Shift gears on your career with the help of these top local recruiters
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BiOS
Founded in 1998, BiOS is Japan’s premier provider of IT services and staffing solutions for foreign firms. By committing itself to all its clients and candidates, BiOS has developed strong and trusting relationships and an excellent reputation in the market. BiOS is the IT Division of LINC Media (www.lincmedia.co.jp) and a fully licensed staffing (haken) and recruiting (jinzaishokai) services vendor, sourcing talented and ambitious professionals from all over the world for projects and full-time opportunities. The recruiting team at BiOS is experienced at advising and supporting bilingual IT professionals in furthering their careers in Japan. Start your future today with BiOS.
Tel: 03-5773-3082. Email: opportunities@biosjp.com. www.biosjp.com
Legal Futures
Legal Futures offers professional and specialized recruitment expertise to place the highest caliber candidates within the banking and finance, private practice and corporate sectors. The company maintains offices in Tokyo and Hong Kong, servicing international law firms, leading American and European investment banks, and other employers of choice. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, Legal Futures has built its reputation on quality of service and dedication to excellence.
Tel: 03-3580-3101. Email: japan@legalfutures.com. www.legalfutures.com
PANACHE
Panache provides flexible HR and IT solutions to multinational companies in Japan. Its services include permanent placement, haken/contract staffing and IT outsourcing. Friendly, experienced, multilingual consultants provide not just “keyword matching,” but a deep understanding of both candidates’ and companies’ requirements, allowing them to provide the best consultation and services to both sides.
Panache is also known as a leading agency for staff support and benefits. Its original benefits package includes language classes (Japanese/English) and a certification-fee-refund plan for improving skills. These high-quality and well-established services make it possible to quickly provide flexible, tailored and customized solutions for detailed requests from both candidates and client companies.
Tel: 03-4577-1700. Email: info@panache.co.jp. See www.panache.co.jp (corporate site) or www.panachejobs.com (for candidates).
Way Simmons Partnership
Way Simmons Partnership is a boutique consultancy offering professional and specialized recruitment services across a variety of industry sectors. Its team of expert recruitment consultants has many years of experience in sourcing bilingual candidates in the following areas: accounting & finance; advertising, marketing & PR; corporate planning; general affairs; human resources; IT & telecommunications; logistics, transport & supply chain; office administration & support. Way Simmons Partnership teams with organizations to add value through innovative and professional staffing solutions. Its consultants work in an entrepreneurial environment and are empowered to provide flexible, custom-tailored service to their clients.
Tel: 03-3580-3102. Email: japan@waysimmons.com. www.waysimmons.com
Morgan McKinley
Morgan McKinley is a global professional recruitment consultancy that connects specialist talent with leading employers across multiple industries. Its name is synonymous with exceptional levels of service, in-depth knowledge of its markets and a proven track record of success. Morgan McKinley’s 400 specialist recruitment consultants operate from 24 offices across eight countries.
From the Tokyo office, Morgan McKinley delivers financial recruitment solutions for permanent, temporary and interim positions across:
Commerce & Industry
•Accountancy & Finance
•Human Resources
•IT
•Secretarial & Support
Banking & Financial Services
•Accountancy & Finance
•Change & Project Management
•Compliance & Legal
•Human Resources
•Investment Banking
•IT
•Operations
•Risk & Quantitative Finance
•Sales Trading & Marketing
•Secretarial & Support
•Securities
To find out how Morgan McKinley can help you create your future, contact Managing Director Kirstin Duffy by email at kduffy@morganmckinley.co.jp or visit www.morganmckinley.com
Joblet & Metropolis Joblet
This results-based job network is made up of more than 160 affiliate partner sites that advertise available positions on their homepages or careers sections. Employers are able to open accounts and advertise job openings at no initial cost directly through the Metropolis Joblet and Joblet sites, while job seekers can register online quickly and easily—there are only a few data fields to fill in, and users can upload their resume (in Word or PDF) directly to their accounts. In other words, you can apply for a job within moments. Joblet and Metropolis Joblet require that employers provide responses to all queries, ensuring that each candidate knows the result of their applications quickly.
See www.metropolis.joblet.jp or www.joblet.jp for more info.
Ask the Experts
Top tips for improving your job search
Ace your interview!
