INTERVIEW

I want to support foreigners! Starting at age 37 with no sales experience

Yasumasa Kawamura

Sales Department, Tokyo Branch, Joined in 2022

Yasumasa Kawamura

Reason for joining the company

After graduating from university, I worked in a hotel, library management, and the restaurant industry. After that, I worked for about four years as a lifestyle counselor and auditor for an organization that supervises technical intern trainees. Around that time, the new residence status, the Specified Skilled Worker System, was established, and I began to think about gaining new experience.

I wanted to use my previous experience to work in a position that would help foreign talent, particularly in the restaurant and accommodation sectors, and when I learned that the Japan Food and Beverage Association for Foreign Employment was focusing on exactly these fields, I decided to take on a new challenge at the age of 37, even though I had no experience in sales, and decided to join the company.

What makes the job rewarding and interesting

I work in sales, introducing foreigners who want to work in Japan to companies looking for foreign talent. To ensure long-term employment, I meet with them every three months and provide daily consultations to ensure there are no issues for either party.

Since both companies and foreign staff have their own preferences for working conditions and the work environment, it's not easy to meet both parties' needs. That's why I make it a priority to fully understand what both parties are saying and propose a solution that satisfies them. I find it especially rewarding when the needs of the client and the job seeker match.

To achieve this, I work closely with the recruitment team and always make sure to carefully listen to my clients' wishes. It can be difficult, but the joy I feel when a successful match is made is all the more special.

In an environment where I could take on challenges with confidence, I became a section manager in three years.

The workplace is very cheerful, with an atmosphere that makes it easy to consult and exchange opinions. I joined the company with no experience in sales, but my seniors and superiors provided thorough support, so I was able to take on the challenge with confidence, and my results were properly reflected in my evaluation. In fact, I was promoted to section manager three years after joining the company. Another great attraction of this workplace is that your efforts will be clearly reflected and will lead to further career advancement.

In addition, because we share the common goal of supporting foreign talent, there is a culture of cooperation that transcends departments. I feel that our style of working together to solve problems, collaborating with teams from other departments, such as recruitment and support, is unique to our association.

Future challenges

Until now, our association has supported specific skilled workers in the restaurant, food manufacturing, nursing care, and accommodation sectors, but this year we have also begun working in the newly added field of the motor transport industry (drivers). Including this new field, our association is now equipped to provide specialized support in a total of five fields.

As the driver sector is different from our previous client companies, we are challenging ourselves to develop new businesses and match them with new partners. Our goal is that this will improve Japan's infrastructure, promote the employment of foreigners, and lead to the development of the industry, which I see as a major challenge for me personally.

Message to job seekers

Those with sales experience will of course be able to put their career to good use, but even those with no experience can take on new challenges. Of course, individual effort is necessary, but results are properly evaluated, so hard work is sure to lead to career advancement.

I myself joined the company with no experience, but by continuing to take on new challenges and learn every day, I was promoted to section manager in my third year. I believe that the unique appeal of this workplace is that your hard work can be realized.

This is the perfect environment for those with a desire to grow. Why not join us and take on the challenge of working in a position that supports the future of foreign talent?