Going Beyond the Brief: How RGF’s Expertise Drives Hiring Success

Hiring in the consumer goods sector goes far beyond sales and marketing. Many roles, such as R&D, production, and quality, require deep technical expertise, making it increasingly important to achieve the right match for both companies and candidates.

At RGF’s Consumer Team, we specialize in supporting these complex hiring needs through deep industry knowledge and functional expertise. In this interview, we speak with Ryo Murakami, who leads the team, about his approach to recruitment.

Ryo Murakami

Manager, Consumer Team

Ryo began his career in the consumer goods industry, focusing on the cosmetics sector. As an OEM sales professional, he worked closely with clients on product development, collaborating with R&D and production teams and gaining hands on experience across the entire product development lifecycle.

He later transitioned into recruitment, where he has continued to specialize in the consumer goods space. In addition to sales and marketing roles, he has built a strong track record in placing candidates in highly specialized positions such as R&D, quality, and production. His strength lies in supporting hiring based on a company’s business stage and organizational challenges, working with a wide range of clients from smaller businesses to high growth companies.

Ryo joined RGF Professional Recruitment Japan in 2023 and currently leads the Consumer Team, overseeing both team management and client delivery.

Could you tell us about your career so far?

I have consistently worked within the consumer goods industry, particularly in cosmetics. In my previous role, I worked in OEM sales, supporting product development based on client needs. Although I was in a sales role, I collaborated closely with R&D and production teams.

After transitioning into recruitment, I continued to focus on the same industry. Today, as Manager of the Consumer Team, I support both clients and candidates in this space.

How has your industry experience shaped your approach to recruitment?

I believe the biggest difference comes from having a deep understanding of both the industry and individual functions. In my previous role, I was involved not only in sales but also in R&D and production processes, so I understand how products are planned, developed, and manufactured in practice.

Because of this, when supporting hiring, I do not focus solely on job titles or written requirements. Instead, I aim to understand what the role truly entails and what is expected in practice. This level of insight helps improve the quality of conversations with both clients and candidates.

What areas does the Consumer Team currently cover?

We cover the entire consumer goods sector, including food, beverages, alcohol, cosmetics, and daily goods. While sales and marketing roles remain a core focus, we also support highly specialized functions such as R&D, quality, and production.

These roles often come with clearly defined expectations from the client side, but they can be difficult for recruiters to fully understand without relevant technical knowledge. In addition, the talent pool is limited, making it challenging to identify suitable candidates. As a result, these roles are often harder to fill through conventional approaches.

Our role is to bridge the gap between what companies are looking for and what the market can offer, while also carefully shaping how we present these opportunities to candidates.

What do you see as your strengths in recruitment?

While all recruiters aim to understand their clients, I believe my strengths lie in my ability to engage with highly specialized roles and in my level of commitment when I am genuinely invested in supporting a client.

There are roles that tend to be deprioritized by other agencies because they are difficult to fill. For me, those are exactly the roles I want to take on. When I sense that a client is facing challenges, my instinct is to say, “Let me take this on.” From there, I work to gain a deeper understanding of the company and consider how we can successfully close the hire.

At the same time, I ensure that candidates are not simply introduced to a job, but that they understand the role, the expectations, and what makes the opportunity meaningful. I believe it is the combination of expertise and commitment that ultimately leads to successful placements.

We understand you have strong experience supporting small and growing companies. Could you elaborate?

Yes, I have worked extensively with companies that are either relatively small or in a growth phase. For example, I have supported multiple hires within a short period for organizations undergoing expansion, as well as played an ongoing role in hiring key talent for smaller teams.

In these situations, it is not enough to simply match candidates to job descriptions. It is critical to understand the company’s current stage and the role they expect the hire to play, and then tailor how that opportunity is communicated to candidates.

For smaller or venture companies in particular, hiring success often depends on how effectively the company’s strengths and the appeal of the role are articulated. By helping to structure that narrative, we can significantly expand hiring possibilities.

What do you value most in your approach to recruitment?

Understanding each client’s situation as accurately as possible. Especially in difficult hiring cases, there is often a gap between the stated requirements and the underlying need. I make it a priority to understand that context.

For candidates as well, I do not simply introduce opportunities. I aim to clearly communicate what is expected of them and what the working environment will be like.

As a result, many clients and candidates return to us for ongoing support, and I believe we have been able to build long-term relationships rather than one off transactions.

What are your plans for the Consumer Team moving forward?

While we currently focus primarily on sales and marketing roles, we plan to further strengthen our support for upstream functions such as R&D, quality, and production.

As the team continues to grow, we aim to leverage each member’s expertise to cover a broader range of roles and clients. Ultimately, our goal is to become a team that can engage more deeply with client challenges and deliver greater value.

Thank you for your time.

Hiring in the consumer goods sector often requires a deep understanding of industry structures and specialized roles. As demonstrated by the Consumer Team, RGF’s consultants bring both industry expertise and a strong commitment to fully engaging with each client’s challenges.

We go beyond simply introducing candidates. By understanding the context behind each role and tailoring how opportunities are presented, we help drive successful hiring outcomes.

If you are facing hiring challenges, whether in consumer goods or any other sector, please feel free to reach out. Our consultants, each specializing in their respective industries, are ready to support you with tailored solutions.

We also welcome inquiries from candidates exploring their next career move.

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