Formal and polite workplace Unlike America where the workplace seems more casual, the office in Japan is very formal indeed. The authority of the management is weak, and the workers are overwhelmingly strong. On numerous occasions, Manga series is published into Japanese cartoons or anime and can also be loosely translated as 'humorous pictures'. A 2016 government survey found that over 25% of all Japanese companies demand 80 hours of overtime each month. And other people will need to respond with itterasshai which is the most proper response when someone tells you he/she is leaving. I would much rather live in a place where people arent that concerned with how others perceive them. The advancement of women in society has changed a lot, tooeven for men. English: English proficiency is better in Singapore, as the city made English its official language, and it now ranks first in Asia. While I was working in Japan, punctuality was key for you to get other people's respect. Japan has strived to achieve and maintain very high health standards surpassing many other countries in the world, with its life expectancy rate exceeding that of the United States. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sugoii_japan_com-leader-4','ezslot_16',191,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sugoii_japan_com-leader-4-0');Declining these offers would be considered rude and insensitive. Singapore has seen over 50 years of major road projects, from the PIE to the North-South Corridor. I never imagined myself working in any kind of company as I only imagined myself in different kinds of job roles/scopes. So they patiently taught me all the different important etiquettes to note. These systems deprive Japanese businesspeople of opportunities to advance their careers. They can visit temples, museums, and the Tokyo Tower. Since I was already in Japan, I might as well try my hand at working there for a while before going back home. Is this really true? Its been noted through a survey that Japanese workers only take roughly half of their vacation days! Annual health checks are mandatory and paid for. Hes the chief operating officer of Aidemy Inc, an e-learning company involved in artificial intelligence and digital transformation; a cofounder of semiconductor designer Premo Inc; and the founder of consulting firm Eight Arrows Inc. Hes also a business school lecturer helping shape future leaders. About Contact Follow Contribute. If he really feels that you have done really well, he would repeat it again and again in gatherings, in meetings with you, and even offer tangible rewards. Please let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. For business and politics, English is the language of choice. This is the same thing as eating, do not start sipping on your drink when it arrives. luton town . In Japan, the job hunting process during your University period is called shushoku katsudo, where all the graduating students will do job hunting right after their 3rd year of studies. To a certain extent, I experienced that myself too when I working part-time as a student in Japan. But the cons is, if you do not know him well, you might not be able to decipher what he truly thinks/wants/feels. Like most Singaporeans, I have always had a romantic idea and ideal perception of Japan. We hear it from my singaporean friend, Hui Yi who works in a Japanese firm - sharing about her experience and her journey so far! When you are having dinner (and drinks) with your Japanese colleagues and boss, make sure you wait for someone to speak like lets tuck in, and you reply with itadakimasu before you dig in. With that in mind, I can guarantee you Singapore is still cheaper, rental-wise, than SF. Fresh young minds can do so much for a company, but workforces are often dominated by employees who have been around for decades. | That means companies become a breeding ground for monster employees. This is one of the biggest reasons why I want to pick up Japanese language. | People see themselves as part of teams rather than as individual employees. Web design by Yu Sheng & Yu Siang. Were already seeing it happen. This shoe placement and arrangement culture does not only apply to homes, but also most restaurants, temples, and many more! Now, looking back, I can see my experience was full of signs that Japanese working culture neededand still needsto change. Its something that they are responsible for developing on their own. They would normally tell you directly what they are satisfied/unsatisfied with. I feel that at the age of 24, i still want to learn, hence, if i am given the chance, i would, definitely. Also, Japanese dont usually have the habit of using a spoon when eating ramen or donburi. Do not dig in immediately by yourself when the food arrives. . Because ultimately, as with life in general, no one is going to be responsible for you other than yourself. Take Japan as example, the workplaces are very formal. Japanese people seeking rewarding careers are feeling the frustration, too. Is it really possible to change Japanese working culture that much? A General Overview of Singapore Work Culture. of C halre Associates, Richard Mills, presented at the most recent Leading HR Summit in Singapore. Respecting elders and seniors comes from Confucianism that still exists in the Chinese culture and Asian cultures. Or follow us on our Instagram and Telegram for exclusive deals! Dress code He couldn't even pretend or take smaller sips either he was somehow forced to guzzle beer one cup after another. that permeates much of Singaporean society and culture. For job-seekers out there, dont be disheartened.). Then I heard a speech by Yoshito Hori, the founder and president of GLOBIS University. You genuinely feel appreciated, happy and valued in the company. Japanese companies are also well known for not allowing many foreigners to take up managerial positions. This means, for example, if your work shift