I majored in liberal arts in university. I never had a particularly strong desire to work in the construction industry, and during my job search, I looked at a wide range of companies primarily in retail and service industries. While I received offers from several companies, none felt quite right, and I was unsure whether it was a good idea to start my career at any of them.
That is when I encountered the WILL GROUP. I initially applied without thinking too deeply, but as the interviews progressed, I found myself drawn to the personalities and vibe of the employees. I will never forget the interaction I had with the sales manager I met during my final interview. They listened closely to my past experiences with setbacks and offered words of encouragement, which made me feel I wanted to work with these people.
I was a little giddy when I decided to join the company, but as April drew closer, my anxiety grew. Could I handle it physically? Would I be able to succeed without specialized knowledge? There were some sleepless nights the days right before I joined.
Then April arrived. After finishing training, I was assigned to a work site in August. The site was for a redevelopment project at a major station in the greater Tokyo area. It was a massive plan that involved constructing a new station, demolishing the old station building, constructing a new station building, and even developing pedestrian bridges and overpasses. The construction period would span nearly a decade. As a first-year rookie, it was far too big a challenge. My anxiety about whether I could handle it never went away, but this served as the start of a new challenge for me.
When I first went to the work site, what struck me immediately was the unique work style used in railway construction. Not only is there daytime work, but there are processes that can only be done at night, when tracks can be shut down, which is why shifts combine day and night work. Getting my internal clock used to this rhythm took some time, but this let me experience the intensity of nighttime construction and the sense of solidarity at the work site unseen during the day, which was a valuable learning experience.
One unforgettable experience from that time is when I was assigned to pick materials to assemble a stage for temporary smoking areas and restrooms, and I overlooked some of the necessary materials. Work came to a halt, and a worker on site advised me, “Take a closer look at the work site. There is a lot you can learn.” While I at first felt frustrated, those words helped me develop a habit of observing things in meticulous detail. What I learned then now serves as the foundation for improving the precision of my work.
As someone with no experience from a liberal arts background, I am often asked, “Why did you choose this industry?” One time, a construction site manager I respect asked me, “Are you really committed to continuing in this line of work?” Those words were like throwing down the gauntlet, stirring up within me a desire to prove myself through results. I did not want people to think I had just joined on a whim or would quit soon. That feeling served as a driving force, and step by step I built up trust by learning everything I could and mastering the work.
While taking on new challenges involves hardship, it results in true fulfillment. As I watched the temporary structures I had drawn up actually take shape and witnessed the building framework gradually rising during the night shifts, I felt proud to be part of this enormous project.
One day, a local resident who lives along the rail line spoke to me. This person, a wheelchair user, told me, “This station only has stairs, so I normally walk to the neighboring station to board the train. I’ve been waiting ten years for this. I’m really happy to have a new station building. Keep up the good work.” In that moment, I felt my endeavors were tied to the hopes of the people in the community. I felt strongly that I was doing work meaningful to society, which made me want to work even harder.
Work at a construction site is never easy. There are days with long hours that are physically demanding, but what makes this work distinctive is that the learning and sense of accomplishment are just as great. Each time I faced hardship, I thought about how I could overcome it and kept taking on new challenges. Those experiences have helped me grow, and I came to truly feel that if you approach things with resolve, it will always lead to a sense of fulfillment.
My current goal is to obtain a Class 1 Construction Management Engineer certification. Having five years of practical experience will make me eligible for the exam, so I definitely want to try. Earning that certification will bring me closer to a position where I can take command and be entrusted with construction sites. While my experience is still limited, someday I would like to be a technician in charge of my own projects, able to run sites based on my own judgement.
This project is still several years from completion, but I would like to see it through to the end. I want to turn all the anxiety I felt when I first joined the company and my frustrating experiences at the construction site into fuel for growth to complete this single station over the course of a decade. I am certain the sense of accomplishment gained from this will be a source of pride for the rest of my life.
To maintain work performance, staying in good shape both mentally and physically is vital. I reset on my days off by listening to my favorite music and spending time with friends, which prepares me for my next endeavor. Making a habit of switching between work and personal time lets me approach my everyday work feeling fresh.
There is something I wish to convey to those considering a career in the construction industry: “The work may not be easy, but if you dive in with resolve, you’re bound to gain a sense of fulfillment.” I myself was inexperienced and wrestled with anxiety, but I now feel definite growth as I aspire to achieve. The joy I experienced when the local resident told me that they’d been waiting for this station trumps all of the hardship.
Having opportunities to aspire to achieve things is what allows people to grow. Seizing the opportunities you are given allows you to transform them into the power to generate social value. I hope to keep connecting today’s endeavors to tomorrow.
