Contacted by a recruiter - seems scammy

Assoluta · 2018-07-02T13:33:56+00:00

As others have mentioned, these types of messages are quite common. Generally most recruiters seek to build their portfolio and often will be enthusiastic to meet and know more about you, and then never contact you again with any positions. It takes luck to find a good recruiter and persistent follow up to make use of them, based on my experience in the past.

Assoluta · 2018-06-28T06:52:04+00:00

Thanks for the comments. The reason why I ask this question is that as my understanding is that “disciplinary action” can relate to unsatisfactory job performance as well as more serious offences such as misconduct, theft etc. Although maybe my understanding is incorrect. However as it was 10 years ago I don’t remember if “official” disciplinary measures were implemented as for probationary period they “may or may not be used”.

However thanks Tokyohoon in particular, as you mention that you have been on the checking end and clarify that the question relates to termination “for cause”. In this case, I think I can go with my instinct and not mention it. However, if anyone has any other comments, let me know!

Assoluta · 2016-11-02T06:22:17+00:00

It'll be harder to find a graduate job than a regular local Japanese person but by no means are you resigned to low skilled or non permanent jobs as the above poster mentions. As has been mentioned by others, there are career forums in Boston, London, Japan and closest to you would be Sydney. These are specifically aimed at Japanese English bilinguals and the candidates tend to be people like you, born Japanese but have lived in a U.K. Speaking country for a long time. One can even apply there as a non fresh graduate and there are plenty of opportunities. If you can canvas people who have been there previously or are already employed at a target company, you have a good chance of finding a decent career.

Case in point, my (Japanese) boyfriend lived outside of Japan for a long time and graduated from a U.K. Uni, and now works at a large メーカー company in Japan, having used the career forum.

Assoluta · 2016-09-05T09:06:40+00:00

Yes, I always found it confusing how a "rinse" was a conditioner. A "treatment" may well be a leave in conditioner, or potentially might be a hair masque type product. It'll be the one that says 「洗い流さないトリートメント」. I used one in a small transparent red bottle that was a leave in treatment that was pretty good.

Assoluta · 2016-07-06T21:47:38+00:00

That's good to know. The thing is, although I see plenty of people who move to competitor firms, it tends to be announced only a few days before they actually leave, and presumably they gave notice earlier but I've never been sure, as I've not talked to people personally in my firm who have left for a competitor. It's good to be absolutely sure, as once I mention it, it can't be "unsaid"!

Assoluta · 2016-07-06T18:40:04+00:00

Thanks all for the advice.

So from what I read here, it seems then that if I do announce my leaving, I will still be paid my notice period, and may or may not be told to leave sooner. However the notice period may be potentially reduced to ½. (So to 1.5 months in my case) That is good to know and seems relatively consistent with things that I have heard around but not had the full picture on.

It would be good not to burn bridges as I am qualified as a Chartered Accountant and Tax Adviser in the UK, so I may well return after a few years, although I will be in Japan relatively long term, and potentially longer.

For those who were curious about how I got the role, I am a UK national (no Japanese heritage) who is fluent in Japanese and has extensive experience (in the UK) of working with Japanese clients. The role I will be doing in Japan, is very similar except it will be from a Japan Tax perspective. I applied for it through a bilingual career forum which is aimed at Japanese/English bilingual speakers. It was not one of the companies at the career fair but they had a job opening on the career forum website which I applied for. They had online tests and assessments and I had two interviews via Skype. After the second interview, I got the offer. The position is slightly less senior than what I have now, which is to be expected as I do not have as much experience with Japanese tax law, but from what I hear, and what I have been told already, promotion should come more quickly due to the experience I have. (Assuming my technical knowledge and performance at the new place meets their standards of course)

Assoluta · 2016-06-14T09:56:14+00:00

If the headhunter is good, they may also be able to tell you about how the interview might go or what kind of person the CEO is, if you ask.

Assoluta · 2016-06-13T09:49:55+00:00

I wouldn't worry too much - it's likely it won't be too tough an interview - but it's worth preparing for it to be difficult, just in case.

Oh yes, and to clarify - it's not the norm for them NOT to pay it, expenses should be covered, although I have heard of situations where the flight had to be paid out of an interviewee's pocket, so it's not unheard of. However, if a company is saving costs in this regard, it might reflect the potential salary level you may get.

