Experienced Hire: Working in General Affairs

We interviewed Akiko Yokota, who joined Keio University "twice." Having left and returned, she shares her unique perspective on the appeal of Keio University, her experiences in different departments, and her thoughts on her work.

Originally, I dreamed of becoming a museum curator and obtained the necessary qualifications during my undergraduate years. However, it's a highly specialized and competitive field, so I decided to go to graduate school to deepen my research. There, I earned a librarian qualification, which shifted my goal to becoming a librarian, and I started wanting to work at a university. After job hunting, I began working at Keio University in 2006. After about eight years, I changed jobs. Following a period of working at another university, I was rehired by Keio University in 2016 through their experienced hire program, which is a somewhat unusual career path.

When I first joined Keio University as a new graduate in 2006, I spent my first month and a half doing on-the-job training at the Admissions Center. For six years during my undergraduate and master's studies, I had worked as a tutor at a preparatory school, advising prospective students on entrance exams. The head of the Human Resources Section at the time told me it would be a good experience to understand the flow of operations from admissions to enrollment from the university's perspective, which led to my training assignment at the Admissions Center. The people were warm, the work was rewarding, and I was able to acclimate to the workplace very enjoyably. Afterward, I was officially assigned to the Human Resources Department at the Mita Campus, where I was in charge of attendance management, recruitment, training, and labor management.

Keio University is a very comfortable place to work. If I were to list three key points, they would be: the close relationships between faculty and staff and a culture of mutual respect; a supportive environment with comprehensive childcare and nursing care support systems and employee benefits; and an open atmosphere that allows for smooth communication with superiors, colleagues, and subordinates. And underlying all of this is the fact that the people who work here are truly wonderful. They are always kind in our daily interactions and never fail to lend a hand when I'm in trouble. It's an environment truly blessed with great people.

After eight years of working tirelessly, I felt I had been running on autopilot. When I paused to think about my career, I felt the need to place myself in a new environment and decided to change jobs.

Thanks to the experience and knowledge I had accumulated in the Human Resources Department, I was mainly assigned to HR-related departments at my new job as well, where I believe I further enhanced my skills in the HR field. I also expanded my professional network and broadened my perspective on work, which I feel helped me grow as a professional. Just then, I heard that Keio University was conducting an experienced hire program for former full-time employees who had worked at the university for five years or more and had left within the last five years. I wasn't without some internal conflict about the idea of "returning," but I took the leap and decided to apply.

Ready for a fresh start, I made up my mind and returned to Keio University in 2016, where I was assigned to the General Affairs Division at the Shinanomachi Campus. I was quite nervous about "rejoining," but everyone in the workplace gave me a truly warm welcome. Coincidentally, many people I had worked closely with during my time in the Human Resources Department, as well as familiar colleagues from my cohort, were also at the Shinanomachi Campus. This allowed me to settle into my work as if I had been at Keio University all along. I feel truly fortunate.

There's something I realized after leaving Keio University. It's that Keio University is a leader in various fields and has a significant impact. I had more opportunities to notice this from the outside than when I was working here, and I came to recognize the immense social trust placed in Keio University. When it was decided I would return to Keio University, I felt a renewed sense of responsibility not to betray that social trust. At the same time, I was reminded that working for such an influential organization is a great source of professional fulfillment.

My current department also serves as the General Affairs Division for Keio University Hospital (Keio Hospital), so we handle various administrative tasks related to the School of Medicine and the hospital. My responsibilities are wide-ranging, including organizing ceremonies and events for the School of Medicine, maintaining the system for protecting personal medical information, coordinating applications for hospital-related subsidies, and handling public relations for the School of Medicine and the hospital. Last year, in 2017, the School of Medicine celebrated its 100th anniversary, and we held a commemorative symposium, ceremony, and reception in May. The General Affairs Division, where I work, served as the administrative office for the event, collaborating with the School of Medicine Planning Office and the Shinanomachi Campus International Office. As the 100th anniversary of the School of Medicine was an unprecedented event, we had to build it from scratch. Faculty and staff worked together across their roles, holding numerous meetings and discussions, and ensuring thorough preparation and confirmation. On the day of the event, about 1,000 guests, Keio University alumni, Keio students, and faculty and staff gathered for a very grand occasion. I felt a great sense of relief and joy that the important day went smoothly and concluded as a great success.

In 2020, Keio University Hospital will celebrate its 100th anniversary. In advance of this, the new hospital building (Building 1) will open in May 2018, and the University Hospital Administrative Office is leading the preparations for the completion ceremony and public viewing. Similar to the School of Medicine's 100th anniversary, I feel it is a very valuable opportunity to be closely involved in such a once-in-a-century occasion. The General Affairs Division is in a position that provides a broad overview of both the university and the hospital, so I have had more opportunities to learn about aspects of Keio University I didn't know before. I truly feel that my daily work here is providing me with invaluable experience for my future career at Keio University.