Introduction

I joined the company in 2023. In my first year, I was responsible for trade operations in the Operations Department, and from my second year, I have been working in the LIFT Sales Department as a sales representative. I’m originally from Kanagawa Prefecture, where I spent my entire school years—from elementary through university. Having long been interested in international connections and language learning, I majored in international studies at university, focusing on English and global cultures.

What made you decide to join the company?

Through my studies at university, I became more interested in jobs with overseas connections. I was also attracted by the fact that I could connect with the world through goods, so when I was looking for a job, I focused my search on companies in the international logistics industry. SEALS, in particular, also functions as a trading company, so I felt that it provided an environment where I could learn not only about logistics, but also a wide range of knowledge about buying and selling and trading. I decided to join SEALS because I was convinced that I could acquire multifaceted skills through practical work while maintaining an international perspective.

Are there any gaps you felt when you joined the company?

After joining the company, I did not feel any major gaps. During my job search, I had heard from company presentations and interviews that I could “play an active role from a young age”, “be entrusted with work”, “gain experience”, “the atmosphere in the workplace is friendly” and “it is easy to communicate with others and consult with them”. It was exactly as I had imagined. In fact, when I actually started working here, the environment was such that I was entrusted with responsible work from an early stage, and I felt close to my seniors and colleagues, and there was a good atmosphere where I could immediately discuss any problems I had.

What is your current job description? (Please also tell us how rewarding that job is)

I am currently working in the LIFT Sales Department, where I mainly carry out sales activities related to equipment and machinery, such as machine tools, presses and production lines. For example, I visit customers who own equipment, interview them about what they want to do with the equipment they own (whether they want to sell it, relocate it, where they want to take it if it involves transportation, etc.) and propose a scheme. Based on the details of the scheme, an estimate is prepared and the costs are presented to the customer. When it comes to the actual shipment, we coordinate with the internal trade operations department (operations department) and other departments to coordinate delivery dates, shipments and shipping arrangements with the customer. In this way, my role as a sales person is to accurately grasp the needs of the customer, share them within the company, and construct the most appropriate scheme. Through this kind of work, I feel that I am developing not only my specialist knowledge of equipment and machinery, but also my ability to co-ordinate and make proposals internally and externally.

What do you value in your work?

What is important to me in my job is to be grateful to the people around me. In sales, we propose schemes to customers, prepare quotations, coordinate on-site processes and shipments, etc. In doing so, cooperation within the company is essential, including from departments that make the actual shipping arrangements, arrange on-site heavy machinery work and domestic land transport, and investigate import and export regulations. Since it is only with the cooperation of other departments that we are able to provide services to our customers, I always try to remember to work with a sense of gratitude for the support I receive from those around me.

What jobs would you like to do in the future?

The job I would like to do in the future is international sales. At present, I am mainly engaged in sales activities for domestic customers. However, if I can propose services such as relocation or withdrawal from overseas factories with overseas customers in mind, I will be able to work not only with Japanese companies but also with customers from all over the world. While utilising my knowledge of culture and language, I would like to challenge myself with sales activities from a global perspective, and in order to grow to be able to provide value in a wider field, I would like to challenge myself with sales activities for overseas companies in the future.

How do you spend your holidays?

On my days off, I like to go for walks and look for good restaurants. As I currently live in Yokohama, I enjoy taking walks in Minato Mirai and Yamashita Park and looking for good restaurants in Yokohama Station and Chinatown. I am happy when I take a walk to refresh my mind and eat lots of delicious food!