JinZai Co.,Ltd.

interviews

Store Manager of NAKAU Co., Ltd.

from Vietnam/
PHAM THI QUYNH ANH

I am very happy to have joined the company because of its excellent training system, promotion examinations and evaluation system, and benefits package.

What led you to join Nakau?: While attending Japanese language school, I worked part-time at Nakau. During my job search, my manager told me about the employment opportunities as a "Specified Skilled Worker," and I attended an information session. I decided to join the company because of its well-equipped benefits package and because I thought I could make use of my part-time work experience.

Did you have any concerns when you first joined the company?: At first, I was worried, but everyone was kind and eager to teach me how to do my job. From the beginning of my employment, my supervisor carefully taught me how to do operations, store management, and money management. When my supervisor is not around, I learn a lot from the part-time workers.
Additionally, if there is a problem at the store and I can't find how to handle it, I report, contact, and consult with my supervisor. I always feel safe because I can always get help from others.

Do you have friends you can talk to?: Yes, I keep in touch with my colleagues in the company.
We meet during company training and Japanese language learning sessions. Other than that, if I have any problems at work, I ask my colleagues to help me.
When our holidays coincide, we also spend time together. We are good friends not only at work but also outside of it. They are very important friends to me.

What do you pay attention to in a conversation?: When I don't understand something, I clearly say so, and I try to put myself in the other person's shoes.
There is no shame in not knowing. However, making a mistake by misinterpreting can be a big problem. Even people of the same nationality miscommunicate, so we have to be more careful when it comes to people of different nationalities, languages, and ways of thinking.
I also try to always work with the other person in mind rather than being self-centered. Compassion is important.

Are you satisfied with your current salary?: Yes, I am able to save money and send money to my family every month even during the Corona pandemic. I am working hard on my promotion exam so that I can further increase my salary.

What do you do on your days off?: I talk with my family, study Japanese, and go out with friends to famous places. Every day is fun.

Are you happy to work at Nakau? And please tell us why.: Yes, I am happy to have joined the company.
The first reason is that it is a great opportunity to learn about the Japanese working culture.
Second, the company has a strong promotion and evaluation system for "Specified Skilled Worker" employees, which is very rewarding.
Third, the company offers a full range of benefits package. There is a company dormitory, support for application for status of residence, assistance for Japanese language learning, and so on. Thanks to this, I am able to live and work comfortably. It also leads to my personal growth.

Interviews

Store Manager of Tokyo Branch, SUKIYA Co., Ltd.

from Vietnam /
PHAM TRUNG THANH
đến từ Việt Nam

What is your current job description?: As a store manager, my responsibility is to maintain and improve how the store is managemed. I attain this by take stock of the store's current figures, such as hourly sales, daily sales, monthly sales, and the number of customers, and then thinking about how to improve these figures.

Does the company provide any training?: Yes, training is provided on a regular basis. When I first joined the company, they were very helpful in teaching me the basics of the job in detail. Thanks to that, I was able to get used to my job quickly and without worry. What I learned in the training is very useful for my daily work.

What do you pay attention to in your work?: I focus on perfectly executing what I learned through training. People are inclined to move unconsciously based on their usual habits, instead of the learned operational methods. Therefore, I studiously analyze my own work and improve it, to ensure that the knowledge I gain becomes ingrained in me. In this way, even work that is often considered simple becomes enjoyable, and I can work on it with passion.

What do you actually enjoy most about your job and what makes you happy?: The longer I work at the store, the more attached I become to it. The store is not only a place where I work, but also my second home. Therefore, I am very glad when the store is beautifully kept or sales increase. I am also very happy when I make important friends who work hard together with me.

How do you feel you have grown the most through your work?: Through my work, I feel that my sense of responsibility has increased and my management skills have been developed.

Interviews

Assistant Store Manager of Kanagawa Branch, SUKIYA Co., Ltd.

from Vietnam /
NGUYEN KIM THUY LINH

What is your current job description?: I am currently working as an Assistant Store Manager. Specifically, I am responsible for customer service, cooking, and training part-time workers. I am also involved in store operations, such as sales, customer traffic, foodstuffs, and supplies.

Is there an exam to get into your current position?: My current position is Assistant Store Manager. I have passed several promotional exams to get this position.
At Sukiya, there is a promotion exam every three months. If you pass the exam, you will be promoted to a higher position.
When you are promoted, your salary will also increase. We will be properly recognized for our hard work, so it is suitable for those who have ambition.

What do you enjoy most about your job and what makes you happy?: I am really happy when customers tell me that the food was delicious, that they are glad there is a Sukiya near their house, and that they are rooting for me.

What is the hardest part of your job? How did you overcome the difficulties?: I think the hardest part is teaching new people. I have to explain things in Japanese, so sometimes they don't get the message. Also, until the new person learns the job, it is very hard because my workload increases.
When such thing happens, I imitate my supervisor by observing how he teaches the others. Before teaching new people, I practice many times by myself. Furthermore, I also continuously study Japanese so that I am able to communicate with them.
It is very rewarding when someone I have worked hard to teach grows. It makes me happy.

How do you study Japanese?: I learn Japanese by listening to past questions from JLPT, shadowing to improve my conversational skills, learnning new words from a series on YouTube called "Learning by ear," and joining a Japanese language learning community on Facebook.
The company also holds Japanese learning sessions and provides me with useful information, so I feel like they have my back and gives me the motivation to strive forwards.

Do you have any goals in your work?: It is to become a store manager of one store. To achieve this goal, I am acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills related to store management through training and daily work. In addition, I am also working hard to study Japanese.

Are you happy to have joined Sukiya?: I am very happy to have joined the company. When I joined, it was a time when Corona virus was beginning to spread all over the world. I was given a stable job while others who joined other companies were losing their jobs.
I also felt very grateful to be able to send money to my family back in Vietnam.