In this interview series, I highlight professionals who are breaking boundaries across countries and industries. They are sharing their journeys of growth and exploration, and this time their nomadic recruiter career journey. In today’s world, where career paths are more diverse than ever, I hope these stories offer a little inspiration for building a career that feels like you.
This time, I’m back with the second part of my conversation with Yukino, a recruiter at Cogs. Her story takes us from graduate school in the Netherlands, to market research at Yamato Transport in Europe, to event planning at Cartier in Japan. Now, she’s working as a “nomad- recruiter,” enjoying the freedom to work from anywhere. Her nomadic recruiter career journey has been anything but linear, shaped by chance encounters, unexpected opportunities, and a deep curiosity about people and cultures.
Yukino opened up about how moving between different cultures and places has shaped the way she sees her career and how she’s designed a work style that truly fits her life. I hope her story sparks some ideas as you think about your own next step.
A Career at Cartier That Started with Temp Work
Yukino’s first step into Cartier was as a temporary staff member. That experience still shapes her perspective today as a recruiter, giving her a deep sense of empathy for people working in temporary roles.
“In Japan’s job market, I feel there’s still a tendency to label someone as just a ‘temp worker’ simply because that’s how they started,” she says. “If someone wants to move into a permanent role, I genuinely want to support them in making that transition.”
She considers herself fortunate: when a full-time position opened up during her time at Cartier, she was able to step into it within just six months. But she also remembers many colleagues who had been in temporary positions for over ten years. Looking back, she reflects, “Becoming a permanent employee was really the result of both luck and effort coming together.”
The process of moving from a temp role to a full-time position opened her eyes to how much “career labels” can limit people. That realization continues to shape her values and approach to career support today.
Nonstop, go-all-in chapter as an event planner
After joining Cartier, Yukino spent about three and a half years as event planner. At the peak of her role, she managed 50 events a year, nearly every week. With around 35 stores across Japan to support, she streamlined operations by creating event “packages,” while still designing large-scale celebrations like anniversaries entirely from scratch.
One of the most memorable experiences was producing the 1st and 2nd anniversary events for the Ginza boutique. She welcomed about 350 guests, brought in a famous DJ, and oversaw everything from catering to lighting. Being responsible for creating such dazzling, one-of-a-kind spaces was a major turning point in her career.
Interestingly, Yukino was not drawn to Cartier out of a lifelong dream to work in luxury.
“I was curious about the brand, but I didn’t join because I was a fan. It really came about by chance,” she recalls. “That actually allowed me to take a step back and see things objectively.” Observing why people are attracted to luxury brands with a critical eye became one of her strengths in event planning.
Her days were a whirlwind of flying around the country, managing projects remotely, and pushing through cultural adjustments after returning from the Netherlands. More than anything, she felt a strong drive: “To me, that was my nonstop, go-all-in era.’” she says with a smile. “I was surrounded by people who accepted me for who I was, and that gave me the space to throw myself into the job completely.”
A Special Event for the Very Last Day
Of all the events she worked on during her time at Cartier, the one that meant the most to Yukino took place on the day before she resigned. It was her final project at the Ginza boutique, and unlike many others, it was a day when she could fully bring her own ideas to life. The theme was “City Pop.” At first glance, this had little connection with Cartier’s brand image at the time. Yet the bold choice to create a glamorous party reminiscent of Japan’s bubble era perfectly reflected her own creative spirit.
Normally, the process for Cartier events in Japan began with the company setting the direction, followed by pitches from event agencies. This time, however, Yukino stepped in from the very first stage, sharing her vision of “what if we tried something like this” and working closely with the agency to shape the concept together. Having the core of the event emerge from her own ideas gave her a strong sense of confidence.
For Yukino, this was more than just another assignment. It was a stage where she could test her creativity, and it became a symbolic milestone in her career.
From Canada to Myanmar: Rethinking Life Beyond Career
Behind Yukino’s decision to leave Cartier was a strong desire to pause and reflect on the career she had been running at full speed, along with an equally strong wish to live as a traveler. In other words, she chose to take a “career break.”
Soon after leaving the company, she set off for Canada. From there, her journey continued through Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Meeting new people and experiencing life in unfamiliar places gave her the time to look inward and slowly consider how she wanted to live and what kind of career she hoped to build in the future.
It was during this journey that the word “COVID – 19” first reached her ears. When she visited Laos in January 2020, she noticed travelers from outside Asia beginning to wear masks. She recalls feeling, “This could turn into something serious.” By the time she was in Myanmar, the reality of a spreading pandemic had become impossible to ignore, and she made the decision to return to Japan.
