#Japan #Tokyo #LinkedIn #FORWARD #Ace Job

Partnership Announcement: Forward and LinkedIn Collaborate on AI Recruitment

In a significant move for the Japanese employment market, Forward Inc., headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, has announced a strategic partnership with LinkedIn Japan, a leading professional network boasting over 1.3 billion users worldwide. LinkedIn is widely acknowledged for its versatile business platform, providing an array of features including recruitment, learning, and advertising functionalities, forming one of the top HR Tech ecosystems globally. This partnership is expected to amplify the effectiveness of Forward’s AI recruitment solution, Ace Job, which has already seen LinkedIn as a pivotal channel in producing results.

Growing Use of LinkedIn in Japan

As the use of LinkedIn continues to surge in Japan, reaching a member base expected to exceed 5 million by December 2025, it has become an indispensable tool for companies focusing on recruitment. This platform's growing presence offers unique capabilities to connect with 'latent job changers' who may not be actively seeking new opportunities but are open to discussions about potential careers.

Overview of the Partnership

Recognizing the proven success of LinkedIn in recruitment endeavors, Forward initiated discussions to formalize this partnership. LinkedIn shares Forward's vision and operational approach, facilitating a collaboration designed to boost recruitment outcomes through enhanced operational design and execution support. The partnership will affect not only recruitment agencies but also various business enterprises.

Key Initiatives

• - For recruitment agencies: Implementation and enhancement of RPS (Recruiter Professional Services).
• - For businesses: Designing and improving company and career pages alongside job postings and recruiter engagement strategies.

Achievements of Forward on LinkedIn

Utilizing LinkedIn for recruitment, Forward has achieved notable results in a short span. A case study involving PORT Co., an agency specializing in high-level placements, demonstrates this success:

• - Duration: 4 months
• - Sent InMails: 166
• - Response Rate: 28%
• - Meetings Scheduled: 30
• - Hires Made: 3
• - Revenue Generated: 17.5 million yen
• - Highlights: Included two CFOs with over 20 million yen annual salaries within the four-month time frame.

Objectives of the Partnership

This strategic collaboration focuses on maximizing recruitment effectiveness and improving operational reproducibility:
1. Maximizing Results: Enhance approaches to the latent and high-level talent, thereby decreasing the time taken to generate impactful outcomes.
2. Improving Operational Reproducibility: Move away from labor-intensive processes by structuring operations aided by AI and support resources for sustainable results.
3. Fostering Long-term Growth: Strengthening trust between recruitment firms and media platforms creates a more reliable operational environment for clients.
4. Moving Away from Scraping Reliance: Many service providers rely excessively on scraping techniques, which LinkedIn explicitly forbids. Forward ensures that operations are conducted within LinkedIn’s established guidelines, fostering sustainable outcomes.

Launch of Ace Job x LinkedIn Exclusive Plan

To commemorate the partnership, Forward is rolling out an exclusive plan combining Ace Job with LinkedIn functionalities. This plan encompasses various aspects, including target designation, operational design, candidate prioritization, and ongoing support with weekly reporting and recommendations to enhance recruitment outcomes.

Commemorative Event Announcement

To celebrate the new partnership, Forward and LinkedIn Japan will host a joint event at LinkedIn’s Tokyo office. The first event will cater specifically to individuals involved in recruitment business or those contemplating starting such services:

• - Event Name: Strategies for Attracting High-Level Talent in the LinkedIn Era
• - Date and Time: April 9, 2026, 18:30 to 20:30
• - Venue: LinkedIn Japan Office, Tokyo Midtown Tower, Akasaka 9-7-2, Tokyo
• - Admission: Free with a capacity of 100 attendees (pre-registration required)

During this event, participants will gain insights into leveraging LinkedIn effectively, understanding recruitment design, and learning from successful case studies.

Comments from Key Figures

According to Wakana Tanaka, the Japan representative of LinkedIn, the global labor market is experiencing a shift bolstered by AI, necessitating immediate adaptation in the requisite skills. The integration of Forward’s unique recruitment strategies with LinkedIn’s extensive member base holds great promise for meeting the evolving needs of the labor market.

Kohei Nagoya, President of Forward, emphasized the significance of meticulous platform selection and operational strategies to ensure successful recruitment outcomes. He asserts that collaborating with LinkedIn, a recognized leader in the industry, will greatly enhance recruitment experiences for both job agencies and corporate businesses.

About Forward Inc.

Founded on March 1st, 2023, Forward Inc. specializes in AI SaaS and professional recruitment services, with a headquarter in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company pushes boundaries in HR tech through innovative approaches to recruitment and talent acquisition.