starts at 9:00 you should be in the office, at your desk with your computer on at 9:00. It is not a very common practice for the Japanese to do handshakes during business meetings. At a time when expectations for racial diversity and gender equality are rising just about everywhere, countries like Japan that have struggled to adapt strict business practices can look even worse by comparison. For starters, the market for hiring interns and experienced workers has grown significantly over the past twenty-five years. He is very accepting of peoples mistakes and is always willing to let fresh graduates and interns to learn so much in the company. Japanese companies have unique cultural, communication, and operational challenges. The OECD estimates that on average . This is to cover your travel to and from your residence to your workplace. Long-lasting Japan working culture 1. Why this particular window and not, say, after graduation? Sometimes in life, unfortunate things happen to lead to better things - and ta-Dah - here I am in my current job, and almost 2 years in! So much so, that sleeping or napping at work is considered acceptable! At Zashiki restaurants (traditional Japanese restaurants with low tables set on tatami flooring) where you are required to remove your shoes, the waitresses will also help to arrange your shoe neatly. The Japanese working culture is currently all this and more. We Are Hiring I would be forced to face many differences and setbacks. But I still went ahead and accepted the offer because I was really interested to gain experience in the industry. Japanese companies' recruiting departments prepare blank forms with standard job interview questions all printed out nicely for candidates to fill out and if you make a mistake doing that, you will have to start all over again on a brand new copy. About It has perplexed observers for decades as In Singapore, it is more clinical. And no, you cant strike out your error or use correction liquid or tape to mask it. While there exists various communities and friends to help you from time to time, you are mostly pretty much on your own. The Importance of Time. Japanese believe that loud slurping is polite and is an indication to the staff that the food is delicious! The culture of Singapore is a melange of Malay, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Eurasian culture and influences. These days, there are many advocates for a more sustainable, flexible, and generally more balanced workplace culture in Japan. Everyone around me was discouraging me to do it because the salary offered was very low for a University graduate. Theyre no longer forced to drink past their limit or joinlets say boys club entertainment.. If youve ever wanted to shoot your shot at being an influencer, nows your chance. But Ive heard enough complaints from my foreigner friends working in Japan to know there are some very apparent downsides. So, always remain open to the idea of meeting new people and learning new things! Having a job is a sign of success: employment is a vector of social status. Singapore actually has the longest working hours in the world. Imagine the traditional assumptions of a male-dominated workforce, with distinct levels of seniority and years of jumping through hoops to progress your career. When he said that, it was as if my eyes were opened. Kono: Well, after graduating university, I fully expected to enter the Japanese workforce the usual way. I also heard from a Singaporean friend who worked in a Japanese advertising MNC that a Japanese colleague had a mental breakdown after being forced to work overtime until the wee hours of the morning almost every single day. Addressing your boss, colleagues, and clients, you need to add a san at the back. The basic idea of punctuality in Japan is that you should be ready to go with whatever is planned at the starting time. Paid and sick leave wise is totally untrue. Do not chuck them into your wallet, pockets, or bags immediately after you receive them because it will be deemed as disrespectful or that the person is of no importance to you! Moreover, when exchanging your business name cards, it is important to take a few seconds and look through the details of the name card. If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram to get the latest updates. When youre applying for jobs in Japan, you will notice that many job descriptions will include compensation for commute times. This means, for example, if your work shift starts at . These arent just problems for outsiders. Those who do go on leave, do so with feelings of guilt. I would say that this is a partial thing. Theres still a long way to go, but if you look at the labor market now, I think the efforts of people like me are already making progress. Kono: Not an example, but many examples! No update is too small and all decisions require a stamp of approval. Huat AH!Subscribe http://urx3.nu/HTUJSingapore TEKKA CENTRE Food Adventure!AMAZING Lamb Biriyani and Prata! These checks can and will likely include the full range of health checks including hearing, eyesight, blood pressure, and blood and ECG tests. This means that the "We" is important, people belong to in-groups (families, clans or organisations) who look after each other in exchange for loyalty. At that time, I had 3 different offers. At thirty, I took my stand. Theres also comfort in knowing that youre good at your job, so why bother looking elsewhere? Kayla Wong Copyright 2021 Sugoii Japan, All rights Reserved. Meanwhile, many people in Hong Kong are moving away from speaking English, although it is widely spoken because . Advertise with us Yes, the Japanese have a word to describe when an employee works so hard that they work themselves to death. Swedish Coffee Breaks Are Serious Business. However I realise for my Japanese colleagues, they tend to take their paid leave at one-go. Id joined the company based on merit. Based on the above, you