Candidate Newsletter – October 2019

  • Candidate Newsletter – October 2019

    Candidate Newsletter – October 2019

     


    RECRUITMENT MARKET UPDATE

    We again reflect on the Rugby World Cup for this month’s picture, with the Japan national team exceeding expectations to reach the knockout stages, recording victories against top sides such as Ireland and Scotland on the way. Eventually the challenge of South Africa proved too much, but the team has provided some great memories and hopefully their achievements will encourage increased participation in Japan and future victories.

     

    By working together as a team Japan has shown that incredible achievements are possible – we look forward to forming a partnership with you for your job search.

     

    For the Legal market once again healthcare has been a very active sector, with foreign companies seeking qualified lawyers for mid-level roles. Healthcare, as one of the most regulated industries, will always have a high demand for lawyers there is a strong preference for Japan and US qualifications. Another area we are seeing increasing activity is with battery technology companies. Japan is leading the way in lithium-ion batteries and the companies involved are expanding globally, meaning an increased need to formalise their corporate structure and also get involved in cross-border M&A transactions.

     

    In the Accounting and Finance market, the consumption tax increase on October 1st meant that accounting departments became very busy and candidates tended to slow down their searches. On the other hand, the number of job openings is as high as before, and companies are especially looking for people in their 30s. Of course, this group is very limited in availability and so many companies have expanded their search to include more senior candidates in their 40’s and early 50’s. In some companies, there are an increasing number of candidates who wish to work beyond retirement age.

     

    There are many job offers in the manufacturing, retail, and food industries and with companies aiming for an IPO. We have also seen an increase in mid-career hires at Japanese global companies.

     

    The following are some examples of offers out this month:

     

    Legal

     

    • US Medical Devices – General Counsel – 25M
    • Japanese Technology Firm – Legal Counsel – 12M
    • European Infrastructure – Legal Counsel – 10M

     

    Accounting & Finance

     

    • US Service Company – Accounting Director ­– 15M
    • US IT Company – Senior Accountant – 8M
    • Japanese Global Company – Internal Audit Manager ­– 11M

     

     


    Recruitment Focus – Corporate Social Responsibility

    Choosing a company where you will be happy should be your number 1 consideration. Naturally, you will be able to stay there longer and perform at your best. There are many factors which contribute to employee happiness, or engagement, one of the strongest has not been salary, but how strongly you can identify with the company. What a company does outside of making money, how they contribute to society through their Corporate Social Responsibility program (CSR) will tell you a lot about whether you can be happy there.

     

    Having a visible corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy has become a vital contributor to any successful organisation. CSR programs may include anything from practising an environmentally sustainable business to sponsoring community drives or voluntary work. It has a strong effect on its customers; research in the US has found that a vast majority (90%) would do business with a company which supported an issue they cared about, and 75% would refuse to consider a company they felt were aligned with an issue that they were against. Many surveyed were hopeful CSR programs could even act as social and environmental protection in the face of relaxed government regulations.

     

    It is not only customers who take an interest in a company’s CSR profile, however. It also has a lot of influence in shaping opinions of those outside the company and can be crucial in promoting employee engagement. These days, candidates focus not only on a company’s financial performance but also what their environmental impact is and what they contribute to society and the local community. Many companies focus their CSR efforts in the following areas:

     

    Environmental/Green issues 

    This is probably the most popular and prominent area and is of course especially relevant these days. Taking a close look at the company’s environmental impact, for example, the carbon footprint, and taking steps to reduce this are considered positives for the company (greater energy efficiency will reduce costs for example) and the wider society. Even small reductions in energy usages can have a great effect in the long term.

     

    Philanthropy

    Businesses can have an effective CSR policy by donating money, services or products to local causes or non-profits. Especially if it is a large company, they will have the resources to help charities and other social groups. Researching into what is needed and where is key to making this a success.

     

    Ethical Labour/production practices

    Treating employees and suppliers fairly and ethically is a great way to show solid corporate responsibility. This is particularly relevant for companies operating in countries with different or less stringent labour regulations.

     

    Voluntary work

    Giving employees time to give back to local or national social good causes, without any kind of commercial expectation, is probably the most visible way to express concern for specific issues and put a company front and centre.

     

    As an example, one company which has been committed to CSR since its establishment is Aspen Medical, an Australian healthcare company with operations in Japan.

    Aspen focuses its efforts in a few main areas:

     

    • The Aspen Foundation – established to eradicate specific illness in vulnerable communities
    • Employee Contributions – about 20% give regularly to charity from their salaries and the company promotes and supports voluntary work in the community
    • Philanthropy – the company contributes resources to healthcare charities which complement their own pro bono projects

     

    The CEO believes that this has had an effect on retention and points to Aspen’s turnover rate of less than 7%, in an industry that sees 14% on average. With each new hire costing the company about A$75,000, reducing the turnover by half can have a dramatic effect on the company’s bottom line. Further, employee testimonials talk about Aspen’s CSR program as being one of the main reasons they stay with the company, and some have asked to continue to take part even after they have left.

     

    The truth is that these days having a CSR program is no longer just an option, it is an essential part of a successful business. As well as the opportunity to give back to society and help others to address some of the challenges we all face, it will go some way to improving the company’s image in the market, and depending on how it aligns with your own beliefs will have a great effect on whether you can be happy there for the long term.

     

     


    We provide a free consultation and training session to help clients improve recruitment activity and perfect their agency relations.
    For further information on this topic or any other recruitment-related questions, please contact ken@alberto-recruitment.com 

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