'Not Chosen, But Selected': From Healthcare to Construction Sales

Yes, my occupation is in the construction industry. Specifically, in my case, I am engaged in sales, mainly handling the construction of detached houses and commercial buildings in areas like Shibuya and Minato wards in Tokyo. My job involves conducting sales to the clients, or customers, who visit there, and securing contracts. I am a salesperson.

I didn't choose it, actually. Originally, I was working in a different industry, specifically in the medical field, so in a way, it was like being headhunted.

I've been doing sales for about 12 years now. If I had to say, I originally worked in the service industry, but I'm someone who got a job right after high school, so I'd say I've been working more on merit rather than academic ability. So, I thought if I could further utilize my abilities, sales was the only option, and that's why I've been engaged in sales.

We are on the back office side, so we prepare for the construction to be welcomed by the people on site, especially to ensure there are no changes after the contract or any discrepancies in what was discussed, setting things up smoothly. Also, between the end of one construction and the start of the next, sales manage the period, so utilizing the free time to arrange meetings or writing minutes, I think that's the part where I pay attention.

The moment I feel glad about choosing this job is, of course, I've experienced it myself, but bringing a customer from zero, securing a contract, and successfully completing the building, that moment is the best. Indeed, it was when I was new to the company, but a call came in, and by chance, I answered it, and they said they wanted some construction done. I provided an estimate, the budget matched perfectly, and we decided to start. We had a groundbreaking ceremony, then the roof raising ceremony, which was a lot of fun. Finally, when it was completed, we had a completion ceremony, and the customer had a great smile, saying they were very moved by the completion, and I felt glad I did it, glad I could see it through to the end.

In my case, I don't have much experience with it now, but from what I've seen, there are overwhelmingly many complaints. Neighbors, I'm dealing with various issues now, but people who have lived there for decades asking why such a big building is being constructed, complaining about the noise, and I often get caught up in dealing with these. Some even take it to court in the end, I think. Also, not meeting deadlines, I think this happens to everyone, but when you've already arranged to move and it's delayed, what do you do? I think this is quite common. I think these are the unique troubles of the construction industry.

As for unforgettable experiences, it's about the first time I secured a sale and saw it through to completion. When the customer's envisioned content was realized exactly as they had imagined, they talked about it for about an hour or two, and in a way, that became an unforgettable experience. They were so moved, and I think that shows how much heart I put into the construction.

Well, in my case, since I don't have academic credentials, I think the most about how much knowledge I can acquire. And personally, I want to move abroad in the future. Personally, I want to go to South America, but my family wants to go to Australia. Ultimately, what I want to do is become independent. In the meantime, while working for this company, I want to further utilize my knowledge and learn management. So, to learn management knowledge, I've actually been writing and submitting sales strategies and proposals, trying to improve further within the company. In terms of career advancement, of course, qualifications are important, but in my case, since I'm in sales, I'm also considering learning marketing and consulting knowledge.

I do have my own plan and design. Just recently, I did a feedback session for myself. Then, I realized my 20s were tough, really a painful life. When I entered my 30s, I thought the next 10 years would be about utilizing that experience. By the time I reach my 40s, I want to have cleared all that and live a carefree life, and by my 50s and 60s, I want to feel like I don't need to work anymore. Ah, but I was thinking about this when I was 20. I actually wrote it down in a notebook, my ideal self, and I've been acting on it. It's been steady; I look at that notebook every day, deciding what's next.

If we talk in terms of 10, work would be 4, family 3, and personal life 4. Yes, family is family, and personal life is personal life with various things, but I'm also involved in community activities, like being the vice-chairman of the neighborhood association, so that's included in the 4. Ultimately, I think even the personal life aspects other than leisure are for myself, and I feel that reflects back on my family. Yes, that's the image.

Well, looking ahead 5 years at my current company, I'm thinking of aiming to become a department manager. Yes. To reach department manager, of course, I'll do the groundwork, but I'm someone who wants status, so for that, I participate in various activities and work hard. That effort will eventually reflect in my salary. Rather than working diligently, I aim for that salary, and by the time I'm in my 40s, I'm thinking of going independent, moving towards the outside world.

People who are struggling, in the end, are probably struggling with interpersonal relationships or the job they imagined wasn't what they expected, mismatches, I think there are many, and I was one of those people. What you seek, in the end, even if you change jobs, if it's about interpersonal relationships, there's also your part to blame in relationships. For example, if you were lacking in words or the way you said things, but at the next company, it's important to realize how you can change that. Whether you can realize this or not, instead of just blaming others, understanding your own faults and seeking a company where you can utilize that at your next job, I think that's important. Also, doing what you want to do, of course, that's great, but I think it's better to challenge work after clearly defining your current status and researching whether the company you want to be in 5 or 10 years has what you're looking for. I didn't just go to a company because the salary was good; I thoroughly checked if the company could help me reach my envisioned place and then jumped into a different industry. So, it's not just about a good salary or construction industry; honestly, there are plenty of those, but in my opinion, no matter how good a company is or has a model income, if your abilities don't match, it will never be in reverse proportion. So, I think it's better to consider that working diligently or securing a solid internal evaluation will reflect in your salary.