Ryuichi Kioka, Team Leader, Human Resources Team, IDOM Co., Ltd.

Turning this once-in-a-century era of great change into a business opportunity

■ Profile

After joining the company as a new graduate in 2004, he worked in store sales, rising to the position of store manager. After that, he was transferred to the head office, where he worked in the franchise business promotion and overseas business departments, and is currently working as the HR team leader and member of the management strategy office.

IDOM is a major car dealership with approximately 500 stores nationwide, including Gulliver. In 2016, the company changed its name to its current name and is aiming for a new stage. We spoke to the company about the appeal of the industry and their expectations for students.

■Please tell us about the characteristics and appeal of the car sales industry.

　The automotive industry is currently undergoing a once-in-a-century transformation. It is characterized by the shift from an era of "ownership" where cars were purchased to an era of "use and sharing" with car sharing and subscriptions. This means that the industry will be faced with turbulent, rough seas, and adapting to these changes will be what makes the future of the industry interesting.
　Furthermore, there are a huge number of companies entering this industry, and even our company, the largest player, only has a single-digit market share. There is still room for growth in the current business, and there are likely blank areas of business that are not yet visible. Going forward, we would like to offer a variety of car-related proposals to society and customers. By doing so, we believe that the number of options will increase, which will in turn create business opportunities.
　The fact that we don't have a clear vision of the future means that we can create new industries and new ways of working ourselves, and that everyone who works can play a leading role.
　Another appealing aspect of sales and retail work is that you can deepen your relationships with customers, and customers who have spent hundreds of thousands of yen on you will thank you in return. Customers will remember your name and say things like, "I want to buy from you, I bought it because of you." Once you experience this joy, you won't be able to quit.

■What kind of people are you looking for?

　We are looking for people who are not only independent but also proactive and who are willing to take on challenges on their own. Also, we are looking for people who believe in their own potential.
　In order to become such people, I would like all university students to experience a variety of things while they can. By experiencing a variety of things, I would like them to understand that people have different values ​​and be prepared to accept a variety of values. This will lead to improving the quality of their customer service and communication.
　At our company, regardless of the type of job you wish to pursue when you join the company, we always require you to gain experience working in a store. This provides an opportunity to first grasp the reality of things, such as how to interact with customers to make them happy, what kind of proposals will interest them, and what actions lead to complaints. No matter what kind of service you provide, if it is not accepted by customers, there is no future. With this experience of working in a store as your foundation, you will move on to the next phase.
　I also tell my employees to "work with the awareness that you are the manager of this company." This means that the company is "your place" for each employee. Our company culture includes the phrase "equality in discussion." This is to encourage everyone to make proposals and say what needs to be said, regardless of who they are.

■Can you give a message to university students?

　Aside from taking entrance exams, job hunting is a difficult challenge as it is the first time you are accepted or rejected by society, but there is no "result" such as success or failure in job hunting. It is merely a passing point in your life, leading to future employment or job changes. Don't think that job hunting will determine anything. Our top salesperson has been a woman for four consecutive years, and for example, someone who wanted to work in an administrative position has become a great success in sales. I want you to believe in your potential and accept yourself.

Student newspaper October 2020 issue Bunkyo University 1nd year student Reon Kitajima