Timing matters in this market

Cyber security is a small market in Japan. Good people are found quickly by other companies.

What we usually see:

• Strong candidates talk to two or three companies at once
• Many receive an offer within two to three months of starting to look
• Current employers often make a counter offer

Four to six weeks is not a rush. It is enough time to meet the right people and make a careful decision.

Every company has its own approval process. We will plan around yours. Where a step can happen in parallel instead of one after the other, we will suggest it.

Let's block time to meet the market

Three hours now can save three weeks later.

Our request: two blocks of 90 minutes in the next two weeks.

We fill each block with three candidates, 30 minutes each.

This helps with the hire. It also gives you a clear view of the market today:

• The salary level people expect now
• Real notice periods
• How candidates see your company and your team
• Which skills are realistic to ask for

Sending interview invitations

Please email the candidate directly, and copy me in.

A simple change keeps things moving:

1. You email the candidate with the proposed calendar invitation and time. In most cases the first proposed time works.
2. You copy me on that email.
3. I stay in the loop, and keep managing preparation, feedback and the offer.

Choosing how we stay in touch

Email is fine for documents. It is slow for decisions.

During a live search, questions come up daily. A short message gets a faster answer than an email thread.

Please choose whichever suits you:

Working together at the offer stage

In Japan, searches rarely fail at interview. The offer stage needs the most care.

Where we can help each other:

• Move on the same day. A verbal offer first is enough. Paperwork can follow.
• Expect a counter offer. We prepare the candidate before the offer is made.
• Check bonus timing. Leaving before a bonus is paid costs the candidate real money. We will flag this early.
• Plan a realistic start date. In Japan it usually takes six to eight weeks from accepting the offer to the first day.
• Keep in contact before day one. A short message each week works well. Team introductions, a welcome note, anything.

Four to six weeks, step by step

The number of interview stages is yours to decide. This plan works with two or three.

Recommended checklist

Questions worth answering before we begin.

• What is the salary range for this role?
• What language is required to perform the role successfully? Japanese, English, or both?
• Is this a new role or a replacement?
• What does success look like in the first six months?
• Who will interview, and how many stages will there be?
• When can you meet candidates?
• Who approves the offer, and how long does approval take?
• Is the role onsite, hybrid or remote?

Steven Li

Steven is a Director at Robert Half's Tokyo office, leading the cyber security and data recruitment practice.

He hosts invitation only senior leadership roundtables with partners including Google, Microsoft and Sony.

Before recruitment, he spent his career at two tier one Australian banks as a Market Risk Oversight Manager in financial markets.