職涯雖然慢了點，卻更能體會世界 ── 磯部香里 Kaori Isobe (日本)
來自日本的磯部香里(Kaori Isobe，若按日本名字順序則為 Isobe Kaori)，畢業於立命館大學(Ritsumeikan University)國際關係法學系，目前任職於大阪的藥品公司。在大學時期，香里曾擔任過2013年京都TEDxYouth 的組長之一，在大團體中擔任領導的角色雖困難，但也讓她了解到自己喜歡做的是與自己的能力，京都TEDxYouth的經驗，著實地改變了香里的人生！
此外，香里也參與過日本非營利組織活動：e-Education。在e-Education計畫中，香里擔任位於菲律賓馬尼拉市計畫的協調人之一，e-Education主要是希望能藉由提供教學影片，或是安排特殊課程，讓在開發中國家的學生可以擁有更多的資源，進而完成學業、考取大學。在計畫中，香里成功讓超過30位的學生通過全菲律賓最困難的大學入學考試(UPCAT)。e-Education計畫帶給香里的價值，不僅僅只是讓參與的學生通過艱難的入學考試，學生因達成目標而替自己建立了自信心，這更是讓香里感到非常有成就感。
Q1：妳曾提到在應徵上公司後，不必立即上班，而是公司提供一年的等待期。據說這樣的情況在日本是常態，是正確的嗎？妳在這一年又做了哪些事呢？
是的，日本學生在應徵上工作後與實際開始工作之間，確實擁有空窗期，但一般學生在畢業前一年就會開始找工作。日本學校的學年從四月開始，至隔年三月結束，有很多將於2019年三月畢業的大學生，2017年已經開始找工作。我想最多人找到工作的時間是在四月至七月。因此，在確定應徵上公司後，學生們能夠做任何他們想做的事情，有些人會繼續完成論文，有些會至各地旅遊，有些則是繼續修課，以確保能準時畢業。
而我在找工作時已經畢業了，不需要擔心課業問題，因此我決定花一段時間出國看看，到任何一個我想要旅遊的地方。幾個月後，我確定應徵上公司後，開始在兒童繪畫工作室及補習班打工，連續打工五個月，以賺取旅費。最後，我去了四個國家：菲律賓、英國、愛爾蘭及中國(上海)。除了打工與旅遊外，我也看了些書與電影。
Q2：在開始工作前的空窗期，除了旅遊，是否有為工作做一些準備呢？
我不確定是否能稱為準備，但我確實有看一些貿易相關以及其他類型的書，以及學習英文。
我讀了Lynda Gratton撰寫的「The Future of Work Is Already Here」、日本知名企業家—稻盛和夫(Inamori Kazuo)的「働き方(Hatarakikata)」，以及「我們不是弱者 : 諾貝爾和平獎得主蕾嫚.葛博維的生命故事」等等不同類型的書。
我也花了些時間在學習英文上，我立下一些目標，如通過EIKEN (日本英語檢定協會)一級的測驗、TOEIC分數超過950分，而當然，我完成了！我通過了EIKEN一級，也在TOEIC得到970分！我想我的單字能力進步了，這也將在工作與日常生活中幫助我。
Q3：畢業於國際法/關係學系，是否與第一份工作有關聯性？當初找工作時，有特別將專長(國際法/關係學系)納入考量嗎？
我第一份工作與和法學並沒有什麼關聯性，我曾經有考慮能藉由研究國際法或人權相關議題，來幫助不具有平等權利的人們，但後來發現法律及規章有時較缺乏力量，而且我希望能夠做些更靠近、更能夠了解他們所需的事情。因此，在大學時期，我就決定要在私人非法律相關的公司工作。我不曾後悔選擇就讀法律，反而更深信我的所學在未來將會以某種方式幫助自己。
而影響我進入健康相關產業工作的主因是我的膝蓋問題。從菲律賓回到日本幾個月後，我發現我的膝蓋發生了一些狀況，經過診斷是有膝軟骨分離的現象，因此，花了一年的時間做了四次手術。很幸運地，現在我可以走較長的路了，但也因為這個意外，我在找工作的時間延遲了約一年，一般來說，大學生通常在畢業前就會開始找工作，但我在畢業之後才開始，這在日本是比較罕見的。在復原的過程，我總感到沮喪且失去自信，因為我不能走也沒有機會與其他人交流。