Although the journey was cut short, the days she spent in those countries became invaluable. They allowed her to step away from her career and face an essential question: how do I truly want to live my life?
New Paths Opened After Returning to Japan
After coming back to Japan during the pandemic, Yukino decided to enroll in a “Web Designer Course” offered through Hello Work, the public employment service. Through conversations with a supportive career counselor, she explored how she might make use of her past experiences. Looking back, she feels that this practice of listening closely to others and seeking out possibilities laid the groundwork for her eventual path as a recruiter.
Part of what inspired this choice came from encounters she had at a music festival she attended every year after returning to Japan in 2016. There, she met engineers and people working in tech companies. Seeing them opened her eyes to new possibilities.
“They were people I had never really spoken with before. Their perspectives felt fresh and fascinating. For me, it was a whole new world,” she recalls.
She did not set her sights directly on becoming an engineer, but the experience naturally sparked her interest in new fields. Choosing the web design course after returning home felt like a natural step. It was during the pandemic, when there wasn’t much work anyway. Learning Photoshop, Illustrator, and even a bit of coding turned out to be more than just a technical skill set. It became an important step forward that connected directly to the career she has today.
Digital Marketing Experience at MTV
After finishing a web design course in the fall of 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was given an unexpected opportunity to join MTV.
“Although it was a time of uncertainty, I felt that working with intangible content rather than physical products would be a valuable learning experience. I chose to embrace this opportunity with a positive mindset.”
Her decision was also influenced by the chance to combine her previous marketing experience with the design skills she had learned through the courses at Hello Work, such as Photoshop. The role offered new challenges in the digital field, including social media, which motivated her to take this step forward.
Although MTV is a global company, the workplace culture blended international influences with traditional Japanese practices. This was new to her, but at times it also posed challenges. Even though she had joined with a focus on digital marketing, her bilingual skills were highly valued, and she was often assigned translation and interpretation tasks. This created a gap between the work she originally envisioned and the work she actually carried out.
As time went on, she felt a stronger pull to be more directly involved with global markets. In the spring of 2021, that desire led her to begin a new job search in pursuit of fresh challenges.
Meeting Chris Frost, Co-Founder of Cogs
While Yukino was in the middle of her job search, a message landed in her LinkedIn inbox. It was from Chris Frost, who simply wrote, “Shall we have a casual chat?” That single line became the starting point of everything that followed.
At the time, Yukino did not have a particular interest in becoming a recruiter. What she did have was a clear wish:to engage in work that helps people and to work fully remotely. She had written that preference on her profile, so naturally the first thing she asked was, “Is this a fully remote role?” When Chris immediately replied, “Yes, it is ,” she recalls feeling suddenly open and motivated to continue the conversation.
“I wasn’t aiming to become a recruiter from the start. But back then I wanted to keep an open mind and hear about different roles. Once we spoke, I found myself laughing with him several times during the conversation and thought, ‘I could really get along with this person.’”
Later, she also had the chance to meet directly with Cogs’ co-founder in Japan. Even in the middle of the pandemic, they made the effort to arrange an in-person meeting before moving forward with an offer. The thoughtful care shown during that encounter left a lasting impression on her. Eventually, she received an offer from Cogs.
Of course, there was some hesitation, since she had never seriously considered recruiting as a career before. But in the end, what pushed her forward was a simple reason:
“I truly felt I could enjoy working with these people.”
In that moment, she remembered the words of a recruiter she had met back in 2016:
“You know, you might be a good fit for recruiting.”
At the time she laughed it off. But five years later, it was as if the puzzle pieces had finally fallen into place, leading her back to that very path as she prepared to step onto the new beginning herself.
Before and After Becoming a Recruiter
When Yukino decided to make a career change, she admits there were moments of doubt.
“What if I am not suited for this?” she wondered.
At that time, her partner reassured her with simple, positive words: “If it does not fit, you can always look for another path.” Her sister and longtime friends also encouraged her, saying, “You are good at seeing the strengths in people and helping them recognize those strengths themselves. This job will be a good fit for you.”
“With their words, I started to believe that maybe I really could be suited to recruiting. That gave me the courage to take on the challenge,” she recalls.
Once she began working as a recruiter, her initial anxieties quickly transformed into joy.
“I have always found meaning in my work, but at Cogs what I especially feel is the comfort of being united as a team,” she says.
