Thank you for taking the time to read this. My name is Tang Long, and I joined Dandelions in May 2025. In this post, I’d like to share what led me to join Dandelions and my thoughts since becoming part of the team.
The reason I joined the company
I came to Dandelions as a mid-career hire, and interestingly, my previous job was also in the same industry. I first heard about Dandelions through a referral from a sales representative in the same field. When I initially checked out the website, I thought, “Is this a web design company? If so, can I really apply my experience as an IT sales rep who’s mainly worked with business application development engineers?” I was a bit unsure going into the interview, but I was relieved to find out that the company is deeply rooted in development work. What really convinced me to join was that they were looking for someone with experience in partner sales and human networking—areas I’ve been involved in for a long time and want to continue working in. That alignment made me feel confident that this was the right place for me.
My impressions after joining the company
My mission at this company is to strengthen collaboration with partner firms (commonly known as BP sales) and support the development of younger sales team members. As someone considered a veteran in the field, I’ve had a wide range of experiences in sales, but since joining the company, I’ve realized there’s still so much to learn—every day brings new insights. I’ve also been given a fair amount of discretion, which allows me to make timely decisions and has made my work smoother. Since my previous company mainly focused on full-time IT personnel, I had grown a bit distant from partner firms in Nagoya, but now I’ve been able to reconnect with them, and the workflow is starting to feel more solid. Moving forward, I hope to make the most of my experience, support the younger members of the team, and continue to grow in my own sales career.
Professional Introduction
I’m a proud 63-year-old veteran at Dandelions, and a devoted fan of songwriter Shogo Hamada (aka Hamashō). The name “Tang Long,” marked with an asterisk earlier, comes from my favorite Kung Fu star Bruce Lee’s role in the movie Way of the Dragon. I began my career in sales at a computer manufacturer, and I’ve spent about nine years in Tokyo and eight years back in Nagoya working in the IT staffing industry. It’s been roughly 40 years since I first got involved with computers, and lately, I’ve been lamenting the loss of my physical sharpness due to lack of exercise. From my 20s to 40s, I was part of a Chinese martial arts group, training in styles like Bajiquan and Tanglangquan. These days, I’m thinking it might be time to return to training and reclaim that agility I once had.
This is a photo of the tour truck taken on the first day of his 2023 arena tour at Big Hat in Nagano.
(It conveys the idea that one becomes truly unique upon receiving the secret teachings of martial arts.)
Summary
I’m still a newcomer, now in my fifth month since joining the company. Although I’ve been working in IT sales for about 18 years and feel confident in the role itself, I’m still getting used to the environment and internal rules, which has been a bit of a challenge. My core principles as a sales professional are passion and trust. I hope to continue supporting those I work with by staying true to these values.
Thank you for reading all the way through.
That’s all for now.
Stay tuned for the next blog post!
