Scott
Woodford
Managing Director |
Executive Search International |
How important
is Japan to your overall strategy?
Japan has been a consistently active and growing market throughout the 1990s.
This has spurred the growth of our business, and we see this trend continuing
for the foreseeable future. Increasingly, overseas companies are taking advantage
of the economic slump and committing themselves to the Japanese market, which
naturally has a positive impact on our activities.
Despite the economic
downturn over the last couple of years, we have seen considerable growth in the
executive search industry. Companies realize that investing in technology is essential
for their business efficiency, and therefore the need for IT professionals to
facilitate this has increased considerably. In the near future, we envisage increased
demand for IT specialists at all levels as an organization's infrastructure becomes
more complex.
What is your
present business focus?
Senior management and midlevel recruiting for foreign companies in Japan will
continue to be our main focus, along with a commitment to building even closer
working relationships with clients both here in Tokyo and overseas at their headquarters.
This allows us to develop a greater understanding of their company culture, mid-and
long-term strategies and goals, and HR requirements and standards. As a result,
ESI can assist our clients in all areas of human resources, playing an active
role in a company's market entry into Japan by utilizing our in-depth expertise
in the local market.
What do you
think about the overall state of IT recruiting in Japan today?
IT recruitment is one of the most important areas to any organization, and we
don't see that changing. Over the last 12 to 18 months, companies have been heavily
involved in Y2K upgrades, ensuring that systems are compliant.
Demand has increased
from the manufacturing, retail, and consumer goods sectors for specialists in
SAP and other ERP packages, while the telecommunications industry has seen demand
grow for experienced engineers. The growth of e-commerce and the Internet has
fueled demand for experienced local professionals. Organizations are looking to
attract Japanese nationals who are working overseas back to Japan. More positions
in the finance industry, especially within IT recruitment, are requiring Japanese-language
fluency, and other Asian-language skills are also in demand as companies seek
more flexibility in the candidates they hire.
What differentiates
your company from your competitors?
ESI's commitment to the long term and to doing things the right way is what separates
us from our competitors in this market. In other words, we at ESI dedicate ourselves
to maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards that exist in our
profession. This is not just a line we use to try to gain the trust of our candidates
and clients. When we say these things, we mean it, and we practice it. We enter
into all business relationships with the long-term view. People react positively
to this because, by dealing with ESI, they know they will be working with an experienced
team who approaches each assignment in a professional manner. People know that
ESI is a firm that they can count on to provide results and expertise while maintaining
integrity.
What skills
are currently most in demand for IT professionals?
In the manufacturing and consulting industries, ERP specialists are in great demand,
with SAP, Oracle, and J.D. Edwards specialists being highly sought after. Companies
require experienced professionals with relevant technical skills. ERP systems
analysts, especially with good Japanese and English language skills, are also
in short supply. Developers within the finance sector with previous industry background,
good C, C++, html, Java, VB, Sybase skills, skilled bilingual network specialists,
and bilingual UNIX systems administrators are also sought after.
Tell us about
your clients.
ESI is a small company, but our professionalism and thoroughness have allowed
us to win and retain many major clients. We work with numerous large organizations
in the Fortune 500 and also with smaller, high-profile industry leaders. We also
work with market-entry companies, helping them to plan and establish their organizations
in Japan. ESI is strong in a number of industries, from finance, manufacturing
and consumer goods to software, consulting, and insurance.
How do you perceive
growth in Japan's IT sector next year?
I think there will be an increase in start-up companies entering Japan. Demand
for specialized skills will continue. Company mergers and moves will mean a demand
for infrastructure personnel. Software developers will continue to be in demand.
Do you have
any advice for IT job seekers?
It's difficult to give out general advice because each individual case is different,
as are each person's technical skills. We are very happy to talk to candidates
on a one-to-one basis about their particular circumstances, and they can contact
us at the numbers given. However, one piece of general advice I would give is
for foreign nationals to improve their Japanese-language skills; the market is
increasingly demanding it.
Company Highlights
Executive Search International Inc. Akasaka Heights Bldg., 503 5-26, Akasaka 9-chome
Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052
Tel: +81-3-3479-0918
Fax: +81-3-3479-0858
Established: April 20, 1969
No. of Staff in Japan: 12
Main Products or Services:
Recruiting for the IT, banking, consulting, and manufacturing industries; also
HR consulting
Target Market:
Foreign companies in Japan Human Resources Contact: Peter Scott Dir., Consulting
Services peter@esijpn.com
Fax: +81-3-3479-0858
IT
recruiting special
Finding a good recruiter
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