can tell that the Japanese people tend to have extreme devotion to their workplace, contributing to their team, and pleasing their managers. Trouble keeping up with all the insights? Singapore's workforce is multicultural with Chinese accounting for the most proportion. Japanese companies in Singapore tend to resemble Japanese operations far more than Singaporean operations, and vice-versa. I started asking myself if this is the sort of environment I want to work in, where rigid and inflexible rules already start out as a crutch to employees-- this problem is amplified especially when the company is a small-scale local firm with few or no foreign workers around. Overall, there is a strong respect for the age. And that is when you wouldnt feel reluctant to go to work or any sort of negative vibes because work would feel like a really happy pastime. Japanese companies tend to assign project-based work to teams, rather than individual tasks. Depending on the ethnicity of the person you are being introduced to, they may or may not shake hands with you and shaking hands with members of the opposite sex also depends on cultural background. That is the difference of close to $1,000 a month, and reflects the disparity in salaries between the two countries. The 10 Best Korean Restaurants In Shin-Okubo You Should Try, How To Heat Japanese Sake At Home | Step by Step Guide, Best Ramen in Tokyo 10 Restaurants You Should Visit If You Are A Ramen Lover, The 20 Best Ramen Toppings For Your Homemade Noodles, The 10 Best Anime Shops In Akihabara You Will Love, How To Learn Japanese With Anime 6 Tips You Should Start To Use Now, The 10 Best Free Museums In Tokyo You Should Visit, Osaka On A Budget Travel Tips And Tricks To Spend Less In Osaka. These comic strips were selected from over 300 of them that . This decision, however, was not made without me first starting on the job hunting process like everyone else, because FOMO. Another core concept underpinning Singaporean culture is that of. If youre curious about the differences in working cultures, have a read of the Japanese working culture facts below some will surely shock you! I spent four years of my life in Japan as a university student. Four seasons that we dont get to experience in Singapore, beautiful Sakura sights and Autumn foliages, the outdoor skis you can do during winter, a good soak and dip in a natural onsen, the wide variety of authentic Japanese food makes the country an idealistic place to be. Premo is a different industry, but I can apply my experience there pretty seamlessly, as well. Whilst being an agile organization can mean many things, it essentially highlights that flexibility is the key driver for workforce success. Japanese office-workers tend to dress more formally than Americans. It's quite company-specific. The alternative is spending hours on the expressway commuting to work. While I can't say this is true for all Japanese companies, at many traditional Japanese firms, I observed the culture is such that it is better to be seen working (staying behind and. +1 Bonus Japanese people nap at work, and its acceptable! Specialties: Vast experience in developing groups/divisions Project Management Adept at crisis management This is partly why many employees stick to one company for their entire lives. Also important is the idea that you can be woken at any moment by anyone. I was confused and angry, convinced I shouldnt be treated this way. I heard, knew and believed some myths before I started working in a Japanese company. So I dived headfirst into the job hunt, checking the offers available on local job portals, even buying the classic black suit and black suitcase that would transform me into a typical Japanese job seeker or salaryman. Third, reexamine worker privilege systems. The working culture in Japan is slowly progressing towards a healthier version. It is considered impolite to do so. For example: A job offer in Japan is required to successfully apply for most types of working visas. Clear Division of Work. Even till today, he trusts me a lot and always seeks opinions and advices from me. 88.3 years. 11. And the more senior you are, the later you reach work. Here, we round up 8 cultural differences that can perhaps reduce the culture shock you may face if you werent aware. Cloud hosting by Vodien. My GLOBIS MBA helped me gain more confidence in the path I wanted to take. But I think most of them are untrue for me. Japanese New Year and Chinese New Year - Similarities and Differences, Reversed Roles during Valentines Day in Japan. But my colleagues were very nice and accepting of me, knowing that I am a Singaporean and did not know about this. Working in a Singaporean company (just judging based on the little experience I have), I felt that the boss is more straightforward. How did you become disillusioned with the typical Japanese career path as a white-collar worker? All Rights Reserved. Lifetime employment with a single company is still common in Japan, especially with large corporations. Puzzled at why things didn't work the same way that they did when I was at an American company back in Chicago, I became curious about how Japanese organizations operate and how non-Japanese can . However, this rarely happens. I had had a good career at IBM and was on the so-called elite course. But I wasnt feeling satisfied. However, this system, in which respect for hierarchy is paramount, has shown its limits. Japanese companies in Singapore tend to resemble Japanese operations far more than Singaporean operations, and vice-versa. It is also listed as having the world's 7th most motivated workforce. Japanese working culture is notorious for rigidity, lack of transparency, and slow decision-making. And after considering what I already knew about Japanese culture by then, I figured thatperhaps Im not cut out to work in the Japanese corporate world after all. 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