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July 26, 2006
Another Post
It's been another long stretch without a post. This is most likely due to the fact that not much interesting happens when one is doing a job search from day to day. I've been going to interviews, writing e-mails, and going to more interviews. It's difficult trying to find the right fit. I ususally woudn't write about an interview but the one yesterday was interesting.
This was actually a second interview after I had ridden the BART for over an hour to the office for a 2 minute interview last Friday. I returned on Monday morning at 8:30am and was surprised to hear loud music and to see what seemed like a party going on in the other room. It turned out that this was the "interviewers" getting ready for the day. The office filled up with about five other candidates and we were called in to the main office one by one. They informed us that we would go out in the "field" with our assigned "interviewer" and sell the product.
Selling, as it turned out to be, was soliciting businesses in an assigned area, walking into their office where the signs said "No Soliciting" and trying to sell packages of tickets for a certain comedy club. We were actually kicked out of a few places but many others asked for a flyer or information of some sort which we did not have. Apparently, the marketing strategy was "impulse buy" and they did not leave information. I told my interviewer that it would be a good idea to leave some info they could pass along to the busy employees and they could call us if they were interested. Perhaps I'm crazy, but to me, this seems like a much better business strategy. However, I was informed the company does not do this.
I thought about stopping the "interview" after a polite 5 hours in but we were visiting all the Internet companies such as Google, Mozilla, Intuit (the developers of Quicken) and since I had nothing else to do that day decided to stick it out.
My "interviewer" told me he would give me a great recommendation to the boss when we got back and I would have to take a test which was comprised of the interviewer teaching me the "8 steps to success" and "5 sales methods" which I would memorize and then spit back out five seconds later on the test.
After I took the test my "interviewer" went into a private room with the boss for about five minutes and when he came out I could see on his face it wasn't good. He took me outside and told me the boss was "confused" because on my application filled out last Friday, I said I could start "immediately" but informed the interviewer on Monday I would be able to start on the following Monday because I had gotten some more interviews during the week. Therefore, they were not going to interview me further and I could call again on Monday and see if the position was still open.
I had to crack a smile when I heard the "boss was confused." Boy this guy confuses easily! I was not disappointed though since I realized the job wasn't for me but after spending so much time thought I should just finish the day as to not burn any bridges.
Today was much better though and started with a haircut at a barber shop run by Vietnamese! When they learned I had just come from Vietnam, they really opened up, were extremely friendly and I really felt like I was back in wonderful Vietnam. They told me how hard it was to live here and I could really understand how their feelings. It can be extremely difficult for foreigners to come here and as I'm finding out, California is more of a "mixing bowl" than a "melting pot." Groups tend to stick to their own and very few people have the ablitiy to truly feel comfortable with people from other cultures. It was wonderful to be in that barber shop among friendly Vietnamese again.
This experience was contrasted against the curt, sharp, unpleasant demeanor of the receptionist at the career fair I went to today. The girl I spoke to first was busy in conversation with her colleague and I felt like I was interrupting them. She was of Asian decent, wore gobs of makup and was pretty attractive. However, her attitude made her despicable. When I introduced myself, she replied with a rapid "Just fill out the top portion thanks," and returned to the conversation with her colleague. After the job fair she was able to muster a "How was it?" to which I reponded, "Well, I think it went pretty well," to her immediate reply almost before the last word had gotten out of my mouth a rapid "Great, Take Care."
For some reason, I get the feeling quite a few Californians are only kind when they want something or are trying to sell you something. The openness of the Vietnamese is sharply contrasted with the more reserved, suspicious Californians and to an extent Americans. If you are open here people become suspicious and wonder what you want or what you are trying to do and become guarded which is a pity. Of course there are some kind, honest people as well whom I suspect come from Ohio or the Midwest. Here, when you approach someone, especially downtown they seem to be thinking, "Who are you, what do you want, do you have enough money for me to be talking to you."
