Hello. This is Iwaki from the Production Department.
I've realized that I've been working in the workplace for a long time, but since joining Monosus, I've realized that there are some questions that I have difficulty asking.
"What kind of work do you want to do, Iwaki-san?"
When I was asked this question, I froze for a moment. Then I mumbled, "Hmm, I wonder..." and felt like I was a failure, unable to give a clear answer. It seemed that I had never clearly drawn a picture of the kind of work I wanted to do and had never worked towards that goal.
Is it because I can't answer "What kind of work do I want to do?" I have thought that, but wait, it's not like that. I'm sure there are many satisfactions and joys that you have felt through your work so far... I would like to think about this and that about work while looking back on myself.
I thought work was something I had to do
Monosus is a relatively new company, so almost all of our members have experience changing jobs. Everyone's backgrounds are really diverse. Some of us changed jobs from the web industry, but we have worked in a variety of industries, including apparel, food and beverage, publishing, advertising agencies, etc.
I had been working for the same company (manufacturer) since I graduated from university. When I was looking for a job, it was a super ice age a few years after the bubble burst, so it was hard to get a job offer. It was a stable and proper company with no transfers... I wasn't looking for a job because I liked it or because it was the job I wanted to do.
When I first joined the company, I was a general office worker (at the time, most companies had a division between general office workers and general office workers), and my work was mostly routine work. To be honest, I didn't think it was interesting because I was basically doing the same work for years. I felt like I was convincing myself, "Well, this is my job."
After that, my responsibilities changed, and about 10 years after joining the company, I was transferred from my hometown of Fukuoka to Tokyo. I became involved in product advertising, sales promotion, and marketing, and learned how to work with people both inside and outside the company to advance projects.
Every day I worked on the missions given to me in a large, long-established organization with a highly specialized environment. At the time, work was something that "came down" to me, and there was no choice as to whether I wanted to do it or not; it was something that "had to be done."
Being able to say, "This is what I want to do"
A few years after coming to Tokyo, I couldn't see myself continuing to work there, so I quit. Some time passed, and I ended up joining Monosus. The first thing that surprised me was how many people said, "I want to do this kind of work." On the other hand, there were also many people who said, "I don't like this" or "I don't want to do this."
Wait, is it okay to say "I don't want to do this" at work?
Up until then, I had never said "No" to a job, and I had never seen anyone say so, so it was quite a culture shock for me. At the time, I thought it was impossible, but being able to honestly say things like "I want to do this" or "I don't want to do this" began to look healthy and dazzling.
Of course, it's not about selfish likes and dislikes, but about choosing something that matches the direction you want to go in, developing your strengths, and trying new things... Because it's a new company, people and work can change rapidly. While I was excited about this environment, I didn't have a strong desire to do anything in particular, so I just worked on the tasks that were asked of me. Sometimes I wondered if I was no good if I didn't have anything I wanted to do.
It becomes a job when people ask for it
I've been working at Monosasu for over five years, and my responsibilities include starting up a BtoB team, web projects (direction, planning, content writing, etc.), managing sales and general affairs for the department, supporting my busy superiors, and being involved in the Kamiyama Monosasu Juku (vocational training school) and the Food Hub Project. I'm currently also involved in editing the Monosasu website.
To be honest, when I'm asked what my job is, I mumble. I've often been told by colleagues that "I don't know what you do at all." Unlike specialist jobs such as designers or coders, I wonder if my job is something like a "niche industry," and I sometimes feel uneasy about myself because I don't know what I do. However, one day I heard these words and it made me stop.
It only becomes a job when someone needs it.
I see, what I've been doing has been "being needed by others". And "being needed by others = what I'm good at". I see! So that's it. I don't have a particular "job I want to do", but there are heaps of "jobs I'm good at and needed". If I can value the job in front of me and enjoy it, then I'm doing pretty well for myself. Having this realization made me feel a lot better.
Without experience, it won't become a "skill"
If you have a clear idea of what you want to do, it's great to go all out and work towards it. But if you can't do the job you want, or you can't find what you want to do, I think it's a good idea to first try to face the job in front of you.
The strange thing about work is that you can't learn it without experience. No matter how passionate you are, no matter how much knowledge you learn, it's not enough. Without experience, your skills will not be applicable to the job in most cases.
That's why I think one of the attractions of working in a "company" is being able to gain experience and taste (since you're practically forced to do it). Even if it's not something you particularly want to do, as long as you face the work in front of you sincerely and steadily return the ball, you'll increase the number of things you're good at. As a result, the range of work you're required to do will expand, and before you know it, you'll see the "work you want to do" or you may be getting closer to it. (Or you may clearly realize that "this isn't it.")
I also worked in general affairs, accounting, logistics, and sales administration at my first company for nearly 10 years, which helped me understand the origins and structure of companies and other aspects of society, and has become a foundational strength for my work. It was never what I wanted to do, and I felt unfulfilled at the time, but I feel that all of those experiences, including those in advertising, sales promotion, and marketing that I have had since, are being put to good use in various ways in my work at Monosus.
How should I put it? Yes, all experiences become "work ability". Even if you haven't aimed for anything in particular, if you face it seriously, the path will open up to you (I think. Even if the speed is slow). I feel this when I look at the people around me. People who face the work in front of them sincerely end up being sought after by many people. I really feel that work is something that you can't fake.
And today, the ball
It’s nice to have something you want to do.
The sight of them heading towards that goal is dazzling.
But just because you don't have anything you want to do doesn't mean it's no good.
Just because you're not doing what you want to do doesn't mean you're not shining.
I still don't have a particular "job I want to do," but one day I may see what I want to do and shift my focus to it. Until then, I hope to be able to do a good job by utilizing my "strengths" and facing the work that is required. With this in mind, I continue to return the ball every day.
By the way, since I started working at Monosus, I've become able to say what I don't want to do. This is a big step forward for me.
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