About
UNIQUE VISION
Scaling a business or a career in Japan/Asia is easier said than done. The process of identifying, evaluating, and securing local talent as well as setting up operations in JAPAC has many moving parts - all of which require careful assessment. The way to enter and scale a business varies significantly because every company is unique and the markets complex.
For example, finding functionally capable English speaking talent that excels in Japanese business culture and one that also fits in with Silicon Valley culture is a challenge in Japan. Japan has one of the smallest percentage of English speaking populations in the world combined with a shrinking population making a talent lake that is small. Every company from both inside and outside of Japan is fishing in that same lake. Japan is also just a single generation removed from a long history of lifetime employment. Another contributing factor to the shortage of top talent is that many of the most talented workers in Japan with a stable job are not actively looking or are unaware of new career advancement opportunities because they do not know the true Japan market value of their skills or experience.
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Rather than trying to hire the perfect candidate, we believe in the strategy of securing the best candidate available in the market at the time of your search; focusing on those who believe in and can articulate your unique company vision, have a history of success, who can work within your culture and share your values, and someone intelligent who has ambition as well as hard work ethic. We provide valuable insights and support on what makes a business successful throughout the recruiting process and after onboarding. Companies need to show their local talent that they plan to have deep involvement in Japan and then deliver on their commitments. Company leaders need to be focused on making their Japan leadership and local talent successful by having active dialogues to solve problems as well as to understand each other (including differences in business culture and customs) in order to grow the business and retain local talent. We at Ikigai Agent can show you how.
We founded Ikigai Agent to support rapidly growing companies facing similar problems. We aim and enjoy helping companies as they look to enter and scale across the JAPAC market and also help candidates as they look to advance by giving them insights to discover new career opportunities.
OUR VALUE PROPOSITION
We believe that talent is a company’s greatest asset. We help identify, evaluate, and secure local talent across Asia that makes a real difference in ensuring the right team is in place so that you can scale your business. The insights we provide are based on over 18+ years of experience having successfully completed searches for numerous companies in different solution categories at all levels.
HOW IKIGAI AGENT GOT STARTED
We work remotely with close to zero in-person interactions with candidates and clients throughout this COVID-19 pandemic. This experience changed our thinking and strategies about the way to communicate with candidates and clients. Not only is it important to understand about a candidate’s career goals and a client’s hiring objectives but also to understand how this pandemic has impacted each person’s life at home and at the work place. Most people are still learning to balance family responsibilities, health, and work all at the same time. COVID-19 has created a growing number of challenges for companies seeking talent all around the world, including companies hoping to enter and scale in the Japan market. Those challenges have made hiring talent more difficult than ever before.
As a direct result of our past experience and new insights during the past year, we founded IKIGAI AGENT to support rapidly growing companies to scale quickly in the JAPAC market around the foundation of great people and to help candidates as they look to find a better work environment to achieve their career goals. JAPAC is an important market in a global growth story and just like in all markets success starts with finding great talent. IKIGAI AGENT aims to play a critical part in supporting client’s revenue growth in JAPAC as well as helping local candidates further develop their skillsets and career aspirations by aligning them with their IKIGAI.
THE STORY BEHIND IKIGAI
Happiness, purpose and success. While some might have easily found that balance, others are still working on it. On times when you have done some self introspection, have you ever wondered where your life is headed? What is your purpose in life? What is the source of your happiness and contentment? Figuring out the right path towards your happiness and success can sometimes feel like solving a puzzle.
