When headquarters leads hiring for a Japan office, headquarters approvals and checks come in at each stage of selection, and decisions can take time. Because candidates in Japan are also sensitive to the speed of selection, delays bear directly on whether hiring succeeds.
- Interviews and offers are delayed while waiting for headquarters approval
- Headquarters and the Japan side use different criteria for hiring decisions
- Time zone and language differences slow down the back-and-forth of confirmations
- Delays have cost the company candidates to other firms
This article explains the decision delays that tend to occur when headquarters leads hiring in Japan, and how to resolve them.
Where Decisions Tend to Slow
In headquarters-led hiring, headquarters' confirmation is needed at several points, such as document screening, evaluation after interviews, presenting terms, and approving the offer. When the waits at each step add up, the whole selection process drags on.
If headquarters staff do not understand candidates' behavior in the Japanese market or the right pace for selection, the impact of delays is hard for them to grasp.
Steps to Reduce Delays
The following steps are effective for reducing waiting time for approvals.
| Step | What It Involves |
|---|---|
| Clarify approval scope | Draw a line in advance between what needs headquarters approval and what the Japan side can decide |
| Set approval deadlines | Agree on a deadline for headquarters' reply at each stage, for example within two business days |
| Agree on terms in advance | Agree with headquarters on the terms for an offer, such as salary range and position level, beforehand |
| Streamline information sharing | Put evaluation sheets and candidate information in a common format to reduce the effort of review |
Share the Impact of Delays With Headquarters
Share with headquarters cases where delays in selection led to declines or losing candidates to other firms. Showing concrete data and cases makes it easier to gain understanding of why speed matters.
Once hiring has stabilized, also consider widening the Japan side's discretion. Building trust with headquarters while gradually delegating authority is a realistic approach.
Summary
- Headquarters-led hiring tends to involve waiting for approval at several points
- Draw a line in advance between what needs headquarters approval and what the Japan side can decide
- Reduce waiting time through approval deadlines and advance agreement on terms
- Share the impact of delays through concrete cases and consider widening the Japan side's discretion in stages
Contact
JBN supports foreign companies in hiring in Japan, from clarifying the division of roles with headquarters through to designing the selection process.
To discuss reviewing your hiring decision process, please contact us.