Common motivations for moving to a foreign company

There are many occasions that cause people to think about changing jobs. When deciding whether or not a change in career is right for you, it can often be helpful to hear common opinions on the matter. The following page will list three common motivators that prompt job seekers to consider moving to a foreign company.

Motivation 1:  A desire to use their skills

The first motivation expressed by job seekers is a desire to make better use of their own skills.

Foreign companies often demand the full use of skills such as language ability and specialist knowledge, so this kind of company provides the ideal workplace for people that want to push their abilities to the limit.

However, there are many foreign companies that operate on a merit-based system. Even if a person joins the company, they could find themselves in trouble in a situation where their skills don’t match the company’s needs. In addition, many of these companies demand a high level of tenacity necessary to consistently produce results.

• 「I want to increase my market value」
• 「I’ll work as hard as it takes to achieve my goals」
• 「I want to become a specialist in my field」

If you have strong motivations like these, a foreign company could be the best fit for you.

Motivation 2:  A desire to work in a global workplace

The second idea that motivates job seekers to look at foreign companies is a desire to work in a more international environment. Most foreign companies have a different workplace atmosphere to Japanese companies. In addition to having English at the heart of their work style, workplace relationships often differ in that proactive, self-motivated expression of opinion is asked for regardless of a person’s position as a leader or a subordinate. Chances to grow an ability to easily communicate and strategize with different cultures and also to take on a global role through the business are also attractive features.

On the other hand, there are also foreign companies in Japan that have an abundance of Japanese workers and a company culture similar to a Japanese company. If you are deciding to change job in order to move to an international workplace, it is important to properly research the company’s environment beforehand.

Motivation 3: A desire to take up the challenge of a merit based work environment

As for the third motivation, job seekers often express a desire to compete on grounds other than academic history.

For example, when job hunting at Japanese companies, new graduates are most strongly favoured.  However, at foreign companies, advantages are not limited to new graduates. As previously mentioned, foreign companies often adopt a meritocratic style – a person can continue to be an active participant according to their ability, without being held back by their age or personal history. The concept of a fixed retirement age is also less strict and a person can continue working if they have the will and the ability – another draw for foreign companies.

There are many job seekers who see these benefits and have the will to reinvent themselves at a foreign company.

Yet another attractive feature of foreign companies is that as results increase, an individual’s salary is also increased. Regardless of gender or age, a foreign company is an appealing opinion for a top performer.

These are three of the most common reasons that job seekers often think about moving to a foreign company. While thinking about which kind of company fits your needs, why not browse some job listings?

For more hints and tips, please visit our Career Advice page.