Japanese recruiting glossary for international recruiters

Fee-based recruitment placement. Operating it in Japan requires a license for fee-charging employment placement business (有料職業紹介事業) from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

The placement fee paid by the hiring company, usually a percentage of the candidate's expected first-year annual salary (理論年収). Around 30–35% is commonly quoted; the actual rate is set in each contract.

The refund clause in a placement contract that returns part of the fee if the hire leaves within an agreed period, often the first few months.

Theoretical annual salary: base pay plus expected bonuses and fixed allowances for the first year. Placement fees are typically calculated on it.

Mid-career hiring, as opposed to new-graduate hiring (新卒採用). Most agency placements are mid-career.

Candidates within roughly three years of graduating who are changing jobs for the first time.

A direct message sent to a candidate on a job board such as BizReach or doda X. Scout platforms are the main sourcing channel in Japan alongside LinkedIn.

Direct sourcing by a company's own recruiters on scout platforms, without an agency.

Document screening of the resume (履歴書) and work history document (職務経歴書) before any interview.

The detailed work history document in Japanese job applications, separate from the standard-format resume (履歴書).

First-round and final interviews. Japanese processes commonly run two to three rounds, with the final round often with an executive.

A formal job offer. Once the candidate accepts (内定承諾), it is generally treated as a labor contract, so withdrawing it is legally restricted.

The candidate's resignation negotiation with the current employer. Under the Civil Code an employee on an indefinite contract can resign with two weeks' notice, but company rules often ask for one month or more.

Using up remaining paid leave before the last day of employment, which often pushes the actual last working day weeks earlier than the resignation date.

The 13-digit corporate number assigned to every registered company in Japan by the National Tax Agency. It identifies a company regardless of how its name is written.

The annual securities report filed by listed companies on EDINET. It includes employee count, average age, average tenure and average annual salary.

Timely disclosure of material events by listed companies, published on TDnet. Restructuring, early retirement programs and mergers appear here first.

Foreign-capital company: a company in Japan owned by or affiliated with a non-Japanese parent. Gaishikei roles often require English and pay above the local market.