The First Step to Avoiding "We Hired Them, But They Quit Right Away"
When companies consider hiring international talent through Technical Intern Training or the Specified Skilled Worker program, many carry concerns such as "Will we be able to communicate?", "Will they leave early?" and "The system and costs are complicated and hard to understand." In fact, many of these concerns come down to the quality of the sending organization that handles local recruiting, selection and training. Choosing a sending organization is the first — and most important — step that determines whether a hire succeeds.
Here, we lay out 7 checkpoints, in checklist form, for identifying a sending organization you won't regret choosing.
7 Checkpoints for Evaluating a Sending Organization
1. Is the pre-departure training system solid?
Retention in Japan is heavily influenced by how well trainees are prepared before arrival. Check whether the organization has a system that teaches not just Japanese, but also daily-life habits, Japanese work ethic, and job-specific practical skills. The teaching team's structure and total training hours are one useful yardstick. Kiraboshi, for example, is not a recruitment agency but a training company, and provides 1,500 hours of live-in, pre-departure training.
2. Is the track record and candidate pool size clear?
Check whether the number of people sent so far, the size of the candidate pool, and the network of partner schools are backed by concrete figures. The larger the pool, the higher the chance of finding talent that matches your company's needs. Kiraboshi has a candidate pool of roughly 3,000 people and a network of about 60 partner schools in the regions, and recruits and selects candidates in Myanmar and Indonesia.
3. Is the target Japanese level specific?
What matters is not a vague claim like "they can speak Japanese," but whether the target proficiency level and study hours are clearly stated. Whether trainees can communicate at a minimum level on the job directly affects retention.
4. Is there follow-up after departure?
The period right after arrival in Japan is precisely when people are most likely to struggle. Check whether life and mental-health support continues after arrival. Kiraboshi works together with Registered Support Organizations and Supervising Organizations to continuously support settlement after arrival.
5. Are the fees transparent?
Check whether the breakdown of the quote is clear and free of unclear fees. Rather than an organization that emphasizes how cheap it is, choose one that honestly discloses what costs how much.
6. Is the division of roles with the Japan side clear?
A sending organization handles local recruiting, selection, training and sending workers off, but job placement, registered support and employment procedures within Japan are handled by licensed Registered Support Organizations and Supervising Organizations. Kiraboshi, too, works with Registered Support Organizations and Supervising Organizations to support hiring. An organization that can correctly explain this division of roles is one you can trust.
7. Does it hold a proper license?
Whether the organization holds a sending-organization license is a must-check item. Kiraboshi's sending-organization license number is MMR000448. Because the details of the system can change, please check official sources for the latest information.
Summary: Use the Checklist to Find the Right Fit
Choosing a sending organization shouldn't be decided on price or headcount alone. It's important to judge the fit with your company across 7 dimensions: training system, track record, Japanese level, post-arrival follow-up, fee transparency, role separation and license. As a general tendency, the more thorough the pre-arrival training, the smoother a trainee's start and settlement tend to be on the job.
As a "training company," Kiraboshi supports talent consistently from before departure through after arrival, working together with Registered Support Organizations and Supervising Organizations. If your company has concerns about hiring international talent, please feel free to reach out first. We'll propose an approach suited to your company, together with our partner organizations.