They say it is very difficult for someone to come back to the USA after living for a long time in Asia. Well guess what...... They are absolutely right. As I mentioned, there are some great people here but they tend to be immigrants or darts players.
Posted by Mateo at 9:28 AM | Comments (0)
July 19, 2006
San Francisco - Unemployed Life
As most of you already know, I've made another big jump and have landed myself in San Francisco. So far I've managed to get myself a nice apartment and have jumped head first into the job market.
A question I'm asked a lot is "Why San Francisco?" For some reason I think I give them a response they were not expecting. That response being San Francisco is a beautiful town, excellent public transportation and I've heard most of my international friends (International friends being those who travel a lot) simply rave about the city. Further, I was thought it would be a wise career move to get back to the USA for some work experience before I hit 30 to diversify a bit.
I think most people expect my answer to be that I moved here for a job. I guess I just think a bit differently and like to look at the big picture. That picture is that you only live once and it would drain my soul to let Corporate America control this one precious life I have. I guess the current mentality in the USA is to get into a corporation, bite and scratch your way up for 20-30 years when you'll be paid the big bucks and then boy one can start living!!
I have never understood this mentality and still don't. Perhaps some may think I'm wandering around trying to find my groove. The answer to that is I've already found it and enjoying life to the fullest. I've made the jump before and I can do it again here in San Francisco. The process goes, I like to find an area where I would enjoy living first. Then in this area there are going to be jobs that I could find if I had stayed at home or anywhere else! So why not pick a place I like to live first and then work on the job aspect? I guess this doesn't work for most since they have specific careers and have to follow the job. That's the beauty of a business degree and sales especially. Everyone needs sales people so there should be jobs everywhere!
I also never understood the glamour attached with being at the top of a big corporation. Most companies sell people stuff they don't need to buy stuff that they really don't need either. I don't need Coke, Nike, Louis Vuitton or anything else than a computer, a nice cold beer and perhaps a nice set of unrusted golf clubs. For me, life is about experiences and helping others along the way when you can. Everyone is just trying to do the best they can in this life the best way they know how. I don't think anyone is in the pursuit of unhappiness and are therefore just trying to discover what makes them happy.
So as for the job search, it is tough and risky since I've moved from one entire country to another and have no current employment. Yet, being able to make the jump gives one a certain sense of freedom. I don't think most people are inherently free since most are tied to a job to afford lots of overpriced junk. Here in the states, most people live unconsiously I think. That is to say, they follow the current of life and whatever direction it takes them. Most people aren't able to chose their dream job and take whatever is available at the time. They are then tied down to morgages to huge houses, car payments when public transportation really should have been more of a priority in the country and countless gagets that make them busier than they were without them. Cell phones especially kill me. Now, anyone can contact me anytime, anywhere. How is this freedom? Can't quit the job because need the income to pay for a house that you can't take anywhere as well. Even social circles play into the mix as most people are too afraid to leave them and be in a city where they are too shy to go out and meet people.
Thus, it's day in and day out trying to make a buck and should one be lucky enough to be one of the select few that makes more than a few dollars they buy more material stuff which weighs them down even more!
I guess I'm like a 2 year old who always wants to know what's over in the other corner and won't rest until he can go over and check it out. Moving to other countries, understanding other mentalities and languages fulfils this need of mine. I love being in a strange city trying to figure it all out and trying to adapt.
I'm sure there are some people like this in San Francisco and I can't wait until I'm settled down here and have a decent social network. The job search has been going fairly well although sometimes it seems that America has stopped paying sales people a salary and try to entice them with ads in captial letter "CONTROL YOUR OWN DESTINY!", "HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE 100K YOUR FIRST YEAR!"
When you see an ad like this it means they won't pay you a salary. It probably also means calling people who don't want to be bothered and trying to sell them something they don't need. But on the other hand, there are some honest positions out there and it took me only a day or two to understand this.
