Malaysia Is Closer Than You Think

Agensi Pekerjaan Asia Recruit Sdn Bhd (Asia Recruit)
Japanese Talent Team (From left to right: Amy Akimoto, Masako Mori, Maho Shiraiwa, Mami Shiga)

Interviewer: Kyoungjoon Jung, Daijob.com Media Sales Division
Produced by: Daijob.com Editorial Team

When Japanese professionals consider international careers, Western destinations such as the United States, Australia, or Europe are often top of mind. Meanwhile, Malaysia remains an overlooked opportunity for many job seekers.

Operating in Malaysia for over two decades, Asia Recruit has been bridging this gap. Its dedicated Japan Talent Team, established in 2016, extends its services beyond traditional recruitment to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end relocation guidance—from housing searches and living expense benchmarks to local healthcare resources.

Having integrated Daijob.com into its hiring strategy in 2022, Asia Recruit has built nearly five years of continuous recruitment success. We spoke with Masako Mori from the Japan Talent Team about the strategic potential of Malaysia and why Daijob.com remains their platform of choice.

Mori: Our core focus is assisting professionals transitioning from Japan to opportunities in Malaysia. What distinguishes our approach from domestic recruitment agencies is our holistic support—we advise candidates on every aspect of living and relocating abroad. Beyond practical guidance on housing, local dining, rent expectations, and Japanese amenities, we address granular, everyday concerns—whether it’s local pest control, pollen allergy conditions, or access to Japanese-speaking medical clinics. Supporting every facet of a candidate's transition is central to our mission. 

Photo: A glimpse into Asia Recruit's vibrant, multinational office. Japanese staff collaborate seamlessly alongside local colleagues, fostering an inclusive cross-cultural work environment.

Founded in 2003 as a local Malaysian enterprise, Asia Recruit brings over two decades of industry expertise. In 2016, the firm joined the Will Group and launched its dedicated Japan Talent Team. Today, a team of four Japanese consultants manages the full recruitment cycle, from client development to candidate advisory.

Mori: Each of our four team members brings over five years of personal experience living and working abroad. I spent five years in Singapore and nearly five years in Malaysia. Our colleagues bring combined experience across Malaysia, South Korea, and China. Because we have personally navigated international relocation, we offer insights that genuinely resonate with candidates.

Mori: Platform usability is a major advantage. More importantly, Daijob.com consistently delivers strong placement results year after year, making it an indispensable part of our recruitment stack. The interface is equally intuitive for job seekers, and continuous enhancements to the Scout feature have driven increasingly strong response rates. Because registered candidates are actively seeking overseas opportunities, direct outreach is exceptionally effective.

Photo: Industry awards decorating the office, including the SEEK People & Purpose Awards 2026 'Top Voted Employer Platinum Award' [Recruitment Firm Category · Overall Winner] and the 'SEEK People & Purpose Excellence Award 2026

Mori: During the current fiscal period starting in April, we secured approximately 10 successful hires and job offers within just six months. Our volume of initial consultations and formal applications is substantially higher.

Photo: Traditional Malaysian refreshments shared in the office. Cultural engagement events offer team members an authentic connection to local heritage.

Mori: While we utilize other recruitment platforms, we treat them as complementary channels. Different platforms attract distinct candidate profiles, so we maintain a diversified sourcing mix. In addition to job postings and direct scouting on Daijob.com, we run collaborative email campaigns with our Japanese group affiliates and engage talent across social media, official LINE channels, company blogs, and dedicated landing pages.

We conduct thorough consultations not only with active job seekers, but also with passive candidates in the early research phase, helping them build a realistic picture of life and work in Malaysia.

Mori: While our current listings focus heavily on BPO and customer support roles, we see growing demand for highly specialized specialized professional roles. Moving forward, we aim to refine our search and sourcing techniques for specialized fields. Furthermore, many professionals considering international careers do not initially think of Malaysia—they often look toward Australia, the US, or Europe first. We would welcome platform features on Daijob.com that proactively raise awareness of Malaysia—for example, algorithmic candidate recommendations that highlight Malaysia as an optimal career match based on a user's skills and profile.

When planning an international career move, many professionals naturally focus on Western markets first. However, Malaysia offers a highly accessible, welcoming environment for Japanese expatriates, along with valuable opportunities to collaborate within a diverse, multicultural ecosystem. Asia Recruit’s commitment to supporting both professional career paths and day-to-day lifestyle integration—combined with nearly five years of candidate-sourcing expertise on Daijob.com—makes international relocation far more attainable. Through intuitive job listings and direct scouting capabilities, Daijob.com remains dedicated to connecting global professionals with forward-thinking employers across Japan and Asia.

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