Interview -- Robert Walters Japan
グローバル人材紹介会社、ロバート・ウォルターズ・ジャパン株式会社のケビン・ギブソン代表取締役社長が外資系金融企業への転職アドバイス
Foreign firms in Japan need experienced bilingual local staff
By SHINICHI TERADA
Staff writer
After many years of stagnation, the Japanese economy is finally on the path to real recovery. Foreign firms, including financial enterprises, are once again looking seriously at the world's second-largest economy. Those companies need bilingual Japanese staff, especially those with accounting, financial analysis or sales backgrounds.
In particular, Japan has witnessed an increase in mergers and acquisitions, or buyouts, during the last two or three years, which has boosted the demand for financial analysts who conduct due diligence or an analysis and appraisal of companies.
"Japan is an emerging market for us," said Managing Director Kevin Gibson of Robert Walters Japan, one of the world's largest international recruitment companies headquartered in London.
Robert Walters Japan and its clients are looking for people who have the potential to be senior managers, Gibson, 36, said. "Many foreign companies want to localize their strategies and want to hire a future leader with strong communication skills and local business understanding."
Robert Walters' client base includes financial institutions -- international investment banks, real estate and asset management firms. Furthermore, it has a strong foothold in the nonfinancial sector and can boast close client relations with many companies operating in the manufacturing, information technology (IT) and retail industries.
"For instance, bilingual Japanese with certified public accountant (CPA) qualifications are in short supply. The demand for them is high in almost all of the financial sectors," Gibson said.
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| Keigo Shindo |
But, according to Gibson, those skill-sets alone are not enough. "Strong communication skills are key to being successful," he added.
He continued by stating that to improve communication skills, people should spend time outside of Japan, preferably in English-speaking countries, given that English is a must for job applicants at non-Japanese companies.
"We are looking for bilingual and bicultural (people). Overseas experience exposes you to learning and understanding different ways of thinking. Overseas experience increases self-confidence from facing a series of challenges and overcoming them," he said.
According to Gibson, Japan is one of the most prosperous markets in the Asia-Pacific region for Robert Walters.
The London-based recruitment company reported that its operating profit in the Asia-Pacific region increased significantly in the first half of 2005.
When it established its Japanese office six years ago, Robert Walters had only six employees. But the number has swelled to 80, helped by structural changes in Japan's labor market and its economic recovery. What is more, Gibson added, the Japanese now have a positive view toward changing jobs and a higher awareness of building careers.
"The attitude of the Japanese toward changing jobs has become more open and positive. People are proactive about switching jobs. We get many online registrations (Resumes can be submitted at www.robertwalters.co.jp). Also, from the clients' side, Japanese companies were not initially interested in our business but for the last couple of years, they often contact us (saving recruitment time and costs)," he said.
There is no doubt that Robert Walters is one of the international recruiting companies that has benefited from the change in the Japanese employment system and its economic expansion.
Asked about the entry of other international recruitment companies into the Japanese market, Shindo, 33, said that Robert Walters offers more attentive and tailor-made services to differentiate it from others in the market.
According to Shindo, many consultants at Robert Walters have work experience in a specific field, and therefore, candidates can gain highly useful knowledge: industry and salary trends, and the status of the company they wish to apply to. He said the company offers information and advice on a candidate's short- and long-term career goals.
"We speak with candidates to help them to visualize what a coming interview will be like so that they can understand what their role will be within the company structure," he said. "Robert Walters has built solid relationships with its clients through a thorough understanding of their business and mutual trust, enabling us to offer up-to-date and detailed information. Because we work as a team, candidates gain advice and information from other consultants and will, therefore, have more options available to them."
Gibson said mobility in the labor market makes the Japanese economy healthier and stronger while providing people diversified opportunities to build careers.
"Companies and individuals benefit greatly from the transfer of knowledge through mobility of labor, which will in turn make companies more competitive," he continued.
Shindo said that he is delighted when candidates discover new things about themselves through finding new jobs. "Some successful candidates have said to me, 'I didn't realize that this field would suit me. I had never thought of this type of job before you introduced it to me.' "
First and foremost, Gibson said, Japanese candidates should change their mind-sets and style when they interview with foreign companies.
Here is some advice from the managing director of Robert Walters Japan: "Be more assertive. Talk more about your achievements at and contributions to a previous company, and be proud of your accomplishments." He added that Japanese candidates tend to be humble in interviews and there are many cases where they failed interviews because they appeared to lack confidence.
