Shub Faujdar

If you are looking for a new job in China ...then go learn Chinese. What is going on? 👉15 years ago, almost no foreign management roles required Chinese. 👉8–9 years ago, it was “nice to have.” 👉Today? Almost mandatory. In 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰, EVERY foreign role we placed required strong Chinese skills. This year, 2025, it’s about 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳-𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳...but the trend is clear. FOR COMPANIES, language means more than vocabulary: it means cultural understanding, commitment, empathy, and the ability to lead a Chinese team effectively. But as I like to remind them, and this is important, 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀. 👉A technical problem needs technical skills 👉A management problem needs leadership skills 👉A revenue problem… needs far more than good tones and characters ❌So, companies, please: 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 ACTUAL HARD SKILLS 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱. Keep the full skill package in mind.❌ If you are A CANDIDATE, though, and 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮: Yes, I strongly recommend to 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲. Yes, it’s tough. I still have phantom pain from the calluses from endless character writing. I also picked up classes again this year. Is it fun? Eh. Is it necessary? Yes. For most Westerners, fluency 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀. I know some people are gifted and like to highlight how fast they learned it and rub it into the internets face - but that is just not realistic for the 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. Don't feel bad if that is not you, and please do not set unrealistic expectations - you prob will run out of steam. There will always be a bell curve distribution, and for most of us, fluency simply takes years, especially if you work full-time and have a life. Chinese is also one of the hardest languages to learn for Westerners. BUT...if you 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝟭𝟱 𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬+ 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, it just makes economic sense to make this time and resource investment. 👉Chinese companies are 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 fast. Not just by choice, but by necessity.  👉As the US is stepping away from global responsibilities and influence, 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗽. I do not see a future where China will not have an 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹, 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 than today. If you invest in the language now, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝘆. Next year or in 10 years, in your home country or abroad, you’ll find opportunities 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮. Maybe even that coveted role as a "Consultant to chinese firms, working from a pool villa in Bali". ;) Agree? Disagree? Pic for attention: Hanfu Dinner dress up

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Evolving Talent Acquisition in South East As an APAC recruiter, I have noticed and being part of the post pandemic hiring acceleration and focus shift to South East Asia. SEA has emerged as the fastest growing region in global hiring. In the coming years APAC remains the top hiring market globally. Some Key Trends are:- 1. Cross-Border Hiring: Regional mobility rising with increased foreign hiring and intra-SEA relocations. 2. AI & Digitization: Recruitment is increasingly automated, predictive, and data-driven. 3. Flexibility: Remote and hybrid work are expected, not optional. 4. Employer Values & ESG: Purpose, brand authenticity, ESG, and DE&I are essential to attract and retain modern talent. Whitecrow Group partners with leading MNCs across APAC, delivering trusted talent solutions. I specialize in connecting professionals with opportunities in Supply Chain, Automation, Manufacturing, Transformation, Engineering, Quality Management, and Product Development across South East Asia. Let’s connect if you’re exploring your next career move. #southeastasia #seahiring #apac #apachiring #malaysian #malaysia #philippines #filipino #thailand #singapore #singaporean #hiringinapac #APACtalent #APACJobs #APACopportunities #workinAPAC #APACrecruitment

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𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦? After a slow start, Japan’s washing machine industry has surged ahead to become one of the most advanced in the world. While the West prioritized drum-style machines, Japan followed its own path, designing impeller washing machines that aligned with local habits and space-saving needs. But they didn’t stop there. 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: ✅ Ultra-quiet tech for tiny apartments ✅ Eco-friendly sensors that optimize water use ✅ Futuristic hygiene modes, including ones that clean you, not just your clothes What stands out is how Japan’s appliance makers blended cultural insights with cutting-edge innovation, proving that even the most “ordinary” product can be reimagined when you put the user first. At Kairos Global Search, we believe innovation isn’t always about disruption, sometimes, it’s about deep understanding. Video credits: NHK World

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🇲🇾𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 Tony Fernandes 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗺—𝗵𝗶𝘀 “𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗲” 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁, 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆—𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: 𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿 AirAsia 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆? 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗜 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗲. 1. In March 2020, AirAsia grounded nearly its entire fleet, cutting revenue by over 90% almost overnight . Layoffs, pay reductions, and route suspensions followed across subsidiaries—AirAsia Japan went bankrupt in late 2020; Indonesia AirAsia X was shuttered permanently in October 2022 . 2. Massive financial distress In 2020, AirAsia reported a net loss of RM 5.6 billion, marking its darkest year yet . By 2022, the company was classified as financially distressed (PN17 status) on Bursa Malaysia 3. Operational grind—parallels of customer backlash Frequent flight cancellations, poor refund processes, and the removal of human customer service led to widespread passenger frustration. Multiple Reddit posts cite malfunctioning AI chatbots, flight cancellations without compensation, and unresolved refund complaints well into 2022‑25 . 4. Strategic reset & restructuring In October 2024, shareholders approved a RM 6.8 billion buyout by AirAsia X to consolidate operations under a unified brand—part of a broader rescue strategy . By June 2025, Tony proclaimed that the group is working its way out of PN17 status, restructuring its aviation assets, and eyeing huge jet orders—50–70 Airbus A321XLRs and up to 100 regional jets . 5. Pivot to digital & new fuel AirAsia launched its Super App in late 2020, pivoting to food delivery, fintech services, logistics and e‑commerce (Teleport) to diversify income through the travel slump . 6. At the 2025 Paris Airshow Tony outlined plans for a new Gulf region hub and relaunching European routes (including London Gatwick) via multi‑hop connectivity—a bold play to return AirAsia to long‑haul prominence . Aviation leaders expect Capital A to exit PN17 mid‑2025, reinvest in aircraft, list non‑aviation assets in the U.S., and expand in Asia and Europe again . So yes—he did the right thing When the chips were down—and Wall Street, hedge funds, pundits and naysayers were lining up for the obituary—Tony chose to stay. Carried the burden. Poured himself into recovery. Reimagined the brand. Weathered unprecedented financial, cultural, and structural storms. Most would’ve handed over the keys, sold off assets, or faded quietly. Tony? He re‑framed the question: how do we rebuild? He didn’t sugar‑coat the pain—but he didn’t quit either. A “never say die” attitude grounded in accountability—he didn’t run. A bold, forward‑thinking vision: from digital pivot to new hubs and Europe plans. Will to do the right thing when it mattered: lean in, not bail out.