The other problem I run into though is that at most companies, you already need the experience. I would really like to read a book about how people get the experience in the first place since once cannot get experience unless they can get in the door but cannot because you need experience. It would be a great story to read about all the companies becoming empty because nobody has experience and therefore cannot get the job.
The other thing that really irks job seekers is how many employers don't respond to inquiries. I sometimes think I'd like to see if they will respond if I make up a resume with a 4.4 GPA, Former Rocket Scientist, 100 languages, World Peace Negotiator, and successful entrepreneur who already has 100 successful fortune 100 companies but minimal experience. I just wonder if they would respond.
But actually as I mentioned before, the job search is actually going pretty well so I can't complain too much. I just have one more thing that I'd like to say is unique among employers in America. A lot of times they are looking for someone who is a "proactive, dynamic, actionable, multi-tasking, enabling, world-class, global employee." About 6 of the ten requirements listed on many websites use this. It would be fun to send a resume for a computer engineer that says I created the internet, invented the router, can hack into the pentagon but am just not world-class at all and need to work on my enabling. hahahaah.
In spite of all this, I am enjoying myself and there are some great companies out there that I'm just starting to find. Just gotta dig through all the buzz words and hope my honest resume will stick out among all the inflated ones which proclaim for example that they can speak langauges when all they really know is, "Mi nombre es Maria y mi cumpleanos es el 27 de Marzo." :)
Posted by Mateo at 11:11 AM | Comments (0)
July 18, 2006
Life in Tokyo vs. Life in Saigon
------Due to it's popularity, this is a repost of a previous entry. Hopefully soon I'll think of something interesting to write about -------------------
Life in Tokyo vs. Life in Saigon
I'm baaack!! Long time without a post here but I felt a little like an outsider since as most of you know I'm taking a hiatus from Tokyo life and living here in Saigon, Vietnam. But I have often had to explain why I moved to Vietnam if I loved Tokyo so much. Therefore, I thought I would put my explanation here for all of you who are curious about life in other Asian countries and considering leaving Tokyo for a bit.
The MAIN reason I am taking a break from Tokyo is I was afraid of Corporate Japan. I spent three years teaching English and two learning the Japanese langauge and culture and then I up and left! Why did I do this? The answer lies in the quality of life....
I had just finished my Japanese studies and was offered a job in a Japanese company where I would have been the only foreigner. I had established my relationship with this company by teaching the employees English at night. When they heard I graduated from the language program they offered me a job as translator / foreign liasion since they dealt with Spanish/English speakers very often.
However, I began thinking about what my life would be should I take it. I would have continued to pay my rent of $770 a month and worked 9am to 7pm everyday. I could just see myself getting on the crowded trains day in and day out and my main source of entertainment would have been drinking with my co-workers. Granted this would have been more fun than in the USA because I could practice Japanese and further integrate myself. I could see the years slipping away and moving up in the company would have been difficult due to my foreigner status , limited Japanese and the hierarchy of the Japanese system. This still appealed to me more than life in the USA which would have been buying a house, car, being in debt until 50 and joining the rat race. Also, the business environment is so much better in Asia and America better brace itself for a loss of even more jobs as Asian countries continue to join the WTO.
BUT, I took a vacation to Vietnam and found the country to be so much more relaxed and much different from what I had imagined. To me, Vietnam was not a war-torn country but rather a country starting anew with the excitement of a brand new economy and new businesses. I could see myself networking much easier and obtaining jobs that I choose instead of hoping employers would choose me. But without further delay, let's do a compare and contrast:
Tokyo Life vs. Ho Chi Minh City Life
1. Working Environment
Winner: Vietnam
Vietnam has a relatively new economy and everyday new business are opening up. The elite of the city consist of young rich Vietnamese and ex-pats from MAJOR international companies such as BP, Nike, Unilever, etc. The ex-pat community is also very small so meeting the expats is not hard to do since most of them are very colorful and can be found at the local bars pounding beers just like the backpackers. If you want to meet the elite Vietnamese they will be at the local trendy bars which are wayyy too expensive for most of the population. They are starting businesses and are out to have fun.
