An independent second opinion for hiring decisions in Japan.
For international managers and HR teams hiring in Japan.
Highly rated in the interview. Struggling in the local team?
Have you hired someone who was rated highly in interviews with overseas management, only to find that they struggled to build working relationships with Japanese colleagues on the ground and left after a short time?
The impression overseas management forms of a candidate’s character and interpersonal approach during an interview does not always match the impression Japanese colleagues form through day-to-day work. Confident explanations and presentations of past achievements may not fully reveal how someone responds to others’ views, shows consideration for colleagues, takes responsibility or builds trust.
Some of these differences are easier to recognise through first-hand experience of working in Japan and building collaborative relationships with Japanese colleagues. For overseas management with limited direct exposure to day-to-day interactions in the local team, identifying this gap through a conventional hiring interview alone is not straightforward.
Japan Hiring Review provides an independent second opinion to explore this less visible gap. Drawing on practical experience in Japanese workplaces, we examine concrete examples of how candidates have built trust, handled differences of opinion and friction, and moved work forward. Alongside the positive impression made in an interview, we identify strengths and potential concerns relevant to working with Japanese colleagues on the ground, helping your team make an informed hiring decision.
To help reduce the recruitment costs and disruption associated with early departures, bring an additional perspective into the hiring process. That is the purpose of Japan Hiring Review.
What we assess
Experience and individual contribution: What did the candidate personally decide, deliver and improve? We distinguish their contribution from the wider team’s achievements.
Collaboration and execution: How have they worked with local colleagues, other functions, customers and overseas management? We explore how they handled disagreement and moved work forward.
Career history and reasons for change: We examine the context of previous roles and departures. The number of job changes alone does not determine our assessment.
Alignment with the role: We consider the candidate’s expectations alongside the company’s responsibilities, decision-making authority and working arrangements.
Interview and assessment report
We begin by clarifying the role and expected outcomes with the hiring team. We then interview the candidate using job-related questions about their experience and actions.
Your report sets out:
- Strengths supported by specific examples
- Areas where evidence is limited or further clarification is needed
- Suggested follow-up questions for the hiring team
- Practical recommendations for onboarding and support
The assessment is based on the information available. It is not a background-verification service or a guarantee of future performance. The final hiring decision remains with your company.
Fixed-fee assessment
The interview and report are provided for a fixed fee agreed in advance. Our assessment fee does not depend on whether you hire the candidate. We support hiring decisions rather than introduce candidates.
Optional post-hire support
Where useful, MJ Consulting can help put the report’s recommendations into practice through a separately agreed engagement. Support may include aligning expectations between the new hire and manager, reviewing collaboration challenges, and checking progress during the initial employment period.
Actionable recommendations are included in the assessment report whether or not you engage us for further support. Your team may implement them internally or use another provider. Any additional scope, duration, fees and information-sharing arrangements are agreed before work begins.
Discuss your hiring needs
Tell us about the role and the questions your hiring team wants to resolve.