Introduction

I joined the company in February 2025 as a mid-career hire and currently work at the Sales Support Department. After graduating from a local technical high school, I began my career as a plant operator at a steel mill, followed by experience in maintenance work for semiconductor manufacturing equipment before taking on my current role. Although I am working in a field that is completely new to me and face the challenge of learning something new every day, I find great fulfillment in my work and spend my days busy yet rewarding, often working hands-on at the site.

What made you decide to join the company?

I originally worked as a factory operation operator and later became involved in the maintenance of semi-conductor equipment, but I wanted to acquire a wider range of practical skills.
It was during this time that I saw a job opening for a service engineer position at our company, and was greatly attracted by the fact that I could gain practical experience through business trips to various parts of the country, as well as being involved in overseas operations. Unlike manufacturers, there are no set procedures, and I was also impressed by the company’s attitude of responding to customer needs by making use of their knowledge and experience. Through the interviews, I could sense the enthusiasm of the employees and their sincere attitude towards their work, and I strongly felt that I wanted to improve my skills here and decided to join the company.

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

Before joining the company, I thought that technical work was the most important part of a service engineer’s job, but in fact I found that communication skills are also extremely important. Of course technology is necessary to resolve customer requests and problems, but I also work with various subcontractors on site, so it is essential to have good discussions in order to work well together and keep things moving forward.
Also, when working with manufacturers, there are many opportunities to learn about specialised knowledge and systems that can only be obtained from manufacturers, and you can increase your knowledge. I realise that while improving technical skills is important, the experience gained through dialogue and cooperation in the field is just as valuable.

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

They are mainly responsible for the installation and adjustment of machine tools and measuring work. They visit customers’ plants to relocate machines on site and check their operation, as well as dismantle machines to transport them to other locations and reassemble them at the relocation site. They may also travel to overseas plants for extended periods of time to carry out troubleshooting.
Depending on the project, they may also be involved in the loading and unloading of heavy equipment as part of a rigging team, and their work is extremely varied. Being able to handle different types of machine tools and having the opportunity to visit various locations across the country and abroad is refreshing and interesting, and I find this job very rewarding.

What do you value in your work?

I believe that the most important thing is to build a relationship of trust with our customers. It is important to ensure that the projects we receive are completed, but we must also do our work quickly and carefully so that the customer says, “I would like to work with SEALS again”. To achieve this, I am conscious of continually improving my own technical skills. I am constantly learning new skills and knowledge and striving to provide better service. In addition, as I myself am still inexperienced in many areas of knowledge and technology, I also value the attitude of working together with my team members to find the best solutions.
Furthermore, as our work involves a lot of hazardous work, we are always aware of the importance of ‘safety first’, and our top priority is to work without accidents.

What jobs would you like to do in the future?

Once I have become somewhat accustomed to working domestically, I would like to try my hand at working on site overseas next. I heard that one of my seniors, who joined the company a year earlier than me, had experienced work overseas and was impressed by it, and I have become strongly interested in it myself. There are not many opportunities to work abroad for a long period of time, but I hope to improve my technical skills and grow as a person by working in a different culture and environment.
To this end, I would like to improve my knowledge and skills and gain experience through my daily work. I will also actively work on acquiring qualifications so that I can handle a variety of tasks.

How do you spend your holidays?

On my days off, I basically spend my time indoors, watching anime and films, drawing illustrations and playing games.
However, as I sometimes have the opportunity to go on long-term business trips, I sometimes take a walk around the area where I am staying and enjoy the unique atmosphere of that place. Being refreshed in an unusual environment is one of the pleasures of business trips.