The expression 'no risk no fun' is not very popular in Japan, especially not in this unstable economic environment. Since many years, Japan is known for its high savings rate and its high security standards in consumer products and nutrition. To a westerner, the constant admonitions to be cautious with omnipresent terms as 'abunai desu kara' (because it's dangerous) and 'go-chui kudasai' (please be careful) are sometimes irritating. Sometimes I don't know anymore what is really dangerous and what isn't. In short, to take a risk is not seen as a virtue in Japan.

Changing jobs is risky

Job changing is risky. This might also be a reason why jobs are still changed less often than in Europe or the US, even if the situation is changing more and more. By changing jobs, you leave the company that provided you a safe income and a stable daily life. You cannot know every detail of what will expect you at your next employer, even if you choose it very carefully. And you should choose your employer carefully, otherwise you end up changing jobs every year without making any progress.

Changing jobs is "fun"

On the other hand, to take a risk usually provides you with an opportunity ("fun") that you won't have if you stay on the safe side. We see many talents that could have a bright future, but not at the company where they are right now. We don't want to persuade them to leave their job because it is a risk that they should decide for themselves if they are going to take it or not. But we show them opportunities they might have if they take the risk. As in one case that we are working on for quite a while, we can see how the candidate is realizing the opportunity but because of obligations is not ready to take the step. As it is in that case, it requires even additional courage to leave a traditional Japanese company, which is considered to be stable, for a foreign company whose company culture might be very different. But for talented men and especially women, a change to a more flexible company could provide a way to unfold his/her full potential.

The crux is to calculate the risk

To some extent, risks can be calculated. Job changes should be calculated as carefully as possible because there will always be a risk. However, complete unwillingness to take calculated risks means letting pass potentially big opportunities. To stick at the status quo can even constitute a risk itself, for example if the company's prospects are getting dark but you miss the opportunity to desert the sinking ship. Especially when it comes to manager positions, the ability to calculate risks accurately is a highly sought-after attribute. We, Gaipro, try to assist the candidates in showing the candidates opportunities, but also the risks. The decision itself of course we leave to the candidate, as we do for the fun of job changing itself.

JAPANMARKT, online edition (February 26, 2010)

"Früher und schneller befördern": An interview with Gaipro president Martin Stricker in the online edition of the Japan-based German-language business magazine. Martin Stricker reveals the pitfalls foreign companies should try to avoid when looking for Japanese employees, and what the Japanese themselves expect from foreign companies.

JAPANMARKT, online edition (February 26, 2010)

In June, we launched a brand new homepage. This was long overdue, but we are happy with the result and even happier with the feedback we have received. The new online presence illustrates our approach and experience as "Your Swiss executive search firm in Japan".
In order to adequately cope with the new steady increase in search mandates, we welcomed in October our newest member, Mr. Marko Zelger, a Swiss with excellent Japanese skills, as an executive search consultant. Meanwhile, Ms Yukie Akimoto continues to devote herself in ensuring the smooth operation of the back office as well as the timely update of our new home page.
In November, we celebrated our fifth anniversary. It is hard to believe that it has already been five years since Gaipro was initially incorporated. We still have a long way to go, but we are confident that with your kind support, we can strive for more.

Last but definitely not least, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Stricker
President & Representative Director

]]> http://gaipro.com/en/news/info/ifilch_journey_2009_visits_gaipro.html http://gaipro.com/en/news/info/ifilch_journey_2009_visits_gaipro.html Information News students Swiss universities visit Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:05:26 +0900 In the past, Gaipro's business focused on introducing foreigners to Japanese corporations. Therefore on the former Gaipro homepage there was a lot of information specifically targeting foreign job seekers. However, over the last few years our business model has changed completely whereby now we specifically cater to Swiss and European companies searching mainly for Japanese managers and executives. This has become our specialty which is also reflected in the new HP launched a few months ago. Nevertheless, we know too well the struggle of young foreign job seekers in Japan which during this time of economic uncertainty has increased even more. Even though we cannot support them anymore as part of our business, what we can do is simply publish on the web the useful information we have acquired over the years on a goodwill basis. All the information is free and will be accessible at www.job110.jp, a completely separate site from www.gaipro.com.

As some of you might know 110 is the emergency contact number in Japan. Therefore www.job110.jp is the place to go to in case of a job search emergency. We hope that foreign job seekers will find the combination of information, links and advice useful when job hunting in Japan. Apart from all the free information, we have added two paid services: 1) Resume service (Eng > JP or JP > Eng) and 2) Interview training.

Please be informed that www.job110.jp does not provide any introductions to specific jobs. Nor is there a possibility to register resumes online. As mentioned above this site is purely for information services and not part of our mainstay business. We ask for your understanding.

▼Free Information - some of the topics include...
Job Search: Introduction to job sites in Japan and other useful media. Job fairs. Importance of language skills. Traineeships in Japan? Application: Advice regarding job application. What to be careful about when writing a Japanese resume.

Job interview: What most people don't tell you! How does the recruiting process look like from the employers' point of view? Work and learn: Information on starting salaries for part time and full time employment. Importance of improving your skill set.

▼Paid services
Resume service: Review, rewriting or complete translation (Eng > JP or JP > Eng) Interview training: Simulating a real company interview and providing the candidate with feedback thereafter. (Eng or JP) (The paid services are also available for Japanese job seekers.)

