, Kansai interviews 1:: Tokyo interviews 10 (mostly recruiters) and going. I am off to one now! Wish me luck.