Chemical Industry Holds 1st Job Fair For PhD Candidates

TOKYO (Nikkei)--The Japan Chemical Industry Association hosted a job seminar in Tokyo on Friday exclusively for doctoral candidates, making an early grab for promising young minds.

Students had an opportunity to meet with hiring managers from 21 companies, including Asahi Kasei Corp. (3407) and Toray Industries Inc. (3402). The event drew about 40 who will complete their studies between this fall and the spring of 2015.

The job fair was the first of its kind for the chemical industry. PhD candidates rarely have their own job fairs. They either hunt for jobs in the same way as undergraduates or approach prospective employers through professors or other go-betweens.

The association will hold a similar event in Osaka next Friday.

"We want to continue this effort next year and beyond and have it become standard for job hunting by doctoral candidates," says Executive Director Yoshihiko Matsumoto.

(The Nikkei, March 9 morning edition)

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