I have been a job seeker in the past but having moved to the other side of the hiring process made me realise how difficult it could be to prepare an effective resume: indeed this is a “real marketing brochure”, promoting the candidate as the “high-quality product” that both recruiters and hiring managers “must buy” to bring unique value to the client/company.

As a matter of fact, usually a recruiter spends a couple of minutes reviewing a resume, so ensure it can grab their attention by clearly showing you are the right fit for the job.

Since the main objective of a resume is to secure an interview, I would like to share some quick hints and tips on how to successfully craft and build this powerful marketing tool when applying for a job opening:

• Always customise your resume: It is really important to tailor the document, taking inspiration from the job description of the position you are applying for and using powerful adjectives and keywords to grab the attention of the recruiter, and never use a standard version.

• Be to the point and summarise achievements and responsibilities of the previous positions: By definition a resume is a short summary of the education, professional experience and skills of a professional. Be “to the point” while describing previous experiences, using a choice of words that reflects confidence and strong commitment to action. Whenever possible, use numbers to describe achievements (i.e. sales awards) and use bullet points to highlight the main responsibilities covered in the previous roles to empathise your skills and abilities.

• Check and re-check the content of your resume: Use proof-reading software to avoid any typos, especially if you are crafting a resume in a language that you are not fully competent in. Double check the correct use of capital letters and abbreviations. Last but not least, make sure you create the document in a format that the recruiter can read and open.

• Always use accurate information: make sure that all the information about your previous work experience, academic background as well as all the relevant information about yourself is accurate. In the case of a gap, it would be a good idea to make a statement to explain the time off the market (i.e. family time, degree completion, etc) briefly.

cv, interview, job seeker, market yourself, resume, 求職者

• Updated your most recent resume? check.
• Studied about interviewing and come up with your strengths and weaknesses? check.
• Started researching about potential companies and submitted many applications? check.
• New suit? check.
• All ready for job searching?

Wait, not so fast!

One of the most important aspects that job seekers tend to neglect is preparing themselves mentally for what lies ahead. This is extremely important and it is essential to establish a positive attitude and be emotionally prepared when finding a new job.

Many people start off job searching feeling very positive but may struggle to handle the inevitable bumps and rejections from some companies. Being unprepared for this may result in job seekers becoming cynical, negative and even depressed. This will in turn have a further negative impact for future interviews. Interviewers can always sense a positive aura, energy and good overall attitude and having this is key to being successful.

How can you combat this?

1. Understand that many people get rejected in interviews and very often it may not have been a good place for you anyway.
2. Do not take it personal and don’t dwell on things that are in the past.
3. Diversify and don’t only put your hopes in one job, but rather many which will help you to keep positive and have hope when others don’t work out.
4. Expect the emotional swings from the start and prepare yourself for them.
5. Know that you are not alone and that there are millions of fellow job seekers out there that are going through the same process.

Keeping a positive mindset throughout your job search is an undeniable a  must to successfully find your next career step and role.

hiring process, interview preparation, job interview, job search, job seeker, staying positive, キャリアアドバイス, ジョブサーチ, 求職者, 面談, 面談準備

日本時間５月１日レンジャース・ダルビッシュ有投手が先発、安定したピッチングでブルージェイズを相手に今シーズン４勝目を挙げた。いかに日本において実績のある投手とはいえ、大リーグにおけるルーキーシーズンでのここまでの活躍はまさに圧巻としか言い様が無い。ＷＢＣでの投球を見て、大リーグにおける活躍の可能性は予見できた。だか北海道日本ハムファイターズに残留すれば楽に勝つ事ができ、引退後の監督就任もほぼ確実視されていた彼がテキサスに移る必要性は無かった。この成功が保証されていない新世界に挑む勇気、これがダルビッシュ有投手最大の資産と言えるだろう。

大阪生まれのダルビッシュ有投手が新世界に向ける一歩となったのは、地元の高校ではなく東北高校への進学を決めたところに遡る。１５歳の少年にとって、見ず知らずの土地においてホームシックもあっただろう。だか甲子園にエースとして東北高校を導く活躍をみせた。高校卒業後に１８歳にしてプロ野球の世界に入ることを決断。２００４年のドラフト会議で北海道日本ハムファイターズからドラフト１位で指名され、入団。高校野球からプロ野球、そして東北から北海道へ舞台を変えて新たなステージで活躍を見せて日本を代表する投手へと成長した。

成功が保証されていない新世界に挑む勇気、ダルビッシュ有投手に限らずビジネスプロフェッショナルにとって資産と成り得るのはないでしょうか。例えば終身雇用の大手銀行から実力主義の外資系投資銀行への移籍等。実績があっても、違う世界で通用するとは限りません。但し、挑戦する勇気がなければ確かめられないのも事実。あなたなら如何しますか？

bank, courage, Gaishi, global, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, investment bank, Major League, Professional Base Ball, Texas Rangers, WBC, Yu Darvish

Research has shown that there are people who hold back on taking time off work, are you one of them? Reasons could range from feeling too anxious to take leave, heavy workloads or the fear of appearing not dedicated to the employer, creating the mentality that working longer hours and not taking breaks is necessary. However, working to the point of exhaustion can induce costs. Remember we are only human, not robots.

