Exploring the New Standard in Recruitment: Choosing Candidates Based on Style Over Specifications

A New Era in Recruitment Through Style Matching

On August 5, 2025, a groundbreaking event took place at the HR Library, located in the Chuo Ward of Tokyo. This gathering aimed to address a significant challenge many companies face today: the evolving landscape of recruitment. As companies increasingly struggle to fill positions with suitable talent, reliance on traditional metrics like salary and benefits—termed 'specifications'—is becoming inadequate. This event was a significant part of the community's initiative to shift the focus towards a concept known as 'style matching'.

The Concept of Style Matching

The overarching argument was that in an era where candidates’ values are changing, their preference for a workplace is heavily influenced by the culture, relationships, and working conditions—what can collectively be referred to as 'style'. Understanding what aligns between a candidate's style and the company's work environment can make the difference in attracting the right talent. This idea forms the crux of the newly published book, 'The New Standards of Recruitment', authored by Mr. Masashi Akiyama, CEO of No Company, who was also the featured speaker at the event.

Event Highlights

The event kicked off at 19:00 and concluded at 21:30, with attendees coming together to explore innovative hiring strategies focused on style matching. Mr. Akiyama led sessions that detailed the practical framework of this new approach, helping participants grasp how to implement these insights into their hiring strategies. The hands-on workshops encouraged attendees to articulate their company's unique styles, ensuring they can navigate the complexities of recruitment in a more informed way.

Participant Reactions

Feedback following the event indicated high satisfaction among attendees, with many expressing that they gained valuable insights. Comments from participants included:

- 'This was an invaluable opportunity to learn about recruitment marketing. I was able to articulate my company's style and can't wait to take these insights back to my team.'
- 'I realized how little I had considered my competitors in recruitment. There's much more analysis to be done regarding both my company and our competitors.'
- 'The framework for articulating style through business, relationships, work, and actions was very clear and immediately applicable.'
- 'I came to appreciate the importance of focusing on style rather than specifications. Understanding how candidates perceive us is crucial moving forward.'

Outcomes and Future Directions

The event's core achievement was empowering participants with fresh perspectives and actionable plans for their recruitment processes. This newfound knowledge not only equips them to adopt innovative recruitment practices but also fosters connections with others facing similar challenges.

The HR Library is dedicated to its tagline, 'Learning with Friends to Open a New Future', and is committed to providing valuable resources and networking opportunities in the HR domain. They plan to introduce ongoing events focused on recent trends and persistent challenges in recruitment, enabling professionals to stay informed and connected.

Future events will be announced on the HR Library's official website and social media channels, thus encouraging continued engagement in the community.

About the HR Library

Established on April 1, 2024, the HR Library is a coworking space and community hub located in Nihonbashi, offering a rich collection of over 2,500 HR-related books and serving more than 700 members. Its operations are centered around the motto of fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among HR professionals.