Hello, I'm Paul Roberts...
I’ve been a tech recruiter in Tokyo since 1999. Over the years, I’ve helped hundreds of IT people find the next step in their careers and partnered with dozens of companies (including some of the biggest global names in technology, banking, insurance, and more) in their hiring of talent.
If you’re looking for a tech job in Japan or hiring for your team, you’ve come to the right place. Search my job board for IT jobs in Japan that I’m working on as an agent and for direct job listings from selected partner companies, or contact me for advice anytime.
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I’m one of the few Tokyo IT recruiters with a hands-on technical background, making it easier for both my clients and candidates to get the results they are looking for. But mine is a human business at heart, and I pride myself on a reputation for taking care of the people I’m working with, on both the candidate and client sides.
This is my personal site – a space to write about topics that interest me, such as recruitment, tech, living & working in Japan, the stories of some of the fascinating people I’ve met, and anything else that piques my curiosity.
Latest Articles
Job Hunting Advice for Bootcamp Grads (& others) in Japan – A Guide
I’m often contacted by bootcamp grads in Japan who are looking for help finding an entry-level software engineering role here. Although I’m not usually in a position to help directly
Recommendations of books, podcasts, games, movies & TV from my interview guests
I ask everyone I interview for recommendations of their favourite or recent books, movies, TV shows, games, and podcasts. This page is a running compendium of their recommendations, along with
Profile #21: Philippe Khin – Solo founder of SewaYou
Paul: Philippe Khin is the Tokyo-based founder of SewaYou, an app that helps you easily find language partners in your area. Philippe and I talked about him coming to Japan
Profile #20: James Balcombe – software engineer at MODE, Tokyo
Paul: James Balcombe pivoted his career from international school computer science teacher to software engineer at a startup in Tokyo. James and I spoke about his early interest in computers,
Profile #19: Jayson Cunanan – AI engineer, mathematician, guitarist
Paul: Jayson Cunanan moved to Japan from the Philippines in 2011 to follow his dream of using higher education to find a better life. Jayson and I spoke about his
Profile #18: Drew Terry – founder of OpenSalary.jp
Paul: Drew Terry is the founder of OpenSalary.jp, a website promoting salary transparency for the tech community in Japan. Drew and I spoke about starting his career as a software
Profile #17: Raymond Murphy – Tokyo-based creator & marketing creative and now founder of the Irish apparel brand ‘Cnota Gaelach’
Paul: Raymond Murphy is a creator and marketing creative who first arrived in Japan in 2004. He launched ‘Cnota Gaelach’, a Tokyo-based Irish apparel brand in 2021. Raymond and I
Profile #16: John Rajeski – Silicon Valley veteran, educator, mentor, data analyst
Paul: John Rajeski is an aspiring people / data analyst, a recent global educator, and a former Silicon Valley start-up co-founder. John and I spoke about his early career in
Profile #15: Arnout Hemel – Product Management leader, new Tokyo resident, adventurer
Paul: With 15+ years experience in Product Management, Arnout Hemel’s team at Grab in Singapore grew GrabInsure into one of the largest InsureTechs in South East Asia. Arnout relocated to
Featured Articles
Job Hunting Advice for Bootcamp Grads (& others) in Japan – A Guide
I’m often contacted by bootcamp grads in Japan who are looking for help finding an entry-level software engineering role here. Although I’m not usually in a position to help directly
Recommendations of books, podcasts, games, movies & TV from my interview guests
I ask everyone I interview for recommendations of their favourite or recent books, movies, TV shows, games, and podcasts. This page is a running compendium of their recommendations, along with
Profile #10: Miho Tanaka – supporting entrepreneurship in Shibuya
Paul: A recent introduction to Miho Tanaka from Sasha at Le Wagon Tokyo was a case of perfect timing, as I’d just been reading about Miho’s work at Startup Welcome
Profile #4: Ji Youn Yoo – In-house recruiter at Google
Paul: Ji Youn Yoo is an in-house recruiter at Google’s Tokyo office in Shibuya Stream. We worked together a few years ago in the IT team of a recruiting agency
Profile #3: Asumi Saito – co-founder of Waffle.org
Paul: Asumi Saito is a young data scientist turned non-profit organisation founder from Tokyo. We met over Skype in 2017 when Asumi had just finished her master’s degree at the
How to Write an IT Resume for Japan – A Guide
I’m often asked how to write an IT resume for the Japan market. Over the past 20 years, I’ve read thousands of resumes written by IT people from all over