Colleagues who are 'half workmates, half friends' are actively contributing across various departments.
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Kikuchi (left in photo)
Cloud Service Promotion Dept.,
DL Group IT Systems Solution Group,
Joined in 2021 -
Iwaki (right in photo)
Insurance Systems Dept. No.2,
Insurance Open Systems Group No.2,
Joined in 2021
The bonds among colleagues deepened during a visit to Lake Kawaguchi in the autumn of our first year at the company
Iwaki Kikuchi-san and I were in different groups during the new employee training, so we didn’t have much interaction at that time, right!
Kikuchi I think the first time I talked to Iwaki-san, even just a little, was during the second half of the training when we had department-specific sessions. Even after being assigned to our respective departments, we had no work-related interactions at all. And in 2021, the year we joined, we didn’t really have opportunities for gatherings with our colleagues due to COVID. The first time we properly talked was when the ten of us colleagues went to a cottage at Lake Kawaguchi that autumn, right?
Iwaki Yeah, I remember well how we all talked about the kind of work we were doing.
Kikuchi Even before that, I had heard from our other colleagues that Iwaki-san was someone who was attentive and considerate of those around her. And when I actually talked to you, that impression was spot on—you really are a thoughtful person.
Iwaki Really? I feel like my impression of Kikuchi-kun changed after talking at Lake Kawaguchi. I realized you're actually someone I can talk to casually. Since most of our new employee training was remote, I only knew the serious-looking Kikuchi-kun through the screen. But meeting you in person, you were easy to talk to, very cheerful, and honestly, a bit different from what I expected.
Kikuchi I personally think I'm pretty easy to talk to, but people often tell me that my face looks a bit scary when I'm not saying anything. Haha.
Iwaki After our trip to Lake Kawaguchi, we ended up with more colleagues we could talk to casually.
Co-organized an event for prospective employees as a job-hunting advisor.
Kikuchi Both of us became job-hunting advisors for the 2024 fiscal year, and we worked together on activities like office tours and events for prospective employees. However, my impression of Iwaki-san didn’t change from the time at Lake Kawaguchi. I was impressed by how considerate you were toward the students.
Iwaki In the spring of 2024, we were responsible for conducting office tours for the successful candidates at the Toyosu office, with 8 employees rotating through the schedule. I worked with Kikuchi-kun a few times, but after the office tours, the Q&A sessions were where we had to be especially considerate—it was all about being mindful. Our words could leave either a positive or negative impression, so I was careful with how I spoke.
Kikuchi At the event for prospective employees in July, we paired up to present about our work as employees. Since we discussed and decided on the presentation content and method during online meetings, I really felt like it was the first time in my fourth year at the company that I was working with Iwaki-san.
Iwaki I feel like my impression of you changed quite a bit after that presentation. Your sense of responsibility toward your work is really strong, and I was impressed by how calmly you answered any questions from the students. It made me realize you have great adaptability. As for me, I tend to get nervous when trying to answer questions I hadn’t anticipated.
Kikuchi Is that so? I tried to add more impromptu responses to keep the students engaged, but Iwaki-san, you were really good at the presentation. There was that unexpected "killer pass" of a question, and you looked surprised, but you still answered it well. The presentation itself went smoothly, right?
Want to work on improving skills as a PM (Project Manager)
Kikuchi What are Iwaki-san's goals at work?
Iwaki Currently, I’m working as the PM for a project that involves migrating an existing on-premises system to the cloud using Azure, but I often get help from my boss. My goal is to improve my skills so that I can be trusted to manage the entire project on my own. In the future, I want to grow into a PM who can handle large-scale projects. Kikuchi-kun, you’re also working as a PM, right?
Kikuchi Our department handles business operations for related companies within the Dai-ichi Life Group, and for the 2024 fiscal year, I’m managing the project to migrate from Windows 10 to Windows 11. One of my responsibilities also includes helpdesk-type tasks. Our department handles a wide variety of projects, but while each individual project isn’t very large, my short-term goal is to participate in larger-scale projects to improve my skills. In the future, I want to be involved in the system strategy of a single company.
The reassurance of knowing that I have colleagues in various sections within the company.
Kikuchi Don’t you think colleagues from the same generation are a bit different from those in the same section? They’re like 'half workmates, half friends.' It’s easy to talk to them like friends, but since we’re also colleagues in the same company, I can ask them for work-related advice too.
Iwaki Yeah, when a colleague from my group is in a department related to my work, it’s easy to ask for advice on various things. I think they’re a valuable presence who provides a sense of peace of mind.
Kikuchi Let’s continue to support each other and provide peace of mind moving forward.