Further to this, being able to disconnect from our daily lives has been increasingly difficult due to modern technology. Look around, and you’ll find the obsession of smart phones – at the dinner table, on the street and on holiday. When was the last time you were fully present in the moment with others? Being efficient and productive is good, but we all have to draw a line!

Leave it all behind..
Lack of relaxation time can affect a person physically, emotionally and at a professional level. It can also hinder your ability to think clearly, act decisively and absorb information effectively.

Set yourself a decent interval of when to take breaks, rather than a day off here and there. Create some time and space for yourself, and take advantage of the benefits of a good quality break:

• Let go and disconnect from the everyday hustle and bustle and relax and unwind
• Time to reflect on life; think about what you’re doing and the direction you’re taking. Ask yourself, do you work to live or live to work?
• Enhance your creativity and ability to think out of the box
• Spend quality time with your family, loved ones or alone, which you found difficult in finding time for
• Recharge your batteries, feel refreshed and re-energised!

As an employer:
Employers should encourage their employees to take time out and help them unplug. Psychologists say that time off is crucial to the functioning and success of a happy and motivated workforce, improving the team’s performance and greater job satisfaction. The effects of not doing so can cost companies in terms of increased absenteeism, sick leaves, stress, depression and a decrease in productivity.

Communicate with your employees, and ensure they’re taking sufficient time off throughout the year. If one is not, find out why. Act on it and find out if there is a problem, provide guidance and any necessary training.

So, how do you like to ensure you have a good work life balance?

annual leave, employer, job satisfaction, modern technology, motivation, smart phones, team performance, time off work, work life balance, work productivity, working long hours, スマートフォン, チームの業績, モチベーション, ワークライフバランス, 仕事の効率, 仕事への満足度, 休暇, 有給休暇, 長時間の労働

Counter offers are a common practice in today’s market where talent is scarce and professionals are very cautious of their next job move.

The reality is that finding a replacement for an employee leaving takes time, and every day where a replacement is not found ends up costing the company more money.

What might go through your manager’s mind when you hand in your notice?

• “This couldn’t be happening at a worse time”
• “This is one of my best people. If I let him/her resign now, it will cause a major morale problem within the team”
• “I’ve already got one vacancy in my department; I don’t need another right now”
• “We are already working to full capacity, losing someone will play havoc with our project timeline”
• “I’m working as hard as I can, and I don’t need to do his/her work too”
• “If I lose another good employee, the company may decide to lose me too”
• “My review is coming up and this will make me look bad”
• “Maybe I can keep him/her on until I find a suitable replacement”

Career advice, career in Japan, counter offer, job offers, jobs in japan, resignation, カウンターオファー, キャリアアドバイス, ジョブオファー, 退職

Japan is well known for life-long employment, or the custom of joining a company directly after graduating from university and working there for the entire length of one’s career.

Life-long employment definitely has its merits, including tight-knit family style corporate cultures, loyalty, and teamwork, but there are some potential downsides to the system as well.

I must insist that it is not my goal to say life-long employment is a bad thing, but there is a definite risk for employees.

As a recruiter, I meet hundreds of job seekers a year, and I can tell which professionals can find a job more easily than others.

Those who have worked for a few companies, all for a healthy length of time of around two to eight years tend to change jobs more easily. These professionals have proven they are skilled, stable and committed to a corporation.

There are two groups of job seekers who may find it a bit more challenging in switching jobs:

• Job hoppers or professionals who have switched jobs too many times. Employers may feel that they have a lack of commitment or the inability to do their job.

• The life-long employment believers who, unfortunately, are no longer employed. They intended to stay at the company forever, but for various reasons like company mergers, bankruptcy, downsizing, or cultural change, they were forced to find a new job.They spent their entire working life in a unique company culture, interacted with the same people and learned one way of performing their job. After 10 to 20 years of repeatedly doing things in the same manner, these people may have difficulty adapting to a new culture and learning new ways of doing their job.

career in Japan, company culture, Employment, job adaptation, job hoppers, job length, jobs in japan, switching jobs, ジョブサーチ, ヘッドハンター, 企業風土, 職を転々と替える人, 転職, 雇用, 雇用期間

Morgan McKinley’s 2012 Salary Guide is now available. It provides market intelligence on remuneration and hiring trends across the financial services sector and commerce & industry organisations in Japan.

Click here to download the English version

日本語版のダウンロードはこちらから

We hope you find our Japan Salary Guide 2012 informative. If you have any questions, feedback or would like to discuss any of the findings, please contact us directly.

hiring market Japan, hiring trends, Japan Salary Guide 2012, jobs in japan, jobs market 2012, Morgan McKinley 2012年度日本版 給与ガイドへようこそ, 日本における雇用動向, 雇用動向

Losing your job is one of the most devastating challenges we have to face in life. Whether you have seen it coming or it just came out of the blue, regardless of what preparation you have made, it can be a very unsettling experience and is often financially constraining.