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📚 The Truth Behind “Rejected Due to Insufficient Japanese” 📚 ❌ “Rejected due to insufficient Japanese(日本語力不足でお見送り)” — a phrase many foreign job seekers often hear when applying to Japanese companies. But what does “insufficient” really mean? 🤔 As a recruiter with a background in Japanese language education, I’d like to share the key checkpoints companies actually look at when evaluating candidates’ Japanese ability. 🔑 What Japanese Companies Look At 1️⃣ Experience using Japanese at work → Using Japanese in real work builds strong trust. Even part-time customer service counts as valuable experience. 2️⃣ Listening ability 👂Can you understand instructions and put them into action? In Japan, attentive listening is highly valued. 👉 If you often need to ask for repetition during an interview, it shows you need to improve listening skills. In the short term, learning polite ways to ask for clarification can also be very effective. 3️⃣ Relevance of answers 🎯 Answer exactly what was asked. Going off-topic or speaking too long can hurt your impression. 4️⃣ Cultural adaptability 🌸 Language and culture go hand in hand. Companies unconsciously evaluate whether you can: ✓ Say “ありがとうございます” or “申し訳ございません” naturally ✓ Use appropriate aizuchi (backchannel responses) ✓ Smile and be approachable 5️⃣ Pronunciation 🗣️ A slight accent is fine. But if it makes communication difficult, it may lower your evaluation. 👉 Of course, this also depends on your team’s diversity and the international balance of members! 6️⃣ Logical communication 📝 Explaining in the order of Conclusion → Reason → Summary earns high marks. Ex.） Q:今までのプロジェクトで一番成果を出せた実績と、どうしてそう思うのか理由を教えてください。 A:前職で担当した データ処理パイプラインの改善プロジェクト で、処理速度と安定性を大幅に向上させたことを成果の一つと考えています。 当時は古いスクリプトで冗長なロジックが多く、平均処理時間が10分以上かかっていましたが、新しいライブラリを導入して設計を見直し、コードを簡潔にしました。その結果、処理速度は約3倍、平均処理時間も10分から3分に短縮でき、障害も減少しました。この成果を出せたのは、ユーザーの声を丁寧に聞き取り、原因を正しく把握して無駄な処理を削減できたからだと考えています。 💡 Takeaway When companies say “insufficient Japanese”, they’re not just looking at JLPT scores. They want to know: ➡️ How smoothly can you communicate in real work situations? 🌱 Language learning never ends. But by focusing on these checkpoints, you can improve your impression dramatically. ✨ You don’t need to be perfect — just start small and improve step by step. Especially ④ and ⑥ can be trained even in the short term! 💪 Let’s work on it together!

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Rather than searching for jobs, you should conduct a thorough self-analysis. By conducting a self-analysis, you will be able to clearly see what you need to appeal to the company and how you should appeal to them, which will ultimately help you pass the interview. Honestly, if you can speak Japanese fluently, you don't need the JLPT. https://lnkd.in/gVTqk8HE Before searching for a job, first analyze yourself https://lnkd.in/gjCGpU9U

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🚀 Apologizing with grace in Japanese business settings is crucial when making difficult requests. Here’s a must-know phrase to show respect and humility: 「ご無理を言って申し訳ございません。」 Romaji: Gomuri wo itte mōshiwake gozaimasen. Meaning: “I’m terribly sorry for asking you to do something unreasonable.” 🔍 Phrase Breakdown: • ご無理 (gomuri): “Unreasonable request” • を言って (wo itte): “For saying” • 申し訳ございません (mōshiwake gozaimasen): Formal apology 💼 Keigo Type: Humble language (謙譲語 kenjōgo)—used to lower yourself and show deference. 📌 Use Cases: • Asking a colleague to work overtime • Making a tight deadline request • Apologizing for an inconvenient favor 💬 Mastering phrases like this builds trust and cross-cultural respect. 👇 Have you used keigo at work before? Share your tips! #BusinessJapanese #JapaneseLearning #Keigo #LanguageTips

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