The best candidates still need interview practice time. Apply to a few positions to get used to the interview process again and to prepare for the important one when it comes up. This will give you opportunities to improve on your presentation and answers and make changes as appropriate. The last thing you want in this market is to look unpolished or to give standard answers, as the next candidate will certainly present better and give better answers!—Legal Futures
At least once in the interview, you should make a clear and very serious statement about your determined commitment to achieving something in your professional life, which the position you are applying for can be a part of.—Way Simmons Partnership
Remember that an interview is a two-way process: it is not just about the company assessing whether you are right for the role, it is also an opportunity for you to find out information about the company that will help you decide whether the role is right for you.—Morgan McKinley
When attending an interview, it is not a time to be modest: it is a time to excel and demonstrate to the prospective employer that you are the right person for the job. You need to find the right balance of not coming across as conceited, but also having the confidence to show your strengths as a worthy candidate.—Legal Futures
Do not be afraid to pause and think about your answer.—Way Simmons Partnership
Know the job description. Having an understanding of the duties and responsibilities of the role will help you prepare and ask relevant questions. This will also help show the interviewer that you are serious about the role and have taken the time to identify how your skills will fit with their needs and expectations.—Morgan McKinley
Remember that this is often your first face-to-face impression with a potential employer, so be positive, confident and do not overplay your hand.—BiOS
If there is something you can’t do, you should say so honestly. However, you should also point out similar or related skills you have that may be able to cover the gap, and you should be positive and confident in your ability to catch up or learn the new skill.—Panache
Take it seriously. Anyone who thinks they can “wing it” is a fool.—Legal Futures
Tips for bilinguals
A common mistake often seen from foreign applicants is failure to observe when and how traditional Japanese business etiquette applies. Remember, this starts from the minute you send your application.—BiOS
Resumes by Japanese bilinguals tend to be written ineffectively and can be too modest—you have to sell yourself! This also applies during the interviews: sentences like “I would like a challenge” or “I will do my best” do not impress. Rather, be confident: demonstrate that your experience is transferable to the new role.—Legal Futures
Many Japanese job-seekers assume that they will use English frequently at work in foreign firms, no matter what the position. However, in reality some positions require no English skills and use mostly Japanese at work. Over emphasizing English ability, especially at the expense of other business skills, can be fatal.—Panache
When an interview is conducted in your second language, be humble enough to ask the interviewer to speak slower or repeat a question when you do not understand. Nothing ruins a good first impression more than giving irrelevant answers.—BiOS
Interviews at foreign companies tend to be longer, as more people need to approve the hire; on the upside, this means a more thorough understanding for both parties.—Legal Futures
Riding Out the Recession
Always be confident and positive even if your application is rejected frequently. The more jobs you applied for, the more chances you have of getting a job. You will probably have to send your resumes to more companies than you would normally. Also, don’t expect as much room to negotiate on salary and conditions: it’s a buyer’s market.—Panache
Candidates should be flexible about accepting a lower-level role to secure a job. Entry- to mid-career level candidates may want to consider creative ways to attract the right attention, such as offering themselves for short-term internships. Manager-level candidates need to consider becoming more hands-on at the ground levels. In most cases, this will increase a candidate’s value to a potential employer.—BiOS
It can be very tempting in a challenging market to simply have your resume sent to every single company in town and hope for the best. This approach just isn’t going to work, however. You should be researching your chosen market and company and making sure that every resume or cover letter you send is completely tailored for each and every client. Mass CV send-outs and generic cover letters will not do in this market.—Legal Futures