So how can we rebound from it?

Approach your job search methodically, and follow these seven steps:

1) Acknowledge your loss. It may take some time to absorb what has happened, but do not suppress your feelings or take it personally. Chances are the reason for your job loss may be due to other factors not your ability or value to the company. Be proactive, find out the reason for losing your job, negotiate your notice period and try to get recommendation letters.

2) Brainstorm: Analyse the situation, your skills, qualifications, personality and strengths. Be honest with yourself and brainstorm a list of jobs, industries or responsibilities you are genuinely interested in.

3) Reality check: Return to the list you have made and grade each job according to your level of interest, qualifications and strengths.

4) Find your best interest: Choose the positions or industries that really attract you and where you realistically believe you may be able to find the type of role that fits your skills, and then write your resume accordingly.

5) Road map: List the different activities you will need to undertake to get the job. Register your resume with a recruitment company; contact a recruiter; apply for jobs directly; connect through social media and leverage your personal network. Be creative but most importantly, effective.

6)  Execution: Make a plan and execute it. Do not worry about instant results, and if you do not receive answers right away. Make a daily activity plan and visualise what you want to accomplish. Expect disappointments along the way, it can be tiring but do not lose sight of your goal.

7) Reward yourself: When you have completed your daily tasks, celebrate your victories. Victories as in the activities that you perform perfectly and timely according to your plan – such as applications made, interviews set up or attended. When the day is done, review your accomplishments and plan for tomorrow. The amount of effort you give in accomplishing each task will determine the quality of the outcome.

Career advice, job loss, job search tips, jobs in japan, lost my job, rebounding from job loss, Unemployment, キャリアアドバイス, 失業, 失業率

世の中は人と人が巡り合って様々なドラマを織り成しています。ビジネス、恋愛や交友等において個人の社交性が問われます。その中でもやはり第一印象というのは個人のイメージにおいて絶大な影響を及ぼすので皆さんやはり最初に会う人に対しては皆さん気をつけるのではないでしょうか？その中でも特に重要なポイントを３つ紹介したいと思います。

１．時間厳守
社会人として当たり前だと思いますが、やはり中には色々な理由を付けて遅れてしまう人がいます。相手の時間もあってのミーティングですので、待たせるのは後々にイメージだけではなく信頼関係にも影響が出てきます。

２．清潔感
これは基礎中の基礎ですね。やはり清潔感は特に異性やビジネスの場ではその人の人格判断の大事な要素となります。不潔だと人に不快感を与えてしまい後々の為にはならないですよね。例えば身なりです。その場の雰囲気に合った格好でいきましょう。どんなに能力があっても、外見で人は判断されてしまいます。「百聞は一見にしかず」ですね。

３．ボディラングエージ
簡単な様で実は一番難しいかもしれません。緊張してしまって身体が固まってしまうからです。ですが、自分の話をしながら身体を使って表現するともっと情熱が伝わります。そこでプラスしっかりとした話し方ができればもっと印象は良いですね。

以上、これらのポイントをしっかり抑えていれば大体は第一印象において好感を持っていただけるのではないでしょうか？第一印象が良ければ色々な恩恵があると思います。そうなれる様に日々努力をしましょう！

first impressions, 好感、第一印象、イメージ

The market is very tough now and competition is extremely high between professionals for a smaller pool of jobs. For this reason it’s important to be as proactive as possible to increase your chances of securing a job offer.

I often meet professionals who are searching in the market, but only want to apply to a few jobs and are quick to dismiss opportunities that don’t match their perfect, ideal job. Six months later, they are still looking, discouraged and realise that it is not an easy task. By this time, many of the possible roles are no longer available and more time without progress has gone by.

The most successful ones are those who are very active from the start, flexible and open to a variety of companies. By keeping their minds open from the beginning they will not only expand their possible choices, but also be better informed to make the best decision.

While I am a consultant, I have also been a job seeker and know the process from both ends. While I was looking, I met with a variety of companies, even ones that I initially did not have such a strong interest in but I always kept an open mind. I was glad that I took this approach. So what are the benefits of doing so?

1. Firstly, it helps you gain a better understanding of what exactly you are looking for in a company – in terms of what you find appealing about certain companies and form comparisons with concrete reference points.
2. Secondly, you learn that some companies that you previously thought before the meeting would be a good match for you, but later find it is actually not and vice-versa.
3. Lastly, practice and brush up those interview skills. Learn to better answer difficult interview questions and sell yourself to the interviewer.

I recommend all professionals who are serious about finding a new job to not limit your opportunities out there. Be proactive and cast out a large net!

Career advice, job search in japan, job search tips, job seeker, キャリアアドバイス