Wanted: Failure Talent. The new job-hunting model for an era where "you can't wait three years on a stone."

<Table of Contents>
▼Bringing Values That Will Become "Commonplace" to the Forefront
▼Focus on Academic Strengths, Not Just Achievements
▼Today's Youth "Can't Wait Three Years on a Rock"
▼From "Company Hunting" to True "Job Hunting"

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Bringing Values That Will Become "Commonplace" to the Forefront

Dentsu Inc. Youth Research Department (Dentsu Inc. Wakamon), whose slogan is "Designing the Future from the Youth," defines young people not by age or generational theory, but as "the first to become new."

Research (Cabinet Office, 2018 Annual Economic and Fiscal Report) indicates Japan's overall innovation capability ranking has declined in recent years. Why don't innovative services like Uber or Airbnb emerge from Japan?

One possible reason is that young people have limited opportunities to engage with society. As symbolized by the term "society member," there may be a disconnect between the "before" and "after" of society, separating young people (students) from the wider world.

Both Uber and Airbnb transformed business models around values that were becoming commonplace for young people, such as "there's no need to own things."

It's not yet commonplace, but it will become so.

If we could create more opportunities for young people—who embody this future just half a step ahead—to engage with society, it would surely boost Japan's innovation capabilities.

Therefore, aiming to realize a society where young people can challenge themselves without fear of failure, Dentsu Inc. Wakamon launched the "Failure Talent Project" with the career support NPO Encourage. As a first step, in January 2020, they held a career event called the "Failure Briefing Session," where companies and students shared only their stories of failure.

The event brought together approximately 40 student "failure talents" selected in advance via application forms and seven companies ranging from major Japanese corporations to foreign-affiliated firms and cutting-edge startups.

Companies participating in the "Failure Briefing" were CyberAgent, Seino Holdings, Salesforce.com, TBM, Dentsu Inc., Voicy, and Mitsui & Co. (listed in Japanese syllabary order).

Focusing on "Gakushitsu" Instead of "Gakuchika"

The focus was on the term "Gakushitsu," which has become a staple in job hunting.

"Gakuchika" is short for "what you focused on during your student days." Searching for it brings up results like "how to write your Gakuchika" and "10 sample Gakuchika statements."

Job hunting isn't just about conforming to the "looks" of the style – makeup, clothing, etc. – there's also pressure to conform to what you say. People tend to stick to superficial platitudes and cookie-cutter self-promotion.

What we want students to share at this event isn't their "Gakuchika," but their "Gakushitsu" – their "failures during their student years." Of course, we don't want them to justify their failures or boast about them. We want to hear how they perceived the world at that time and what they wanted to change. By naming those who undertook such purposeful challenges but failed "failure assets," we aimed to increase the number of young people who dare to challenge themselves without fearing failure.

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Today's youth "can't wait three years on a rock"

A survey conducted by Dentsu Inc. Wakamon among university students nationwide revealed that over 80% believe they would quit within three years if they didn't find their job fulfilling at the company they joined.

Source: Circle Up Survey, Survey Period: February 16-20, 2020, Survey Participants: 186 university students (first to fourth year) registered on the university club-specific app "Circle Up"

Today's youth "can't wait three years on a rock."

That's precisely why, in job hunting, we need to create a space where companies and students are on equal footing to determine compatibility—not just a scenario where companies select students.

At the Failure Briefing, the goal was not to focus on the "What" or "How" of what they were tackling, but rather to create opportunities for companies and students to connect on the underlying "Why" – the reason they took on the challenge – by sharing stories of failure.

As online interviews become more common, it's harder to gauge the other person's passion and humanity ( ) compared to offline meetings. This makes it even more crucial for companies to delve deeper into the "Why" of the student sitting on the other side of the screen.

From "Company Hunting" to True "Job Hunting"

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly accelerated the adoption of remote work, and the norms and assumptions surrounding "work" are changing at an unprecedented pace. The future of work, with no single right answer, is moving toward an era where each individual must invent their own path, rather than simply choosing from existing options.

If past job hunting was about joining a company ("joining a company"), the future will accelerate true "job hunting" rooted in each individual's will and questions. Work styles that don't involve employment at a single company are diversifying, making the notion that "employment means joining a company" outdated. More people will define their own professional roles and choose freelance paths, or opt for "employment" that involves parallel work at multiple companies rather than starting at one company right after graduation.

At Dentsu Inc. Wakamon, we challenge ourselves to create new relationships between young people and society through the redesign of job hunting activities, including joint information sessions, internships, and recruitment communication development.

A planning & creative unit that thoroughly explores the realities of young people in their teens and twenties, primarily high school and university students, seeking insights to build better relationships between youth and society.
https://dentsu-wakamon.com/