Interviews with MHR employees
Suguru Okawa
Description of work activities, comments about motivation and fulfillment
I am responsible for the planning of training for prospective and new employees of Mitsui & Co., and business skill training.
As part of my work on providing training for prospective employees to whom positions have been offered, I identified the current priorities and the skills that they are required to acquire before joining the company and submitted a proposal to my supervisor. The program was completed successfully before the prospective employees joined the company. I experienced all of the processes involved between concluding contracts and implementing the program. This allowed me to identify key points and build an overall picture of the training. I look forward to observing the growth of prospective employees as they go through their induction and milestone training programs, and I find my job rewarding.
Sometimes I also receive requests for individual consultation. In one case I was asked by a business unit to solve a particular issue. After studying the issue and exploring the most suitable actions with my supervisor, I designed a program in collaboration with a university expert. The human resources manager who had sought our advice then asked me to solve an issue relating to young employees. A major attraction for me is the opportunity to work on organizational issues from a medium- to long-term perspective, and to work on research and program design in collaboration with experts in universities and research institutes in Japan and overseas.
Time Schedule
| AM | |
|---|---|
| 9:15-9:45 | Arrive at the office, check mail, and arrange schedule and tasks for the day. |
| 9:45-10:30 | Internal meeting (to confirm a to-do list of tasks) |
| 10:30-11:30 | Department meeting (sharing of schedules with department staff, review of training activities) |
| 11:30-12:00 | Replying to emails |
| Lunch | |
| 12:00-13:00 | Lunch with colleagues at a restaurant near the office |
| PM | |
| 13:00-14:00 | Meeting with an outside vendor (about training programs) |
| 14:00-15:30 | Meeting with a university professor (about program designs) |
| 15:30-16:00 | Internal meeting (consultation with senior colleagues about training plans) |
| 16:00-17:30 | Preparation of materials, responding to emails, preparations for the next day |
| 17:30 | Leave the office |
Q1: What motivated you to join Mitsui & Co. HRD Institute?
I was previously employed in the human resources industry doing work in the recruitment field. As I helped people to take their first steps toward employment through the recruitment process, I became interested in also supporting them after recruitment in such areas as training and organizational development. When I learned that Mitsui & Co. HRD Institute is engaged in training and organizational development specifically for employees of Mitsui & Co. and its group companies, and that I would also be able to take up the challenge of working globally, I decided that it would be the ideal environment for my own personal growth and decided to apply.
Q2: What do you like about the company?
One of attractions for me is the availability of work style options. I have two children, whom I drop off at daycare on my way to work. Mitsui & Co. HRD Institute has a staggered working hour system. By using the system, sometimes I go home early or suddenly take leave because of health problems affecting my children. As a group company affiliated to a major sogo-shosha, Mitsui & Co. HRD Institute has excellent support systems, and my supervisors and colleagues are always telling me that family comes first. I really like the fact that the company provides a working environment in which I will be happy to work for a long time.
Q3: How do you spend your leisure time?
I take my children to the park or go fishing. I have been a keen angler since childhood, and I sometimes socialize over drinks with other colleagues who also like fishing. We are planning to take a fishing trip together in the near future.
Shoko Takizawa
Description of work activities, comments about motivation and fulfillment
We manage training for new employees of Mitsui & Co. group companies in Japan, and global training as well. Training for new employees includes gaining basic knowledge about the Mitsui & Co. group, setting a mindset for life in the work force, and learning business manners and skills. I find it fulfilling to provide training that gives new employees from various age groups and occupational backgrounds a real sense of belonging to the Mitsui & Co. group.
In the area of global training, I am responsible for job position-oriented training for employees in the overseas Mitsui & Co. offices and group companies, and training for employees of partner companies in the Middle East. Our task is to inform trainees about the history, management philosophy, and management policies of Mitsui & Co., and to provide opportunities for discussion. Our programs are also designed to facilitate international networking through work focusing on understanding of other cultures, and mission achievement. Sometimes course preparation can be challenging because of the need to show respect for various religious and cultural backgrounds of individual participants. However, I gain great satisfaction when I see participants engaging actively in our courses and enjoying the program. My reward for the work that I do to prepare courses is the opportunity to watch the participants gain new insights. I am also excited by the energizing mood that develops when our entire department is working together to run courses that attract large numbers of participants.
Time Schedule
| AM | |
|---|---|
| 9:15-9:45 | Arrive at the office, check emails. |
| 9:45-10:30 | Preparation and distribution of training programs for domestic group companies |
| 10:30-11:30 | Department meeting (confirmation of management policies of Mitsui & Co., sharing of matters for attention, seeking advice, etc.) |
| 11:30-12:00 | Arrangement of training venues and meeting rooms (including accommodation, meals, and layout changes) |
| Lunch | |
| 12:00-13:00 | Lunch in the cafeteria, opportunity to relax while chatting with more senior colleagues about hobbies and TV programs |
| PM | |
| 13:00-14:00 | Meetings with in-house and outside instructors (schedule adjustments, review of training administration) |
| 14:00-15:30 | Video conference with people overseas (planning and administration of global training) |
| 15:30-16:30 | Responding to questions from participants from overseas locations |
| 16:30-17:15 | Finalization of details for participants from overseas locations (e.g., scheduling of flights and accommodation, confirmation of dietary restrictions, management of documents to be submitted) |
| 17:30 | Leave the office and go straight to the sauna for some relaxation! |
Q1: What motivated you to join Mitsui & Co.?
I was attracted to an environment in which people work as a team to support personal growth. In my previous job as an administrative assistant, I could complete most of my tasks alone or on a computer. I began to dream of a job where I could be more involved with people. I decided to join Mitsui & Co. MHR Institute because I thought it would be satisfying to achieve team goals through training-related work that influences people’s attitudes and feelings.
Q2: What do you like about the company?
It actively takes up new challenges and ideas. In addition to traditional training activities, it also provides opportunities to take up challenges relating to the development of new organizations as well as measurement and research relating to the benefits of training. I am also very encouraged by the fact that the company places a high value on taking on challenges and personal growth for employees, and that support is available for training activities. In addition, Mitsui & Co. HRD Institute has many mid-career recruits with wide-ranging experience from their previous jobs. Those people offer advice from various perspectives and engage in discussions without limitations based on age or service years with the company. I find this continually stimulating.
Q3: How do you spend your leisure time?
I like to listen to live music and watch movies. I often dine out with friends. Once or twice each month I also attend Awa Odori practices in preparation for our annual performance of this traditional folk dance. My team members came to watch our main performance last time.