Graduate Interview
Nitori Co., Ltd.
XU Wenbin（Graduated the Graduate School of Commerce in 2016）
Working behind the scenes to support participants
After graduating from university in China, I decided to study overseas at Waseda because I wanted to obtain a deeper understanding of business. Soon after arriving in Japan, I found out about the ICC (Intercultural Communication Center) during the orientation for new admissions and, seeking opportunities for exchange with Japanese students, I started participating in various events. I particularly remember the China-Japan-Korea Speak Your Mind Camp, at which we discussed a varied range of current issues and other topics. I gradually developed a desire to become a staff member myself and provide exchange opportunities to international students, and I eventually did become an ICC student staff leader one year after coming to Japan.
Prior to that, as a participant, I had thought that student staff leaders had a pretty glitzy job, but in reality I was surprised to fi nd that the work largely consisted of mundane tasks behind the scenes. When I helped organize the China-Japan-Korea Speak Your Mind Camp, I tried to encourage the participants to strength their relationships during break times. As a result, many of the participants continued their exchanges in workshops after the camp, and I remember feeling a sense of reward from this development. Rather than taking a self-centered attitude, I learned that our role was to understand what the participants desired from events and provide support so that they could obtain it.
An attitude of being willing to try anything is important as a student
I decided to seek employment in Japan because I wanted to make use of my business major and study experience in the country, and because I wanted to try working at various companies. I only found out about Nitori by chance; a reminder of how life can be signifi cantly influenced by the most unexpected connections. This is why it is important as a student to put aside your preconceptions and be prepared to give anything a try. As opportunities for widening your perspective and exploring future possibilities, I also recommend trying various events, such as ICC talk sessions. Please make use of the valuable opportunities that only Waseda can offer to directly listen to people who are active in various fi elds.
【Encounters at WASEDA】Learning the importance of planning while considering the potential for attracting participants and overall feasibility
The area in which I particularly struggled as an ICC student staff leader was in making plans. I learned the importance of compiling plans when thinking about whether the content of events fi tted with the goals of ICC activities and the needs of students, and in giving ample consideration to overall feasibility and the potential for attracting participants. One of the events I organized was a lecture on the theme of youth consumer behavior in China. Through experiencing the various processes, including sending requests to lecturers, advertising the event, setting up the venue, working as MC, collating the fi ndings of the post-event questionnaire, and staging a review meeting, I was able to acquire business etiquette, teamwork, and the capacity to get things done by steadily advancing through tasks according to plan. I remember that more than 80 students gathered for the event, even though it was raining on the day.
- Honing my Japanese and taking a master’s course
For one year before I entered the Graduate School of Commerce, I learned Japanese at Waseda’s Japanese Education Research Center. There, I also enjoyed many exchanges with international students from various countries.
- Enjoying conversations with students at ICC events
ICC’s Japanese Chat Club was also a good opportunity to widen my circle of friends. I first joined as a participant, but later was became involved on the organization side.
- Analyzing consumer behavior based on a questionnaire
I majored in marketing at the Graduate School of Commerce. I compiled my thesis based on a questionnaire survey of consumer behavior among students.
【Current Job】In a diverse working environment, I try to seek careful mutual understanding
Since joining the company, I have gained experience while moving between numerous stores and departments. Each store has a different scale, character, and duties, and being able to experience a new environment each time I move suits my personality, which prefers change. Since sales can be transformed simply by changing the way products are displayed, I get a thrill from seeing how my ideas can be directly translated into results only a few days later.
The work environment, which includes student jobs, part-timers, and employees of various ages and ways of thinking, is very much like a place for cross-cultural communication, and I strive to achieve mutual understanding through conversation. My ICC experiences with cooperating toward the same goals alongside team members from diverse backgrounds continue to prove useful today.
※This article is reprinted from Future Design Guidebook 2020.
