Gaishikei up or out culture. What to expect?

Got contacted by an internal recruiter from this consulting firm that is known to pay really good money, but also notorious for long work hours and high turnover rate. I attended their information session, and even then they mentioned about not expecting employees to stay with them for a long time and it is up or out.

I know in Japan if you are a seishain, by law it is hard to cut you off unless you f*ed up real bad. But I heard that gaishikei has their way to work around this law, and will terminate you when they don’t need you anymore. Anyone here can share their experience?

I’m currently working in a Japanese company, and I don’t hate it. Decent pay, very chill working culture, definitely very white, but not that much room to grow. I’m wondering whether it will be worth it to trade job stability and good mental health for a 30% salary bump.

4 comments
  1. While I think the law probably favors workers more….

    -If they fire you unjustly, the burden of litigating is on you which isn’t easy or inexpensive (and they probably know that).

    -If you don’t quit as they “suggest,” they could still pile unreasonable requests which could take a mental toll on you. It could be stuff like more boss meetings, revoking WFH privileges or other microaggressions. No compensation is worth sacrificing mental health over.

  2. Haha no way. Unless you fit culturally your going to hate it from day 3

    Usually consulting firms will give you 6 months of paid leave to find a new job if they want you out. If you have done a few projects in consulting you can kind of find your way back to that industry

  3. I’m currently probably doing what you’re thinking of doing. If you have any specific questions DM me.

    With regards to your question:

    Work is engagement(project) based. You are assigned based on previous experience and internal ‘reputation’. No, they can’t fire you but they can make it impossible for you to hit KPI’s and reduce your salary etc to the point you have no option but to quit.

    It is Up or out, but like you correctly said, Japanese companies provide very little (read zero) room for growth in general. The opposite is true for the type of company you will be interviewing for.

  4. For a 30% up? Not worth it. If they actually say up or out, if it’s not McK or BCG the pay is not worth it for the type of work imo.

    Tips OP if you’re in it for the raise, I’d suggest a PM related role, as they pay quite high as well. Should be up to par to consulting pay up to senior consultant level. The idea being in consulting is to make it to at least engagement/consultant manager level to really see the salary mooning. If not, a general PM work will be much more humane.

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