Networking is arguably the most effective way to seek out the best roles, so do everything you can to speak to people about what opportunities are in the market. Make sure you keep in regular contact with professionals currently working within the sector as well as specialist recruiters. Take advantage of business social networking sites (such as LinkedIn) as an additional tool in your job search.—Morgan McKinley
Don’t compromise in regards to the marketability of the skills and experience you have already developed. If you are out of work or facing restructuring, it is best to try to stay at the same level of responsibility in the same basic area, rather than take a junior or lateral role that proves to be unsatisfying in the medium term.—Way Simmons Partnership
During a recession, companies will focus more on achievement and the ability to “hit the ground running,” rather than future potential. You need to read and think carefully about what type of person and skills the company requires, and point out your matching skills and experiences in your resume.—Panache
Don’t focus on the salary but rather the longevity and future prospects of the job: a high paying job may not be so good if it only lasts for 12 months.—Legal Futures
Recruiters URL
Adept Group Inc. www.adept-grp.com
Advance Inc. www.advance-tokyo.com
Alpha-Net Consulting Group, Japan www.jpalphanet.com
AQUENT Inc. www.aquent.co.jp
Azure&Co.Inc. www.azureweb.jp
Beaumont K.K. www.beaumont.co.jp
BiOS, LINC Media Inc. www.biosjp.com/careers.php
Boyd & Moore Executive Search www.bmes.com
Boyden Japan www.boyden.co.jp
The Bridge Group www.bridgegroup.co.jp
Cambridge Research Institute www.tenshoku.co.jp
Capital People www.capitalpeople.net
Career Connections Japan. www.careerconnections.jp
CAREER NETWORK www.careernetwork.co.jp
CDS K.K. www.cds-consulting.com
Disco Career Agent www.discocareer.com/global/
Ernest Expert Service www.ernest-ex.com/
ESS International www.essintl.com
Executive Search International www.esijpn.com
FortVista, Ltd. fortvista.co.jp/
Global Independent Inc. www.globalindependent.co.jp/
Globalway, Inc. www.globalway.co.jp
Hays Specialist
Recruitment Japan KK www.hays.co.jp
IBS Co., Ltd. www.ibshaken.co.jp
Icon Partners Inc. www.icon-partners.com
JAC Recruitment www.jac-recruitment.jp
K2 Partnering Solutions www.k2partnering.com
Kienbaum Group www.kienbaum.jp
KT ASSOCIATES www.kta.co.jp
Legal Futures Japan K.K. www.legalfutures.com
LifeBridge Inc. www.lifebridge.jp
M.L.Martin Group www.mlmartingroup.com
Manpower Japan Co., Ltd. www.manpower.co.jp
MDS Global K.K. www.mdsglobal.com
Michael Page
International Japan K.K. www.michaelpage.co.jp
Morgan McKinley www.morganmckinley.com
MRI Japan, Inc. www.mrijapan.com
Next Move Japan K.K. www.nextmove.jp
Oak Associates K. K. www.oakassociates.co.jp
Optia Partners K.K. www.optiapartners.com
Oriens Corporation www.orienskk.com
PANACHE Business Unit of
Adhoc Corporation www.panachejobs.com/
Pasona Global Inc. https://www.pasona-global.com
PeopleSearch K.K. www.pplesearch.com
Pinnacle Consulting Group www.pinnacle-consulting.jp
RightStep www.rstp.co.jp
Robert Half Japan K.K. www.roberthalf.jp/
Robert Walters Japan K.K. www.robertwalters.co.jp
RoyalSTEP www.royalstep.com
SEARCH FIRM JAPAN CORP. www.search-firm.co.jp/
Skillhouse Staffing Solutions K.K. www.skillhouse.jp
Softbridge Solutions Japan Co., Ltd. www.softbridge-s.com/
Specialized Group www.specialized-group.com
Speed & Pride Corporation www.globe-walkers.com
Stoneman Corporation www.stonemancorp.com
Sunbridge Humetrix Corporation www.sunbridge.com
SystemsGo Corporation www.systemsGo.asia
Technologist Agent www.technologist.co.jp/
The Bridge Group KK www.bridgegroup.co.jp
TradeWinds Consulting K.K. www.twc-j.com/
Vision Consulting Services K.K. www.visionconsulting.jp
Vortex Inc. www.vrx.co.jp/
Wall Street Associates K.K. www.wallstreetjapan.com
Way Simmons Partnership www.waysimmons.com
Outsourcing URL
BiOS, LINC Media Inc. www.biosjp.com/careers.php
EIRE Systems K.K. www.eiresystems.com
Ernest Expert Service www.ernest-ex.com
systemsGo Corporation www.systemsGo.asia
Temp Agencies URL
AQUENT Inc. www.aquent.co.jp
Ernest Expert Service www.ernest-ex.com
Hays Specialist
Recruitment Japan KK www.hays.co.jp
IBS Co., Ltd. www.ibshaken.co.jp
Manpower Japan Co., Ltd. www.manpower.co.jp
MDS Global K.K. www.mdsglobal.com
PANACHE Business Unit of
Adhoc Corporation www.panachejobs.com/
Robert Walters Japan K.K. www.robertwalters.co.jp
Skillhouse Staffing Solutions K.K. www.skillhouse.jp/
Softbridge Solutions Japan Co., Ltd. www.softbridge-s.com/
Wall Street Associates www.wallstreetjapan.com
Job SiteS URL
CareerCross www.careercross.com/
Daijob www.daijob.com/
Ecentral ecentral.jp/
EnJapan enjapan.com/
Gaijinpot www.gaijinpot.com/
JapanTimes jobs.japantimes.jp/
JobDragon www.jobdragon.com/
Joblet joblet.jp/
Recruit www.recruit.jp/index.html