]]> http://gaipro.com/en/news/info/launch_of_wwwjob110jp.html http://gaipro.com/en/news/info/launch_of_wwwjob110jp.html Information News foreigner job search Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:50:19 +0900 "Study Tour to Japan 2009" from University of Zurich pays visit to Gaipro

Dr. Hermann Escher, Lecturer at the University of Zurich, visited Gaipro on June 10, 2009 with a group of over 20 university students. One of the objectives of the "Study Tour to Japan" organized from June 7-22, is to get a firsthand look at Japan from a social, political, geographical and business perspective.

Gaipro felt very fortunate to be included in the itinerary covering different institutions such as the Swiss Embassy as well as Swiss and Japanese companies of various sizes. Some of the topics discussed at Gaipro included:

1. Why set up your own company in Japan?
2. Difficulties and hurdles in the start up phase in Japan?
3. Japanese business etiquette

The question and answer session was lively and the role-play in Japanese business etiquette added an entertaining touch to the visit. We wish the Study Tour to Japan a safe journey and hope their mission will turn out to be a big success.

]]> http://gaipro.com/en/news/info/university_of_zurich_-_study_tour_to_japan_2009_pays_visit_to_gaipro.html http://gaipro.com/en/news/info/university_of_zurich_-_study_tour_to_japan_2009_pays_visit_to_gaipro.html Information News Escher Gaipro Study Tour University of Zurich Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:17:09 +0900 Gaipro announced its new online presence on June 1, 2009. This represents a complete overhaul of its homepage in terms of design and functionality.

We hope visitors will find the information useful and appreciate the regular updates. The section titled "Resources (info, links & more)" should particularly come in handy for candidates and companies alike. We hope that through this new online presence, we can further contribute to providing the best possible executive search services for Swiss & European companies operating in Japan.

Reflecting Gaipro's roots, the former homepage had an extensive section providing information and advice to foreign job seekers in Japan. This section will be transferred to a completely new site (plan: August 1, 2009). The new URL will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

Last but not least we would particularly like to thank Ms M. Yamada from YMD3 (http://ymd3.jp/) for successfully planning, desiging and executing our new online presence. Thanks to her dedication and commitment the project could be completed successfully.

▼Terminology by Wikipedia: Executive search

▼Swiss recruiting companies in Japan
Adecco Ltd.
Egon Zehnder International
Gaipro, Inc.
Please also refer to the article published in Japanmarkt "Fuehrungskraefte in Japan"

▼Terminology by Wikipedia: Recruitment (incl. types of recruiting companies)

▼Terminology by Wikipedia: Executive search (incl. difference between retained search vs. contigency search)

1) Proactive individuals with high energy levels

Even if a foreign company belongs to a big global group, the Japan entity is often small or mid-sized. Therefore, these companies are very concerned about creating the right corporate atmosphere for future growth. They need invididuals with high energy levels who go beyond their job description and don't give up even when hurdles arise.

2) Specific industry knowledge

The Japanese market is considered as very demanding across almost all industrial sectors. Foreign companies wanting to be successful in Japan need individuals with detailed market knowledge allowing the company to adapt their products, services and strategy to the Japanese market while not letting go of the overall goals.

3) Personal network

Despite the high penetration of cell phones and the Internet in Japan, it is still very much a country based on personal introductions and referrals. If you have a strong network in your industry or business, you could be a very valuable asset for the company.

4) Willingness to take risk

Working for a foreign company will always be somewhat risky. Often the companies have yet to reach critical mass or break even. The companies therefore require talented individuals who don't shy away from the risks involved and are willing to come up with innovative ideas to penetrate the market instead of overly worrying about the consequences of failure.

5) Ability to communicate

Last but not least, candidates working for foreign affiliated companies have to be excellent communicators. This is not necessarily a language issue. Of course the English skills are important but more than that can a candidate communicate freely with the foreign management?

Money: If for example a company is willing to offer much more than your present employer, you should ask yourself the following questions: a) Why are they offering more? Are the performance bonuses achievable?, b) What will you do when you find a company which offers even more a few months later? c) The compensation might be lucrative but how stable is the company itself? Can they ensure to pay this package over the long run?

Challenge & added responsibility: Foreign companies face many challenges when setting up shop in Japan or when trying to expand their market share. Therefore more than their Japanese peers they are seeking individuals who seek challenges and who are willing to take a risk. Therefore changing jobs because of the challenge and added responsbility is not just good personally but is also liked by prospective employers. Keep in mind though that there is also always a risk. Some candidates realize only after their career change that they were not fit for their new environment or that the challenges were too steep. Therefore it is crucial that you assess yourself properly in advance.

Management experience: In some Japanese corporations it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain management experience early on. Furthermore, companies always tend to trust the same individuals instead of taking the risk of training many in management skills. If you feel you are not getting the chance you deserve, switching to a foreign affiliated company might give you the opportunity you were looking for. Foreign companies also care less about age and as a result it is possible to advance more quickly. Again some words of caution: In big Japanese corporations, it takes years if not decades to obtain management experience and a decent title. It might be very appealing at first to get a better title with a foreign firm or to even become a Board Member, but more than titles you should be first and foremost concerned if this company really provides the career perspective you desire and secondly if the company itself has signficant potential for growth and success.

International exposure: We regulalry encounter candidates who seek more international exposure by changing to foreign affiliated companies. Some are very happy with their change because their employers operate in English, have staff from all over the world and make their strategic decisions from a global perspective. Other candidates are disappointed because they realize that even though it might be a foreign company, their Japan entity operates very much like a "Japanese" company. Therefore if you are seeking international exposure make sure to confirm that your new employer is indeed international.

]]> http://gaipro.com/en/recruit/kojin2/reason_for_career_change.html http://gaipro.com/en/recruit/kojin2/reason_for_career_change.html For Candidates Resources Sat, 23 May 2009 19:06:36 +0900