Record of 4 Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises That Changed "Zero Applicants." Recruitment Transformation Stories Begin Serializing on Owned Media from June 24

SKETCH Inc. (Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Yuichi Sakane) has begun serializing a "Transformation Story Collection" on its owned media (SKETCH MEDIA), which summarizes the actual changes in recruitment activities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Vol.01 records how four SMEs, which had almost zero applicants at the time support began, transformed their recruitment activities.

Background of the Initiative

"We post job openings, but no one applies" is not a problem faced by only a few companies. Many SMEs we have supported were initially in the same situation.

When faced with such circumstances, many managers begin to think, "Our company lacks appeal." Location, salary, name recognition—once caught in a loop of self-deprecation, their motivation for recruitment activities wanes.

However, in reality, the problem is often not a "lack of appeal."

It's that the appeal is not verbalized, or it's not being presented where the target audience can see it—

That's almost always the case.

We wanted to deliver records of companies that changed their recruitment activities from similar situations to managers and recruitment staff who feel isolated, thinking, "We're the only ones not succeeding." The Transformation Story Collection began with this desire. We will serialize it not as an explanation of know-how, but as a record of companies that actually took action.

Content of Vol.01

The theme of Vol.01 is "It Started with 'Zero Applicants.' The Stories of 4 SMEs Whose Recruitment Activities Began to Move."

We featured four companies with different industries, regions, and scales.

Story 1 | Construction & Equipment Industry x Kyushu (Fewer than 20 employees)

With the youngest employee in their mid-30s, they had been in a situation with no employees in their 20s. Through interviews with employees, we unearthed "unrecognized appeal" and redesigned the job postings and the entire recruitment activity. In six months, this led to over 10 applicants and the hiring of 4 people, including those in their 20s and 30s.

Story 2 | Dental Clinic x Hokuriku (18 employees)

Despite reservations being booked months in advance, they had zero applicants in the past year. Assuming the recruitment staff would be juggling other duties, we designed not only "what to do" but also "what not to do." In six months, this resulted in 7 applicants and the hiring of 2 people, including a dentist.

Story 3 | Construction Industry x Tohoku (10 employees)

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, the number of employees was halved, and recruitment activities had stalled. Starting with the decision of the second-generation president, we simultaneously built the foundation for recruitment activities and trained staff. After the support, the recruitment staff changed to say, "Recruitment is so much fun!" leading to 5 applicants and 3 hires.

Story 4 | Manufacturing (Automotive Parts) x Chugoku Region (Approx. 30 employees)

With continuous zero applicants, there were even statements from management such as "scaling back operations may be unavoidable." By quantifying the current situation and establishing a recruitment system that multiple people could operate, we achieved 30 applicants and 11 hires. This turned the crisis of business contraction into business expansion.

Future Communications

The Transformation Story Collection will be updated irregularly with different themes.

Vol.02 is planned to focus on "Recruitment Costs." We will deliver case studies of successful cost optimization, such as businesses that significantly reduced their annual recruitment expenses of 6 million yen, and a medical corporation that brought its recruitment cost per hire close to zero.

Who Should Read This

Those who continue recruitment activities but receive few applicants

Those who don't know what to change and let time pass in the current situation

Those who have outsourced recruitment activities and have no in-house know-how

Those who do not have a dedicated recruitment staff, or whose staff are juggling recruitment with other duties and cannot dedicate enough time

Recruitment activities can be changed even without a large budget or being a famous company.

Companies that tried to change, actually changed.

We hope the records of these four companies will serve as a catalyst for readers to think, "Maybe we can do it too."

Transformation Story Collection Vol.01

Title: "It Started with 'Zero Applicants.' The Stories of 4 SMEs Whose Recruitment Activities Began to Move."

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About SKETCH Inc.

【It's Time for Change. For Organizations and People.】 We are a consulting company that supports the transformation of "people and organizations," focusing on human resource recruitment consulting, organizational development, system design, human resource development, training, AI utilization, branding, and new business support. No matter how excellent the product or vision, it is "people" who realize it. That is why we are seriously committed to "making companies stronger through the power of human resources."

https://sketch-consulting.co.jp/