For the seventh in our series of interviews introducing our colleagues, Jung Han Shin (Consultant). He was born in Korea and raised in New Zealand since childhood, he started his job search to work in Japan. He talks about the challenges and the company's support from job offers to joining us and the first day, as well as what he hopes to achieve at RIT.

Profile
Jung Han Shin
Born in Korea. Spent his childhood and university years in New Zealand. After graduating from university, he served in the military and began his career in finance at a chemical manufacturer in New Zealand. Later, at a Korean music product manufacturing and sales company, he was responsible for areas including sales, manufacturing, and financial accounting, which is one of his strengths. He joined RIT in April 2022.

★There is the same article written in Japanese. click here!

It’s good for me that the interviewer's impression was that the atmosphere he creates was not consultant-like.

-Tell me about your background.

Well, I studied financial accounting at university in New Zealand, and after graduation, two years of military service. I returned to New Zealand and took a finance-related job with a chemical company. At this company, I was responsible for financial planning, cost and sales pricing analysis, research and persuasive writing when entering new markets. At that time, my father, who owned a company producing and selling music products in Korea, had health problems, so I left the chemical company to support my father. Then, I went to Korea and was responsible for all operations at my father's company, including accounting, sales, and product assembly.

-What made you want to work in Japan?

It may be an ambiguous idea, but I have always been interested in Japan and wanted to live there. Also, I had an image of Japanese people taking pride in what they do, even in small jobs, and working hard at everything they do. So, I wanted to brush myself up in that kind of environment. Then I started looking for a job around June 2021. I received offers from some companies, but I decided to join RIT in the autumn of 2021 and started working there in April 2022.

-Why did you decide to join RIT?

The biggest reason is the people I met at the interviews made a great impression on me. I spoke to Osada-san (COO) , Ishizaka-san (consultants) and Torimoto-san (consultants). I had an image that consultants are rigid, and many of the people I met at interviews with other companies were of that type, but they were very calm and kind, and I felt they were smart because they were quick-witted and logical. The second reason is that RIT is a venture company, so we can support our customers through consulting while growing the company, and the company has a system to support employees' new businesses, which I would like to use when I have the opportunity myself in the future.

-Why did you switch from financial accounting to consultant?

I found it rewarding to understand issues and find clues to solve problems from different angles and ways to be more efficient. That's why I wanted to become a consultant in my next career. Actually, when I was a university student, I worked as an intern at a consulting firm for about three months. I had the desire to work as a consultant one day, because it was very rewarding even though challenging.

RIT's generous support made it possible to realize the dream of working in Japan.

-There is a little gap between when you received the offer and the first day, were there any reasons for this?

I received the job offer in October 2021, but could not go to Japan because of COVID-19. In the meanwhile, RIT has been waiting for me to join. I really appreciate RIT for their patience. Until I was able to enter Japan, I was helping my father's company and preparing for the move.

-How did you get your working visa and find an apartment in Japan?

It was necessary to cooperate with the visa agent and RIT. Therefore, Arai-san (Back-office) and I exchanged emails, and Arai-san contacted the agent directly. Arai-san introduced me to a real estate company. I exchanged emails with that agent and decided on the apartment where I live. It is not easy for foreigners to get through the tenant screening process. For this reason, I leased under RIT, and receive the difference, after deducting the rent, as a salary.

-RIT was very flexible!

I got a lot of support. As well as the visa and apartment I mentioned above, I was also invited to the company's online end-of-year party. I was able to communicate with everyone. After entering Japan, Arai-san told me “if you needed someone to accompany you to the ward office, I would go with you” And I feel that everyone takes care of me outside of work. Colleague talked to me about how life is in Japan and created an environment where I could ask questions casually. For example, Arai-san told me that if I had any problems in my life, I could ask her. So the other day I asked her on Slack where I could buy fruit at a reasonable price. It is nice to be able to ask even the casual questions in a light-hearted way.

-What was your biggest concern before you started work?

I was worried about making friends because RIT is a home-based work style. But I made friends right away. Everyone is kind and there is no more worry here. I sometimes feel anxious about my job because it is new to me. I have to be appreciative of the work I do because I have made the company wait a long time for me to join them. However, it was my first time working in Japan and consulting work, so I was very worried about becoming a burden instead of generating results.

Love beer. Some of my friends have connected with me because of beer.

Using a scheme that supports new businesses, would like to achieve my dream one day.

-What are the strengths of RIT?

There's a lot going on. The biggest strength I felt when I joined RIT was the supportive culture. Slack helps to some extent to know what people in other departments are doing. Other department members also support each other if there are areas where they can provide assistance, and the company is mutually supportive, so many people rely on each other.

-What are your goals for the future?

In the short term, I want to grow as a consultant so that I can support companies and participate in their projects. There are two long-term goals. The first is that I like beer, so in the future I’d like to start my own beer bar and open branches in countries around the world. Secondly, I like smart home devices. Even though the concept is still vague yet, I would like to do some work related to them.

-Is there anything you would like to do at RIT?

There are people who are actually trying to launch their own businesses, so it's an environment where you can start your own business if you have the will. On top of that, there is the culture that if a team member wants to start a new business, other staff are willing to support them. My business has not yet clearly taken shape in my mind, but I have a good feeling that the company and my colleagues would be willing to support me when I really feel like doing something.