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Employee Interview: 3

Employee Interviews

Shin-Etsu Challengers

3

I want to hone my skills and launch projects in a work environment where women can thrive

K.M.
Special Functional Products Department

Joined Shin-Etsu Chemical in 2019. Worked in the Finance & Accounting Department before assuming current position in December 2019.

As a sales representative for battery anode materials, follows up with customers in Japan, China and Taiwan, and is also in charge of competition and market research.

Interested in work that supports people's lives with materials

The reason I decided to join Shin-Etsu Chemical was because I wanted to do work that supports people's lives with materials that fully incorporate Japanese technologies. Having studied in France for a year while in college, I noticed the meticulous Japanese attention to detail that goes into even something as simple as the lid on a bottle of salad dressing. I was moved by how these materials enrich people's lives from behind the scenes, so I focused my job search on materials and chemical manufacturers. In the process, I learned that Shin-Etsu Chemical is a Japanese material manufacturer that supports manufacturing behind the scenes, and that most of our materials are used in final products that are essential to people’s daily lives. I was also interested in Shin-Etsu Chemical because it has many top-selling products and is highly regarded both in Japan and internationally. In fact, the products I am in charge of, although they may be hidden from the public eye, are used as materials in smartphones, EVs, and other end products that improve people's lives and the global environment.

Surprised by the speed of China and the success of women there

My workplace is a very good place to work. Since the sales team for anode materials is small, the distance between employees and their superior is close and there is plenty of communication. It's an environment where we can immediately seek advice if there is anything we are unsure of how to deal with, and if we raise our hand to volunteer, we can try a variety of different things. At the same time, it's a workplace where we can learn a lot. When I first visited customers in China, where all the major battery manufacturers are located, I was amazed by the speed of business there. At the same time, it was a wake-up call that if I would not further hone my language and communication skills, I would miss out on business opportunities. In China, they quickly adopt anything they think is good or a trend to try to meet the expectations of end users. I learned a lot about how to make decisions and deal with things with a sense of speed.

I was also inspired by the fact that there are so many women who are leading teams as managers and making a difference in the sales and research sites of Chinese battery and auto parts manufacturers. In recent years, it has become common for both men and women to take childcare leave, including at Shin-Etsu Chemical, and many employees are coming back after maternity leave and working shorter hours. In the Special Functional Products Department in particular, telecommuting and flexible work hours are also readily available, making it an excellent place for women to work.

Want to launch a project from scratch while improving my communication skills

My goal is to improve my communication skills more and increase my direct contact with customers without relying on trading companies so that I can understand customers’ true needs and become a close, trusted partner. Another important goal is to develop new customers and projects without getting caught up in the scope of job responsibility and to pave the way for mass production. As a sales representative for a material manufacturer, my biggest goal is to start a new project from scratch and then see it actually contribute to people’s lives and the environment.

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