One can network at all the business / diplomatic events and secure themselves a job by attending said events. In Tokyo a membership to the American Chamber of Commerce costed around $650 and every event was about $150 and up. Here, to join most chambers costs less than $100 and events are rarely more than $20. Also, non-members can often attend said events for a cheap price. In Tokyo, the elite are definately in the stratus-sphere and it is very difficult for normal folk to come in contact with them.
If a young person has a business idea here it can be done much easier than in the developed countries and simply takes a little capital or connections with the young elite.
2. Social Life
Winner: Tie
One can explore one single block of Tokyo for three weeks. The sheer immensity of Tokyo cannot be beat and it has an excitement to it with all the blinking lights, beautiful people and fabulous clubs. For high-culture and Metropolitans, Tokyo is the winner. But, the price of this entertainment is horrible and a good night out can set you back $200 easily. For the top clubs it will top $400. But then again one can come in contact with the cream of society and simply watching the bar patrons is excitement enough.
Saigon on the otherhand is very small and the best you can do for the club scene will be at the Sheraton bar which is mostly old fat westerners with young beautiful Vietnamese girls. However, since it is small you will get to know literally everyone and every bar you enter will seem like a "Cheers" episode. I cannot walk more than one minute between entertainment spots without seeing at least 5 people I know. For some, Tokyo is just overwhelming and this community atmosphere appeals to them.
So if I want to be out for an amazing night and am on the hunt, Tokyo wins because everyone I meet will be a stranger and what happens that night will disappear into the immense annals of Tokyo nightlife. But in HCMC everyone knows you and your history. Must not go crazy at night because everyone will talk about you forever and the history never dies.
So to recap, which is more important for you? Having a small group of friends that you take on a huge megaopolis with, or having a small city of friends / acquaintances that you take on around 60 entertainment establishments with?
3. Quality of Life
Winner: Vietnam
Life in Tokyo unfortunately is not going out everynight and being able to explore city blocks every week. Your wallet will be empty before you can bat an eye. Life is characterized by long working hours, long train rides and spending your hard earned dough on about 3 vacations a year.
In Vietnam you can take a trip to the beach or Spa every week. A round trip plane ticket to Nha Trang costs $70. Hotel; between $10-$400 but a nice room can be had for $20. Perhaps it is the warm weather that makes everyone so relaxed here. A smile will get you anywhere and is practically essential. Salaries for ex-pats are very high and I can actually save more money here than in Tokyo. Here I am among the rich but in Tokyo I am a pauper.
4. Personal Development
Winner: Tokyo
To integrate into Japanese society can be very difficult at first. The language is really tough and not many people can speak English well. So to simply integrate into society will change a person so radically that upon returning home they will find themselves bowing to everyone they meet automatically even if they try not to. Also, the langauge is seen as so difficult that if you can speak even a little bit, you will command respect and be perceived as smart.
In Saigon most people can speak English and it's very easy to become part of the community here. It is a little difficult to integrate into Vietnamese community since the language is also difficult but there are so many English speakers that you will feel more included than in Japan. Also, Vietnamese are not timid about approaching foreigners and will come up to you unlike in Japan.
So is there a better place to live? I think the answer that it's all relative and based on perspectives. However, it is important to break out of our comfort zones and get out into the world. Unfortunately, not a lot of people do this and therefore it is no surprise that people hold the ideas of the community around them. It is much better to live in as many places with differing ideas as possible. It just depends on finding out what is really important in life and which location these goals can be achieved. Perspective is also an issue since everything is realtive or based in perspectives. There is no inherently better place to live if you follow me.
Posted by Mateo at 2:07 AM | Comments (0)