Going out and getting a job is a forgotten art. While the Japanese economy wasn't so great during the nineties, most of us somehow managed to hold down a long-term job. But the last 12 months have changed everything, and lots of mid-career people are finding themselves out pounding the streets again. Part of what we all learn when going to our very first job interview is...

In Japan's stagnant economy, very few sectors are doing well. These rare healthy sectors are characterized by some unique market factor that has created an unbalance and thus a business opportunity. One such sector is healthcare, where technological breakthroughs are occurring in pharmaceuticals, genomics, and medical technology. Healthcare needs increase as one ages, and Japan is...

After being in a comfortable, well-paid job for a while, a lot of people lose their ability to survive on the streets. But in today's economy, more and more people in high-level positions are being summoned to their boss's office and being told the words, "You're fired." This is particularly true in the foreign banking sector here in Tokyo, where perhaps as many as 35,000 have already or will soon lose their jobs. With so many highly skilled...

The days of dot.com companies using charisma and stock options alone to attract talented people have long since passed. Nowadays, dot.coms are judged by the same criteria as other companies: working conditions, growth, commissions, profit sharing, and a friendly, professional atmosphere. Usually, I write about other people and other companies, but this time I thought I'd focus on DaiJob itself. We're in the recruiting business. Against the wishes of...