HLJ is Hiring Wholesale Salespeople

Thanks for your interest in our employment offer. HobbyLink Japan is currently accepting employment applications for sales positions in our wholesale client team. Below you'll find the answers to most of the questions you probably have about us, and the jobs being offered.

Q: What is HobbyLink Japan?

A: HLJ is an internet mail-order company offering Japanese hobby products and toys. We ship a full selection of plastic models, figures, toys and related books to retail and wholesale customers around the world. If you're not familiar with our company, please see our main web page for a feel of what we're doing. The company was founded in 1995 by Scott T. Hards, an American who worked in a Japanese bank and a financial services firm for eight years before setting out on his own. At present, we have a staff of 14 people.

Q: Internet mail-order? That means you're about to bankrupt like all those other dot-coms, right?

A: Actually no. Thanks to growing world-wide popularity of Japanese pop culture and other factors, our sales have increased an average of 40 percent every year since we started. We posted sales of over 800 million yen in 2002, our sixth year as a company. More importantly, we actually earn money. We've grown our business as actual sales have permitted, rather then setting up vast amounts of excess capacity with somebody else's money, the cause of the downfall of so many e-commerce companies. The size of our business (i.e. expenses) reflects reality rather than some analyst's projection. We have no outside investors who might terminate their support, either. The company was built entirely with the owner's personal savings and bank loans.

Q: What exactly is the job you're hiring for?

A: As mentioned above, we need two staff members to boost our wholesale sales team. About 30% of our sales are to hobby shops, importers and dealers around the world, and our automated web order systems are unable to handle complicated wholesale transactions. So sales staff members work closely with the clients every step of the way in processing their orders, from the first e-mail from the client requesting product, all the way to packing the boxes and even helping load the truck. Of the two staff members we hire, one of them should be a person with a strong sales background with previous employers, able to lead an international team of client reps. If you decide to apply, please indicate whether you're applying for the Sr. Sales Representative position, or regular Sales Representative position.

Q: How much does the job pay?

A: Depending on your qualifications and experience, your starting salary will be anywhere from 300,000 yen/month to 450,000 yen/month. Though this is a sales position, we do not use a commission system at this time. Bonuses are paid twice a year, but vary significantly based on company and individual performance. Transportation costs are also paid. All Japanese national holidays are vacations. Additional time off is granted in mid-August and year-end. Each staff member also gets 10 days/year of paid vacation. Full national health and social insurance benefits are also provided.

Q. What qualifications are necessary to be hired?

A: Succesful applicants for the positions being offered should have the following skills and experience:

Skills/Qualifications

You must currently reside in Japan and have a valid employment visa (if not a citizen).
You must have native-level ability in English, both spoken and written.
You should be able to speak enough Japanese for day-to-day living and communications with our staff, most of whom are Japanese.
Regardles of language used, you should be a strong communicator, both in the written and spoken word.
You should be thoroughly familiar with all aspects of personal computers (Mac or some other system), including e-mail, web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets and more.
You should be a self-starter; you'll be expected to know what to do without being told.
You should share our strong interest in/love of Japanese anime, science-fiction, military subjects, plastic models and toys.

Experience

Applicants for either position should have some experience in a sales position that involved working directly with clients to meet their needs and close the sale.
Applicants for the Sr. Sales Representative position should have a very strong background in sales (minimum 3-4 years), and have a track record of meeting sales targets in a high-pressure environment. Detail this background in your application if you are interested in this position. In addition, candidates who have experience in overseeing other members of a sales team, or demonstrate strong leadership qualities in an interview will be favored.

Q. Where are you located?

A: In Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture (pop. 75,000), about 70km north of central Tokyo. Because of the need for large amounts of warehouse space, it is not practical to run a business like this in an urban area. Though Gunma sounds far, Tokyo is only an hour away via the Tohoku Expressway, or the Tobu Rail Line into Kita-Senju and Asakusa. Commuting from Tokyo or Saitama is possible, but not recommended, unless it's by car. If you live in Tokyo or further from our location, you should be prepared to relocate to work for us.

Q. What is the environment like?

A: We are probably one of the most casual firms in the world. Suits/ties/skirts are never seen at work. Working hours are extremely flexible. You can even work from home once in a while. On the downside, though our offices are air-conditioned, the job frequently requires you to work in our warehouse, which is not. Nor is it heated in the winter. Our warehouse and offices are surrounded by vegetable patches. It's a very quiet setting. We have a dog. The neighbors bring over vegetables once in a while...things like that. It's completely different from working in the noise, congestion and high-cost environment of a big city. That means there's no Starbucks and virtually no nightlife locally. It also means you can live in a huge 3LDK apartment for 50,000 yen/month, or less, as well as own a car and never have problems parking.

Q. Okay, I'm interested! How do I apply?

A: Send your resume and cover letter by e-mail to scott@hlj.com, either as the body text of your message, or as an attachment. Sorry, no phone calls or faxes. Tell us why you think the job sounds interesting. Make sure you detail your language skills (including any languages besides Japanese and English) and also describe your computer skills and experience. Tell us about your hobby-related interests, too. Explain which of the two positions you are applying for and why. Tell us why you left your previous job. Tell us anything else you want to! Then wait to hear back from us by e-mail.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and we look forward to hearing from you!