Japanese companies use various approaches when recruiting

Japanese companies are approaching the hiring of talent differently, with some hiring fresh graduates with specialised skills and introducing a competency-based system, showed a survey by The Yomiuri Shimbun and Nippon Television Network Corp.

When 101 major firms were asked about their hiring plans, 63 businesses opted for hiring mid-career workers with specialised skills, 49 chose to utilise existing in-house human resources, while 29 chose to “subdivide recruiting categories for new graduates, and develop highly specialized human resources.”

One such company surveyed also cited that it has established a dedicated strategy course on digital information and communications technology (ICT) for new graduates, aiming to help develop highly specialised ICT talent within the company. 

The survey, which was carried out from late March to early April, saw 40 companies saying that they have increased or plan to increase mid-career hiring, which highlighted the trend of recruiting not just fresh graduates, but also those with immediately applicable skills. 

Only nine companies said they were decreasing their recruitment of mid-career workers. 

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In a separate survey by Kyodo News, companies in the manufacturing industry expected to hire more fresh graduates, citing business expansion plans boosted by recoveries in the US and Chinese economies. 

However, firms in some sectors such as transport and tourism planned to curb new hires.