CEL OGIYA
Published on September 30, 2025
Finding the right candidates is important, but we also believe effective recruitment means sharing our values and connecting with people who align with our mission. Joining the Tokyo Summer Career Forum 2025, held at Tokyo Big Sight from June 28 to 29, gave us the opportunity to actively engage with top talent and showcase our commitment to embracing diversity, fostering a global mindset, and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.
With over 6,000 student attendees and 215 participating global companies, this year’s career forum provided an exceptional opportunity to introduce HENNGE to local and international candidates. For us, success is measured not just by numbers but by impact, collaboration, and growth of a team that makes technology accessible to all.
Strategic Recruitment Approach
At the Tokyo Summer Career Forum, HENNGE connected with a diverse group of students from leading universities in Japan and across the globe to attract new graduate talent for sales and technical positions, as well as candidates for internship programs. Participating local institutions included Waseda University, Keio University, Sophia University, and the University of Tokyo. International representation came from the University of Toronto, Monash University Malaysia, the University of British Columbia, and the Australian National University.
“HENNGE was looking to connect with globally minded, intellectually curious students who are passionate about technology and eager to take on new challenges,” says Rena Kurata of the People Division, New Graduate Talent Acquisition Section. “In particular, we were seeking bilingual candidates who are comfortable working in both English and Japanese and thrive in a fast-paced, international environment.”
To attract a strong pool of candidates, HENNGE set an ambitious KPI for pre-event application and surpassed its goal thanks to a strategic recruitment approach and outreach strategy. HENNGE’s booth attracted strong interest, with 234 students attending the information sessions followed by meaningful and engaging Q&As. To enhance engagement, HENNGE distributed practical giveaways, such as wireless chargers, mints, and tote bags.
HENNGE organized company information sessions primarily for Japanese students interested in business generalist roles, with some participation from international students. For engineering positions, the sessions were mainly geared toward international candidates. Information sessions highlighted career growth opportunities in the tech industry and introduced HENNGE’s diverse, bottom-up culture.
With a flat organizational structure, the company values every voice, regardless of role or seniority. As a fast-growing tech company, its adoption of English as the official language reflects a strong commitment to inclusivity and global collaboration.
During the Q&A sessions, students primarily asked about the gap between their expectations before joining a company and their actual experiences. Topics included job scope and responsibilities, work environment, and opportunities for career growth. Other key areas of interest were the benefits and advantages of working for SaaS companies, as well as the differences between SaaS sales and sales in other industries.
Many students were also curious about HENNGE’s office culture, particularly the free address seating system and the use of both English and Japanese. In addition, the opportunity to work in an English-speaking environment and the range of challenges available to new graduates resonated strongly with attendees.
GIP Expands Reach to Include Domestic and Global Candidates
One of the opportunities promoted at the forum was HENNGE’s Global Internship Program (GIP), which welcomes globally minded candidates—from bilingual Japanese students to international students and recent graduates worldwide. The GIP selection process includes a coding challenge to assess technical skills, while soft skills are evaluated through cover letters and interviews. While some similar programs may require at least basic Japanese skills, GIP is conducted entirely in English, which allows candidates from around the world to participate.
HENNGE’s English-first approach attracts a diverse talent pool, and the opportunity to collaborate with international colleagues is a major draw for participants. Domestic candidates are uniquely positioned to bridge communication with their cultural fluency and language skills, and many also plan to remain in Japan after graduation.
Strong Cross-Team Collaboration
Throughout the two-day event, HENNGE stood out for its genuinely global work environment, commitment to innovation in SaaS and cloud security, and a transparent, mission-driven culture. Participants were impressed by the company’s flat organizational structure, diverse team, and strong emphasis on granting autonomy and ownership to all employees, including new graduates.
The event’s success was made possible by agile, cross-departmental collaboration, with members from Talent Acquisition, Sales, and Customer Success working together as a unified team.
Kickstart your global career with hands-on experience in Tokyo. Join HENNGE’s Global Internship Program and work on real projects, grow your skills with mentorship, and discover how far your talent can take you—no matter your background or seniority. Apply for the Global Internship Program here.