在這樣的經歷之後，我發現身心靈之間有很大的關係，而且希望自己能夠讓人們更有自信也更有自尊，除此之外，我曾想先學習商業相關知識，進而了解市場進行的機制。而選擇現在的公司作為第一份工作的其中一個原因，是因為公司有相當多的產品，從眼藥水到乳液都有，這代表有相當多方法去瞭解人們的需要，另一個原因則是因為公司的同事，同事們都很開朗、熱情。我希望能夠藉由我的工作和公司的產品，讓人們感到開心且充滿自信。
Q4：e-Education的計畫執行經驗是否也影響了妳對於職業的選擇？
是的，e-Education的計畫經驗完全影響了我選擇職業的方向，就像我有提到的，我想為經歷自信與獨立生活有困難的孩子與女性工作。
在執行計畫時，我看到在街上或貧民區的孩子，他們的眼中看起來很自卑、缺少了自信心，端看外表我也不能多評斷什麼，但當時我想：這之中應該有什麼是我能夠做的，我希望能讓他們展露笑容並且充滿信心。資源補助與經濟援助也許可以幫到他們，但我想首先可以支持他們的心理層面。若是缺少了自信，這些孩子將無法獨立及繼續生活下去。
Q5：你選擇了和法律完全不相關的工作，你的家人同意嗎？他們是怎麼想的呢？
我的家人們完全同意我的決定，他們總是讓我做想做的事情，並且全然的支持我。我想…日本學生從事與大學專業不相關的工作，這樣的現象並不罕見，但我想我的主管對於主修是法律感到相當驚訝。
Q6：在找工作的時候有碰到什麼困難嗎？你是怎麼度過的呢？
幾乎所有公司的希望能夠雇用即將畢業的學生，但當開始找工作時，我已經畢業了，而有些公司不允許我投履歷，我有些沮喪，但我只是以為：「好吧，這家公司不夠有彈性」，僅此而已。我只是在尋找符合我個性的公司，以及我想做的工作。
Q7：在日本，你認為對於年輕人而言，找工作是困難的嗎？
我想這個現在最近有漸漸改善了，根據厚生勞動省 (Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare) 的調查，2017年三月畢業的學生中，約有97.6% 的人在求職後至少得到一個工作邀約。近六年來，這個比率逐漸在升高。我認為其中一個原因可能是日本的孩童數量減少，而公司需要員工來代替退休人員。
Q8：可以跟我們分享妳的工作經驗嗎？
目前在大阪的一間藥品公司裡擔任實習生，除了我，還有另外25位實習生一起接受訓練。每天都很興奮於能學習新的事物，但也同時感受到身為公司一份子的責任。公司的訓練綜合了基礎與實際應用，例如：公司的架構、不同部門的細節及產品、行銷與銷售學以及國內外市場的模擬提案。
結束實習生訓練之後，我被分派到採購部門，未來的工作內容大概是購買產品及包裝的原料，控管製造以及找新產品所需的原料等等。
Q9：你有曾經提到過對於很多20來歲的日本年輕女生而言，婚姻生活不乏被視為是一種「人生目標 (life goal)」，和我們聊聊這個吧。
這樣的觀念在日本女孩眼中相當普遍，直至目前為止，仍然有部份的女孩保持著這樣的想法。例如說，我的奶奶認為結婚對女孩子而言是最好的安排，他希望我能愈早結婚愈好。我的好朋友之一也很希望能盡快結婚，如此她便不需要在工作。但我認為這個觀念最近已經改變了，現在想要工作一段時間，來追求自己夢想的女孩子，正在慢慢增加。對我而言，結婚不是我的目標，它是能讓我的人生更快樂的其中一個選擇。
Q10：35歲以前你的生活願景是什麼？
我想我會為在自信與在海外獨自生活遇到困難的孩子與女性奮鬥。我不太確定未來我將會在怎樣的公司工作，也許是私人、非營利、公共部門或是其他類型，但我確信這是未來我想做的。在我工作的這前幾年，我會專注於學習貿易及商業，我也可能在某個時間點換工作，或是回到校園繼續進修。
我也有一些對於自己人生的想像，像是結婚及養育孩子，但我並不急於完成這些事，我非常想要成為一個能夠兼顧事業以及家庭的媽媽，如同 Facebook 營運長 Sheryl Sandberg 那樣。現在，我會把重心放在學習上面，讓自己的工作表現能夠更專業。
Q1. Time between you were recruited and you start to work took almost one year that as spared by the company. Is it a normality in japan? What have you done in that “blank”?
