Leader’s Talk @ KAI

The 18th Leader’s Talk @ KAI, December 11th, 2009
“Studying and Working Abroad”

Guest Speaker: Mr. Tomoya Okumura, DISCO Inc.

Profile
Finishing high school, Mr. Okumura moved to USA and studied at a university in Kansas, where he majored in business and marketing. After graduation, he returned to Japan and worked for a company specialized in international education consulting. In 2001, he went back to USA and joined DISCO International in New York to work for their business development team. After 8 years at DISCO in New York, he returned to Japan and now works for their headquarters in Tokyo in the international business development team.

DISCO Inc.
Founded in 1973, DISCO provides consulting services and solution for recruitment and PR activity. Offices in Tokyo, New York and London.

Outline

Experience in USA
Graduating from an American University, Mr. Okumura worked in Japan and later in the States in a multinational environment, where he experienced recruitment, staff training and personnel management. Working with people from many different countries, he soon learned that speaking a common language, that is, English, was not enough to fully understand each other, as each person held their own value based on their own culture.

Japanese companies hiring foreigners
The population of Japan is decreasing each year. It is even said that the population will be as few as 90 million in 50 years. Consequently, Japan will need manpower from foreign countries. This means more opportunity for foreign people who seek for careers in Japan. But what are the qualities Japanese companies expect in foreign manpower?

When finding a job in Japan, one has to have a certain level of Japanese language skills. On top of the language skills, one has to be able to express what he or she wishes to convey in such a way that the other will understand it correctly. What is important in successfully finding a job may not necessarily be about having a university degree or higher education, but can be more about the person’s ability to understand the Japanese culture and people, and his or her willingness and capability to adjust him or herself to the Japanese work environment.

Japanese companies are also looking for new ideas and viewpoints in foreign people. Many of the companies that have hired foreign people say that the new ideas introduced by the foreign workers often lead to creation of good products and services.

Message for students looking for a job in Japan.
More and more Japanese companies are hiring people based on their skills and talents and not on their nationality. What companies look for in potential candidates are the personal skills such as self-reliance, ability to take actions, make decisions and express. Merely doing what you are told to do or copying what has already been done is not enough. One needs to create and be able to tell a difference, and make a difference. If you have these skills, your door is certainly open to new chances.

Companies are interested in what you can do as a member of the organization. So when hunting for jobs, it’s important that you have a clear idea of what you want to do and what you can do for the company you wish to work for. If you cannot find something you want to do in a company, you might as well look for another.

Communication is always difficult even with people from your own culture, not to mention different cultures. In my view, however, what is difficult is what is interesting. Take your chances and challenge!

Thank you very much, Mr. Okumura!