In the past I have talked about the importance of preparing for an interview, particular in terms of dress code and presentation. But I failed to mention the most important point of preparation of all - researching the company you are applying to and the industry that it is active in. With the current slow economy, companies are becoming meticulous about checking what makes a...

One job sector where foreigners, even those without much Japanese ability, can do well in is bilingual recruiting. The industry mainly operates in Tokyo and is dominated by 10 or so large firms which employ in excess of 50 consultants each. I would estimate that in the industry overall...

The most common reason I see for people wanting to come to Japan is that they have had a girlfriend or boyfriend who is Japanese and they want to find out more about the person they fell in love with, and their country. There's nothing wrong with this, but it usually means that...

The Tech Economy may be in a meltdown shambles, but there are still some pretty cool opportunities out there for the more adventurous and tech-savvy of us. All these jobs are available through the DaiJob.com web site or through DaiJob's Ambition Consulting team. Take for example the Designer/Web Master position for a major bank. The position is for...

In conservative Japan, senior managers love doing deals and wielding power, but only if they can do so without fanfare or attention of the press. To garner press attention in the business world is setting yourself up for others to take potshots at you if you fail, and for...

If you're overseas and looking for a job in Japan, you probably fall into one of two categories: someone who has friends and a personal network in Japan, or someone who doesn't. If you're networked, you already know what to do. Have copies of the Japan Times Monday edition sent to you, trawl the job web sites, and have your various friends stay on the look-out for opportunities. But, if you're completely unaware of what's up in Japan...

The great thing about Japan's company-based society is that the whole structure of work is based around human relationships. If you're liked and you show your enthusiasm, then even despite a less than excellent performance, you can expect to keep your job. Therefore, the trick as a job candidate is to...

A fter 19 years in Japan, I have a pretty good network of friends here. I'm sad to say that at least half of them are unhappy with their jobs, and of that half, about 50% are actively thinking about leaving those jobs. Maybe it's the pressure of Tokyo and the unique difficulties of working in a multinational firm - or maybe it's...

I am often surprised at how much effort some companies put into filtering their candidates at the interview process. Yes, it's important to find out as much as possible and try to get the best person available, but at the end of the day...

I am often surprised at how much effort some companies put into filtering their candidates at the interview process. Yes, it's important to find out as much as possible and try to get the best person available, but at the end of the day...