Yes, it’s very normal that Japanese students have that “blank” between the time they get offers and they actually start to work. But they start job-hunting a year before the graduation, so they are still students.
Japanese school year starts from April, and ends in March (i.e. This school year is April 2017 – March 2018). There are many students who have been on job-hunting right now and those will graduate from university / college in March 2019. I think they mostly get job offers during this April to July. So, after that, students can focus on whatever they want to do. Some of them finish writing thesis, some travel around, and some study hard to get enough credits to graduate.
In my case, I had already graduated from university at that time when I started job-hunting due to my knees’ situation. I didn’t need to worry about a thesis, nor credits. What I decided to do was to travel wherever I had wanted to visit for a long time, which happened to be Ireland, the UK, and the Philippines. So a few moths after I got the offer from my company, I started working as a part time at kids photo studio and cram school, and had worked for five consecutive months to earn money. Eventually, I visited four countries, the Philippines, the UK, Ireland and China (Shanghai).
Besides working and traveling, I spent my time reading books and watching movies, which is the best way to spend time! I love any kinds of movies besides horror. My favorite one is “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, a German comedy from 1997.
Q2. The blank (between you were recruited and you started to work) is very different from Taiwan. Most of students in Taiwan will immediately start to work after they graduate from university. I would like to know in that blank did you make some preparations for new job besides traveling around the world?
I’m not sure it could be called “preparation” but I did read books and studied English besides earning money and traveling around.
I read books both business books and non-business books; ‘The Shift: The Future of Work Is Already Here’ by Lynda Gratton, 働き方(Hatarakikata) written by a well-known Japanese entrepreneur Kazuo Inamori, “Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War” by Leymah Gbowee (a Liberian peace activist), and “Without You, There is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea’s Elite” by Suki Kim, etc.. lots kinds of books! ☺
I also spent time studying English. I set goals; passing The EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency Grade 1, and scoring more than 950 with TOEIC. And yes, I made it. I passed on EIKEN Grade-1, and TOEIC 970. I think my vocabulary got improved. And I believe it will help me during work and daily bases.
Q3. In connection between your specialty, i.e. what you majored in, and job a serious consideration for you? Did it affect how you chose current job?
No, there’s no relationship between my major and what my company does. I had once considered researching international law or human rights to save people who have struggles to have equalities, but realized laws and regulations are sometimes powerless. And I thought I wanted to do something more close to people, something that can understand what people need. So during my university era, I decided to work at private sector, not something related to law. I have never regretted that I chose to study law, and I think that will help me in the future in some way.
