Episode 21

full
Published on:

1st Mar 2023

Will the Great Resignation hit Japan? A conversation with Simon Jelfs

Simon Jelfs, Managing Director at FocusCore Japan, makes his debut on the podcast. Simon has trodden the path many who come to live in Japan have walked - as a JET teacher. Those early years as an English teacher set him up for a lifelong career as a teacher, coach, and recruitment consultant. He’s a keen runner, a former Morris Dancer, a rugby fan, and a YouTuber at Just a Rugby Dad in Japan.

In this episode David and Simon cover:

  • Important career lessons learned from 20 years of working in Japan
  • The Great Resignation - will it hit Japan?
  • How Covid-19 and working from home have changed the recruitment experience
  • Combining career and parenthood and the changing dynamics of Japanese workplaces
  • A shift in management style in Japan - is it here to stay?

And it would not be a FocusCore podcast if there wasn’t some chat about sport!

Simon Jelfs Bio:

Simon is from the UK and has 20 years of accounting and finance recruitment as a specialized recruitment leader in Japan. As Managing Director, he provides bilingual accounting and finance professionals to client companies in Japan.

Connect with Simon Jelfs:

LinkedIn

Twitter

YouTube: Just a Ruby Dad in Japan


Links of things mentioned in this episode:

Podcast Recommendations

High Performance Podcast

The Rest is History

Hidden Brain

FocusCore Podcast episode 2 with Corey McGowan


‘The Great Resignation’ - The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan Journal

Morris Dancing

Institute of Management Accountants


Connect with David Sweet:

LinkedIn

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Website


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The FocusCore Podcast is hosted by David Sweet and produced by Podlaunch with Jayne.

Doin’ the Uptown Lowdown,” used by permission of Christopher Davis-Shannon. To find out more, check out www.thetinman.co and check out his new album, FIFTY​/​50. 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

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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

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David Sweet