Tokyo, Feb 20, 2013 - More and more businesses in Japan are looking for bilingual candidates with an international mindset as the job market becomes more globalised, according to the 2013 Hays Asia Salary Guide [ http://hays.co.jp/en/salary-guide/index.htm ].
"A recurring theme throughout this year's Salary Guide is the need for candidates with not only multiple language skills but those who can fit in with a foreign-owned company as the trend of multinational corporations moving their offices to Asia continues," says Jonathan Sampson.
"Equally, traditionally highly domestic companies are seeing the opportunity that the international market presents and are looking for resources that can support them in capitalizing on this".
For example, in the Life Sciences sector, Japanese returnees with either work or graduate school experience are in high demand for both their language skills and understanding of Japanese and western cultures. Given that Japanese healthcare companies are expanding overseas, both foreign and domestic employers are recruiting these individuals.
The demand for bilingual office support staff has also increased in Japan as local companies continue to globalise.
"Therefore, employers are interested in candidates that are interested in and able to adapt to different cultures as this will obviously help their businesses operate more effectively and more efficiently," says Jonathan. "There are also benefits for the candidate in that they will become more in-demand, leading to better job opportunities and career pathways."
So, what's your cross-cultural expertise (CCE) score?
Hays has devised a quick quiz for candidates to see if they're meeting the cross-cultural expertise demands of today's employers:
1. Do you speak a second language or are you learning one?
2. Have you ever worked in an environment where your mother tongue was not spoken?
3. Have you worked abroad, learned about different cultures and are able to apply what you've learned to a new employer?
4. Can you demonstrate your interest in and ability to adapt to a different culture?
5. Can you demonstrate that you're flexible and able to accommodate differences of opinion at work?
6. Have you worked in an environment where pay was based on merit and performance?
You score one CCE point for every "yes".
To find out how you fared and what it means, go to http://www.hays.co.jp/press-releases/HAYS_090588JP or http://www.hays.co.jp/en/press-releases/HAYS_090588
Hays, the world's leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.
About Hays
Hays is the leading global specialist recruiting group. It is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays") is the largest foreign recruitment company in Japan and operates across the private sector, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. Hays has been in Japan for more than a decade, and boasts a track record of success and growth.
Hays is the only foreign recruitment company in Japan to operate specialist business units composed of professionals with experience and expertise in the sectors they cover. Hays Japan's thirteen specialisms span Accountancy & Finance, Banking, Finance Technology, Human Resources, Hays Resource Management, Information Technology, Insurance, Legal, Life Sciences, Office Professionals, Property, Sales & Marketing and Supply Chain.
Hays is also the only foreign recruitment company in Japan to operate three local offices, serving the Kanto region from Akasaka and Shinjuku, and Kansai from central Osaka.
Hays Japan is the local representative office for Hays plc, which is a global company with more than 7,800 staff operating from 245 offices across 33 countries.
Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the UK and the USA.
Contact:
Keiko Asakura
Hays Japan
Marketing Manager
+81 3 3560 2813
Keiko.Asakura@hays.co.jp
Source: Hays