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...

Every now and again I join a gathering of other venture company CEOs in a group called the YEO (Young Entrepreneurs Organization). It's always interesting hearing what my innovative and "hip" Japanese colleagues are dreaming up for their latest service or product attack on the leaders in their respective markets. The YEO is a mixed bag of technologists, service industry types, and...

Although job hunting is one of the most important activities of our lives, itﾕs amazing how little "smarts" people put into making sure that they get the right job. The procedure usually is to go to a job Web site, or read the Monday edition of the Japan Times, and after seeing an ad that looks interesting, go to the company's Web site. If all the available literature looks good, then there's a frantic rush to create the world's best resume and send it in by registered mail. And then what?...