Episode 3

full
Published on:

1st Mar 2022

Recruitment in Japan with Supply Chain Wayne™ AKA Wayne Yoshida, Talent Acquisition Manager at Maersk

Today’s podcast guest is a former FocusCore alum and the current North-East Asia Talent Acquisition Manager at Maersk, Wayne Yoshida, or as he is officially known as, Supply Chain Wayne™. Wayne is a Quebecer who has called Japan home for the past 15 years and has built an enviable career and reputation in recruitment for the transport industry. 

This episode looks at two sides of the recruitment coin as Wayne shares with David what it's like going from a boutique recruitment agency to in-house talent acquisition for a global organization. Wayne candidly shares some of the challenges of working in recruitment in Japan and what companies can do to build better recruitment practices with digital technologies and systems that provide a great employee experience from the initial chat to onboarding. 

In this episode you will hear:

  • How Wayne transitioned as a recruiter from the agency side to in-house recruitment - what he learned and what he likes about being the in-house talent acquisition manager 
  • Recruitment in Japan and the key challenges 
  • How and why Wayne built his own personal brand that led him to be known in the industry as Supply Chain Wayne™  
  • Why customer relationship systems are critical for a great and smooth recruitment experience 
  • How Wayne hunts Unicorns - looking for the best and most unique candidates that will bring value to the company
  • The secrets to healthy competition in a competitive industry 

Wayne Bio:

Wayne Yoshida is currently the North East Asia Talent Acquisition Manager at Maersk in Japan. He started his recruitment career journey at FocusCore Japan where he built an impressive personal brand and tribe following leading Wayne to be known as Supply Chain Wayne™. He is also the editor of CargoNOW and a Senior Board Member of the International Propeller Club of Japan. Wayne will soon be able to add a published author to his title with the publication of a children's book about transportation due out soon. 

Connect with Wayne Yoshida:

LinkedIn - Wayne Yoshida

Links of things mentioned in this episode:

Recruitment tools: Engin10  and Hireplanner

Wayne and David’s Mexican restaurant chain recommendation:  Casa Bonita

Wayne’s favorite South Park episode: "It's Christmas in Canada" Season 7 E15

Connect with David Sweet:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp 

Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ 

Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ 


Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co. Support independent musicians and artists.

Mentioned in this episode:

Find out more about salaries, the job market, hiring and what's important to both companies and individuals looking for a job specifically in Japan.

2025 Salary Guide

Show artwork for The FocusCore Podcast

About the Podcast

The FocusCore Podcast
Meet interesting and inspiring and entertaining people who show why Japan is a unique, fulfilling and sometimes frustrating place to do business.
We will discuss how to hire, train and retain talent. How to create values that motivate, and review best practices that have worked and attempts that have failed. David will be speaking to company presidents, CEOs, CFOs, HR professionals, coaches, consultants as well as sharing with you some of my own experiences and opinions discovered over the years in this great country.
The focus is simple: To explore how to succeed in business in Japan.

About your host

Profile picture for David  Sweet

David Sweet