What made me think to work in health industry was my knees’ situation. During the rehabilitation, I had been depressed and lost confidence at all because I was not able to walk and have chance to talk with others, and I felt like I was behind in my life. After that experience, I noticed that there’s a strong relationship between mental and physical health, and I thought I wanted to make people more confident and grow self-esteem. In addition to this, I had wanted to study business first to understand how market works. One of the reasons why I chose my company as the first step of my career is that it has many kinds of products – eye drops to skin lotions – which means there are various approaches to what people need. The other reason is its employees. They are open-minded and passionate. I hope to make people happy and confidence through my work and products. My new life just began.
Q4. The type of your job was affected by your knee problems, did it also affected by the experience of NPO e-Education?
Yes, my experience of e-Education totally affected my career decision. As I mentioned before, I’d like to work for kids and women struggling with being confident or having difficulties to be independent in the future. The reason why I chose to work in health industry is mostly because of my knees’ problems. Though the reason why I decided to work for people struggling with being confident is based on my experience during e-Education. I met a lot of kids/students during the project, not only at classrooms, but also at streets in Manila. When I saw kids/people on streets or in poverty areas, they looked like they didn’t have self-esteem or confidence. I shouldn’t have judged by just seeing them, but I thought like “There’s something I can do. I want to make them smile and be confident.” Supplies and financial assistance may help them, but I want to support their mental aspects first. Without that, they can’t keep make living and being independent by themselves.
Q5. Now, your job has totally no relationship with your major. What do your parents think? Do they agree with your decision?
Yes, they agree with my decision. They let me do what I want to do, and support me all the time. I think it’s not rare that students in Japan get a job nothing related to their major in university.. I guess! My boss surprised knowing that my major is law though.
Q6. Did you meet the difficulty when you looked for a job? When you met the difficulty, did you feel depressed? And how did you adapt yourself?
Umm, both yes and no. Almost all companies want to hire students in university who will graduate the coming year. But during the time I started job-hunting, I already graduated and some companies did not allowed me to hand in resumes. I was little upset, but I just thought like “Well, the company doesn’t have flexibility..” That’s all. I just looked for companies which suit my personality and what I want to do with my career.
Q7. In Japan, do you think looking for a job is difficult for the youth?
I think the situation has gotten better recently. According to the survey of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 97.6% of students who did job-hunting and graduated from university/college in March 2017 got at least one offer from companies. The rate has been higher through the six years. I think one of the reasons of this situation is that the number of children has been decreased in Japan but companies need employees to replace those who retired.
Q8. Could you share your job experience with us?
I have been excited to learn new things every day, but I feel responsibility for being a part of my company at the same time. The training is a mix of fundamental and practical leanings, such as learning the structure of my company, details of each department and product, study of marketing and sales, and making mock proposals for both domestic and international market. There are another 25 trainees taking this training with me.
Well, I was just assigned to the purchasing/procurement a.k.a. manufacturing business department. What I will do is to buy materials for products and packaging, handing the manufacturing, searching materials for new products and so on.
Q9. You’ve mentioned matrimony is somewhat like a “life goal” for many 20s Japanese young women. Tell us more about it.
It used to be very common that marriage is a life goal for young girls in Japan. And yes, some of them still think the same way. For instance, my grandmother thinks that getting marriage is the best thing for girl’s life. She wants me to get married as soon as possible. One of my old friends wants to get married so that she won’t need to work ever after. But I think the situation has been changing recently because the number of girls who would like to work for a long time to pursue their dreams has been increased. For me, marriage is not my goal. It's one of the options to make my life happier.
Q10. Visions toward life before 35?
I think I will work for kids and women struggling with being confident or having difficulties to be independent in overseas. I’m not sure how and which sector I will be in –private, non-profit, public or something else, but this is what I want do in the future. For the first few years of my career, I will focus to learn business and markets, but I may will change my job or go back to study at the certain point.
I also have some thoughts for my life, such as getting marriage and having kinds. I'm not rushing though. I'd love to be a mom who pursue her career and support her family, like Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
For now, I focus on what I have to do and get skills and knowledge little by little so that I can work professionally.