Of course, the clear goal of any company is to generate profit, yet not every organization manages to bring people together toward a shared direction. At Cogs, she feels daily that her colleagues are working side by side toward one mission. On top of that, she often experiences moments when she can truly feel she is helping others, which has become one of the greatest sources of fulfillment in her role as a recruiter.
A Lifestyle that Shapes a New Way of Working
Today, Yukino is living out the choice to work while moving between different bases. Since starting her journey as a digital nomad, she has built a lifestyle that balances time surrounded by nature with the energy of city life.
“After spending a few months in the lush natural settings of Bali or Borneo, I’ll spend time in a vibrant city like Ho Chi Minh. The change of environment naturally shifts my rhythm and the way I work, and I feel that this brings both flexibility and creativity,” she reflects.
Recently, during her travels, she stopped in Singapore and finally met members of Cogs APAC local office face-to-face after months of online communication.
“Meeting in person really does bring you closer,” she says with a smile.
Choosing where to base herself each season has also become one of her joys. She returns to Tokyo during cherry blossom season, and this June she spent time in Kota Kinabalu, working from an Airbnb while enjoying her nomad lifestyle.
Her main base of activity is Southeast Asia, and one of the reasons is what she calls the “comfort of the time difference.”
“When I work on Japan time, it usually means I start one or two hours earlier locally. That gives me more breathing space in the afternoons and helps me stay focused. Sometimes I even find I am more productive than when I was in Japan.”
Of course, this does not mean working excessively. Instead, she feels she has naturally created a sustainable rhythm that allows her to work efficiently without overextending herself. Another benefit is being able to handle candidate interviews, which often take place late at night in Japan, at a much more reasonable local time.
Yukino’s Core Belief as a Nomadic Recruiter
On her nomadic recruiter career journey, what Yukino values most is staying neutral.
“I have my own opinions, but they do not necessarily apply to everyone. That is why I make sure to present facts as they are, without mixing in my own preferences or emotions,” she explains.
She knows that impressions of a company can vary widely from person to person.
“What might feel like a poor fit for one individual could actually be very appealing to someone else. That is why I do not want to make judgments on their behalf. I want to respect their own perspective,” she says.
For Yukino, the most important thing is that each candidate finds an opportunity that truly fits them. To make that possible, she consistently maintains a fair and balanced approach in every interaction.
What makes Cogs special? From Yukino’s Perspective
In the recruiting industry, professionals come from a wide variety of backgrounds. What sets Cogs apart, Yukino explains, is that many of its consultants have hands-on experience in the fields they now recruit for.
“Because we know the reality of the work itself, we can approach both candidates and clients with genuine understanding. On top of that, everyone here is truly bilingual, which is another major strength,” she says.
Yukino believes that language and culture are inseparable.
“Even if someone speaks English, there are aspects of their personality that can only be expressed in Japanese. Many candidates also prefer to discuss cultural topics in Japanese. Cogs’ ability to meet that need is a real advantage. It means we can go beyond language barriers and create matches that reflect not only skills but also culture and values.”
She points out that Cogs offer something rare: the ability to communicate not just the hard aspects of a role, such as responsibilities, but also the softer elements like culture and personality fit.
“That is why I want more people to know about Cogs. I want us to bring fresh energy into the recruiting industry in Japan and help more candidates find their dream jobs.”
Ultimately, this nomadic recruiter career journey is not about chasing titles or following a straight path, but about embracing change, learning from every encounter, and building a career that feels authentic and meaningful.
Across both parts of this interview, what stands out most about Yukino is her approach to “working as if travelling.” From her studies in the Netherlands and market research at Yamato Transport, to the whirlwind years as an event planner at Cartier, and now her life as a nomadic recruiter, she has built her career alongside a lifestyle defined by freedom and exploration.
Her nomadic recruiter career journey has been guided by intuition and meaningful connections, unfolding across cultures and locations. What makes this possible is her willingness to embrace change without fear and to stay true to her own values.
By refusing to be confined by labels or fixed ideas, and instead building her path around her strengths and interests, Yukino has created a way of working that is uniquely her own. For readers, her story may serve as a powerful reminder and inspiration to imagine and pursue a career that feels true to yourself.
Thank you for reading and if you like this, make sure to read part 1: Nomad Recruiter Career Story: Yukino’s Journey
– Saaya
Cogs is an executive search and recruitment agency specialising in connecting creative-minded individuals with global career opportunities.
For further reading and resources, check out our blog: Cogs Agency.
Reach out by sending an e-mail to contact@cogsagency.com , check out our LinkedIn page for the latest job updates and read more of our articles.
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