Daijob.com is Japan's definitive job site for multilingual professionals.

—What made you decide to stay in Japan? I was born and raised in France, and I also lived in Switzerland for a few years. Due to my roots, which include Thai ancestry, I have always had an interest in Asia since childhood. After 5 years living and working in Switzerland, I had the opportunity to embark on a trip to Asia with friends, and it was during that trip that I first visited Japan. Initially, I never imagined that I would relocate to Japan, but I was enamored by the country and influenced by the remarkable people I met, which led me to decide on an extended stay. Living in Japan, I sometimes feel a sense of longing as it is not easy to meet my family and friends in France. In recent years, the talent market in France has become vibrant and is one of the top industries. However, working in the field of talent recruitment in Japan has been incredibly rewarding, and I have now been living in Japan for over 10 years.

—As a founding partner of Cornerstone, could you share your experience of the company's early days? After coming to Japan, I had the opportunity to work in the talent recruitment industry, and it was during this time that I met Matt, the founder of Cornerstone. We established a relationship of trust through our previous professional experiences, which led to me being welcomed as a founding partner of Cornerstone. Although we are not yet a major company like GAFA, when Cornerstone was founded, we found inspiration by reading books and looking at photos of GAFA founders. In recent years, with the challenges of the pandemic, the outlook for global businesses has become globally uncertain. However, when I see our current office and the numerous employees, it feels like witnessing an incredible miracle. I sometimes nostalgically remember the first day of Cornerstone's founding, when a few members and I relied on our laptops and to-do lists to create the company's logo, raise funds, and arrange for employees' laptops and business cards from scratch.

—What do you think is the secret behind the company's significant growth? Personally, I am someone who enjoys taking risks. Even before the establishment and operation of the company, I approached the process of starting and growing the company as if embarking on an adventure. As a result, I believe it has been a valuable experience for my career, personal growth, and for Cornerstone itself.

—Cornerstone has been recognized as a "Great Place to Work" by the Great Place to Work® Institute Japan for three consecutive years. What do you think contributed to this recognition? I believe the recognition comes from the fact that we have a very flexible workplace, and the managers genuinely care about their employees. Many Cornerstone employees, including myself, have previous experience of working in large corporations, but we don't have the stiffness typically associated with such organizations. Today, I am wearing a tie, but in our office, we usually dress casually. The casual and friendly atmosphere is deeply rooted in a common understanding. Cornerstone provides an environment where employees can work naturally while retaining their diverse individuality, and everyone is given equal opportunities. We also have a meritocratic culture, so by working proactively, you can definitely increase your annual income.

—What are some characteristics of the job market in Japan? The job market in Japan is unique compared to other countries, as it is broadly divided into two types: monolingual and bilingual talent. The competition in the bilingual job market is particularly fierce. If you have specialized skills and high English proficiency, you will often receive direct offers from many large companies. Additionally, there are more recruitment agencies in Japan compared to other countries, so exceptional talent tends to receive numerous offers from recruitment agents as well. If suitable bilingual talent cannot be found among those residing in Japan, overseas candidates may also be considered. However, because of the intense competition in this market, there are also significant opportunities for skilled recruitment consultants to thrive.

—There are many recruitment tools and services available nowadays. How do you utilize them? I believe it is not good for recruitment consultants to rely too heavily on a single platform because it has many registered job seekers. Many recruitment consultants have the same mindset, which leads to higher competition rates for exceptional talent. We encourage our employees to utilize multiple platforms depending on the characteristics of the talent they want to hire, including Daijob.com.

—Can you please share your outlook for the future? As Cornerstone’s director, I aim to lead the company towards becoming an industry leader. I also want to establish a company specializing in the IT sector and manage it as a managing director. We already have a solid foundation within the company, and a truly outstanding team has been formed. Another goal is to launch a temporary staffing division. I am confident that both the IT and temporary staffing sectors have great potential for success.

—Finally, could you share a message for those interested in working at Cornerstone? At our company, we not only work hard but also enjoy interacting with each other, so we welcome new employees. If you are currently considering a career change, you might be looking for a company that will 100% appreciate you and where you can grow. We have had individuals who were promoted from Associate Consultants to Senior Consultants within one year, which is a promotion trajectory unique to our company. As you advance in your career, you can also expect to earn a higher income. The work might be demanding, but if you're looking to advance your career, we encourage you to take on the challenge.

We also welcome those without experience in recruitment consulting who have a strong drive for growth, a desire to make a difference in society, and a passion for supporting people's careers. Whether you have personal goals such as buying a house or supporting your family, it doesn't matter. As long as you have established your own motivation, I believe you will feel the desire to grow yourself and support others. Let's aim for high income together while contributing to many job seekers and clients.

Finally, I recommend betting on yourself from time to time. Change always comes with a bit of fear, but if you can believe in yourself and in us, the management team, together we can take the next step forward. We look forward to your application.