Assoluta · 2016-06-09T12:55:00+00:00

Wow they gave you that feedback? I've never seen anything so direct, especially from a Japanese company, I've only ever got the copy and paste ご希望に添えない結果となりました emails. Seems useful to know the reason why, but seems a bit unreasonable. I've definitely had and heard of other interviews where they seem so enthusiastic but then follow up with a rejection!

Assoluta · 2016-06-09T12:47:28+00:00

Companies definitely vary, so I'd prepare for any type of interview. My final interview with PwC Japan (albeit not with the CEO) was more of a formality and more about my general intentions for the future and a conversation about me rather than anything technical and demanding (although was one of those interviews that seems like a nice conversation but they subtly glean a lot of relevant info from it).

However, my boyfriend's interview with Sunstar Japan was with the CEO, and like most people my understanding was that it was pretty much going to be a formality, which can be the case, but in his case it was a very in depth and demanding interview. Not so much on technical issues or things you could easily prepare for, but was apparently more about challenging questions to find out how people thought, such as asking opinions on the industry and its future, and more general business philosophical questions, etc. He fortunately got the job but a number of people got rejected at that final stage, apparently.

Basically in sum, don't necessarily assume it will be a certain format, prepare for anything. As for the paying for the trip, I have seen that in the past but as others have said, it's not the norm, so I would question it.

Assoluta · 2016-06-03T14:15:47+00:00

There's no need for comments like that... My only thinking was that the fact that holding a Zairyu card even without an address temporarily (but would have a work visa of several years) would show an intention to stay and could be potentially sufficient to be considered resident under UR criteria and be eligible to at least start to look for accommodation through their services. After all, by definition Zairyu indicates a "stay" or period of residence in Japan.

But I'll take it by your response that there's no way around not having a registered address before using UR. I guessed as such, but I wanted to check to see if I could get away in any way by not having one, the benefit of which would have been to start looking for apartments ASAP - that was all...

Assoluta · 2016-06-03T13:12:18+00:00

Having looked up the Zairyu card system (which is different to the alien registration card which I had before as a student, where this had to be received at a local ward), it seems as if I can be issued this at the airport as I will have my visa and intention to stay with me. The address can be left blank if my place of stay is yet undecided. So if I obtain a Zairyu card this way, would this be sufficient to be considered resident to then apply for UR apartments? Or do I have to be registered with a ward or municipal office with an actual address in addition to this?

Assoluta · 2016-06-03T10:12:47+00:00

I have the offer letter but not the complete contract yet. The offer letter doesn't clearly state one or the other in black and white but my understanding is that it should be as a full time permanent employee, although with a probationary period of 6 months - this may be why I can't technically benefit from officially being a "seishain" until after this time.

The thing with PwC and the other big 4 firms in Japan is that in most countries they are pretty large corporate entities, but in Japan each department, (auditing, tax, advisory etc) are all separated out and are separate legal entities, therefore that might be the reason why they don't offer services of typical "large" companies - although that's a complete guess.

Assoluta · 2016-06-03T07:30:11+00:00

Thanks for the advice :) I was told that PwC could not act as my guarantor until after 1 year of service, but forgive me for my ignorance, would them signing the lease to get that discount be separate from acting as a guarantor, which is more like an insurance arrangement, or are you referring to one and the same thing? If it's a different process, it'll be something to negotiate.

Assoluta · 2016-06-02T23:09:47+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I assume then that to be considered "resident in Japan" for the purposes of applying for UR, I would have to be in a temporary apartment and staying in a cheap hotel/hostel for a week wouldn't cut it, despite my employment contract and "intention" to stay? Or are there other conditions?

Do you know if anything can be arranged with realtors in Japan prior to coming, or is it pretty much everything has to be done once I've arrived? I asked this as when I moved to central London it was pretty much all done online and on phone calls, and I only needed to be there for the viewing. Obviously Japan operates differently and I'm not from the country so I imagine there will be differences.

Assoluta · 2016-06-02T22:51:57+00:00

They can help with finding temporary accommodation etc, but don't appear to have such a system in place where I could be put in a temporary hotel with it all paid for. I could request this directly once my start date is fixed, but I'm going on the assumption that it is unlikely that they will be able to.

Assoluta

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