The informational interviews were some of the most important work that I did in exploring career options in Tokyo. It wasn’t just the volume of notes that I took, or the things that family and friends shared. It was me, learning about me, practicing and trying on new roles, verbalizing my experience and strengths in the informational interviews I conducted.
As a result of one of the letters I wrote, my father-in-law arranged an introduction to the tax partner at Arthur Andersen, who was also from Houston. My husband Ed and I both attended the meeting as it was an opportunity to meet a fellow Houstonian and learn more about the country we now called home.
The conversation carried on in a way one might anticipate. The partner and Ed visited about Ed’s work in Tokyo, common connections, and ways they could help each other. We talked about Houston and where we lived and people and places we knew. The partner then asked me what I wanted to do during my time in Tokyo. Out of my mouth came “I want to work with U.S. expatriates helping them with financial planning.”
Who said that? I wanted to turn and look behind me to see who had uttered those words! I had surprised myself with that reply as I had never vocalized that thought, not even to Ed. The partner asked why I wanted to do that and I shared with him my previous experience and what I had learned in the informational interviews with other expats. Many of the U.S. expatriates I visited with were frustrated trying to manage their finances while living overseas. It was at least a thirteen hour time difference to talk with the advisor back home, e-mail was just beginning to come available in Japan and managing your affairs on line was simply a dream.
A week later, I received a call from the tax partner who offered me a position preparing tax returns for expats during the busy season and helping them with their financial needs in the off-season. Oh my goodness! Who could have imagined this? Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this opportunity to continue working in my chosen field. Oh yes, of course, they would sponsor my work visa!
When preparation meets opportunity what appears to be luck is the end result. Set those interviews and go out and make your own luck!