No downturn in the economy lasts forever, but Japan’s is going to definitely take a year or more. During that time, companies are going to be evermore vigilant about costs and commitments -particularly employment commitments.
I’ve spoken before about taking time off to do an MBA as a holding strategy until the job market picks […]
I think it’s pretty clear that Japan is in for a turbulent second quarter (Apr-Jun) this year, and many companies are going to be in trouble. The buy-out funds, ever on the prowl for distressed asset opportunities, know this and are getting ready to wade in. All this chaos is going to create a […]
Hardworking Bilinguals Needed – Basic Experience Only
I often hear multinational employers lament, “All I want is a smart, energetic bilingual person to learn the business and grow into a senior position!” For those of you who have recently graduated and wonder what the job market has in store, don’t despair. If you have the […]
Going out and getting a job is a forgotten art. While the Japanese economy wasn’t so great during the nineties, most of us somehow managed to hold down a long-term job. But the last 12 months have changed everything, and lots of mid-career people are finding themselves out pounding the streets again.
Part of what […]
With all the information out on the Internet, it’s surprising how often I still get people asking me about the logistics of getting a visa and accommodation here in Tokyo. The answer to both issues depends on what kind of work you have lined up and how cashed up you are. My advice is […]
In Japan’s stagnant economy, very few sectors are doing well. These rare healthy sectors are characterized by some unique market factor that has created an unbalance and thus a business opportunity. One such sector is healthcare, where technological breakthroughs are occurring in pharmaceuticals, genomics, and medical technology. Healthcare needs increase as one ages, and […]
Most foreign companies in Japan are “implementers” of company strategy rather than “developers” of it. This means that most global initiatives come from the head office, and local offices are expected to implement that initiative as best as they can. This, of course, can lead to all kinds of cultural problems as the language, […]
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 […]
Although this is supposed to be a column about jobs, sometimes it’s helpful to think about where the economy and macro-market trends are going. This can help you plan ahead for major job moves, education decisions, risk-taking, etc.
To consider the Japanese economy and the prospects here, one needs to remember that while only 10% […]
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 […]