Universities and government officials in Japan have raised concerns over proposed changes to traditional corporate hiring schedules.

Under the current graduate hiring system, which was established by Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)* in 1953, the recruitment process kicks off with job orientation sessions for third year students in March, followed by interviews in June and job offers in October. Students then enter the workforce en masse after graduating in April the following year.  While this system is by no means ideal, it does allow students to focus on their studies for the first three years of their degrees, before job-hunting becomes the priority for many in the final year.  It also enables students to take semester/year abroad, or summer programmes during their second and/or third year.

Keidanren has, however, announced plans to scrap the current guidelines from spring 2021 citing a need for a more flexible system in which companies can set their own hiring schedules.  While businesses may welcome the change, universities and government officials have raised concerns that it will lead to an ever more prolonged job-hunting process that will further eat into study time.

There are also concerns that students may postpone short-term study abroad until they have secured a job or abandon them altogether to stay in Japan for recruitment fairs and interviews. Quite how this will play out remains to be seen, but it is hoped that Keidanren companies, which have themselves been strong supporters of boosting international study opportunities, will adopt hiring schedules that continue to facilitate study abroad. In the meantime, the British Council will consult universities in Japan regarding student sentiment around the proposed changes. UK universities are also encouraged to consult partner institutions on this matter.

*Keidanren is the voice of big business in Japan and an influential organisation with just under 1,400 member companies.