Tokyo, how does one get in?
Submitted by Hygge on Mon, 01/16/2006 - 13:15.
I worked in Dentsu too. I won some awards etc but in the Indian shop. They work like robots in Japan and during my time one guy comitted suicide. Not surprising but if you do ten years or twenty in dentsu you get a month off and a trip on a cruise liner but...little tlick you musn*t die on your table.
rolleyes
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I would like to work a while in Tokyo, but know close to nothing how to get in. The Japanese people of whom I*ve found email addresses at Dentsu, say they don*t hire foreigners. Which is just another example of how weird Japanese culture can be, because they are. Or I spoke to the wrong people. Or both.
Is there any one around who has worked in Tokyo, or knows some insider knowledge that could help me out? Also, what to say if they ask how long you*d like to work there? I don*t think I want to spend more than 6 months there, but will that stop them from making all the effort of getting me over?
If you*re not Japanese, I find it quite odd that you harbor a desire to work amongst them. I actually used to work at Dentsu New York, and it*s a pretty strange place to be, as far the Japanese - American relations are concerned. Japanese business culture is BIZARRE, and I will, no doubt, write about it more at length when I write my book.
But in the meantime, if you are hell bent on working in Japan, drop me an email and I*ll give you pointers/contacts.
In the meantime, go easy on the sashimi...
I am quite into bizarre things. Call me crazy.
So am I Hygge - and I visited Dentsu while in Tokyo. Loved it!
People were kind enough to show me around, I met with perhaps 4 of the 100 creative directors "that are on this floor" for a chat.... I was shown around and shown their latest reel and business cards were exchanged left and right - with both hands - it was cool. And to my pleasant surprise, I got to meet with an all American creative team who were the current hot shots in that Dentsu building. (Dentsu is massive)
So while we smalltalk I turn to the American guys and ask with genuine curiosity "so, how did you guys end up here?" as I wished to do precisely the same. "End up!? the AD scoffed - "we were HEADHUNTED over here baby". Seems "end up" was a far more negative set of words than I ever imagined. Go figure.
So, I guess you contact a headhunter who specialises in Asia. smile Also, if you**re friendly with D.B. at KK, or Dirk Bouw ask them for some names (if they recakll any) as they were with me.
I don*t know about Tokyo, but a former partner of mine (writer) was recruited to work in Dentsu*s Osaka office. He renewed his one-year contract and was there two years. Don*t recall how he made the initial contact, but will ask if you like... let me know.