Recreating an Employee Visit! What Job Seekers Want to Know: The Joys and Rewards of Working at Sumitomo Corporation

Katagiri (recent job seeker)Why did you aspire to work for an integrated trading company?

KatoI enjoy interacting with people and was attracted to the idea of working together with many others to achieve something meaningful. During university, in addition to club activities, I coached kendo for middle and high school students, always thinking about how to raise collective motivation toward a single goal. The joy of achieving that goal was unparalleled, and I hoped to find a work environment where I could feel the same sense of accomplishment. During my own employee visits while job hunting, I realized that integrated trading companies often lead projects that involve many stakeholders. That convinced me to choose this path.

KatagiriI'm curious about the daily schedule of someone working at an integrated trading company. Could you describe your typical day and tasks?

KatoRight now, I'm mainly involved in office building development projects, primarily in Tokyo. This includes acquiring older buildings, constructing new ones or renovating existing structures. We are involved in every phase: acquiring land and buildings, designing the buildings, attracting tenants and even selling the completed properties. Multiple projects are often managed simultaneously. While my schedule varies daily, it generally includes any number of these tasks.

KatagiriDid you hope to be assigned to the Diverse Urban Development Group when you joined?

KatoActually, I originally hoped to join a retail-focused business because I love creating, and was interested in B2C work. But that year, retail positions were limited, and I was assigned to the former Metal Products Business Unit. Honestly, being assigned to this unexpected department made it difficult at times to stay motivated. However, I kept my interest in B2C projects in mind, telling myself, "Work hard here to build your skills and become the kind of employee who can succeed in any department."

Hearing from colleagues who moved from my original department to real estate, I became interested in real estate because it offered a tangible sense of accomplishment – being able to explain properties I had worked on and sell them in my own words. That led to my transfer, and here I am today.

KatagiriWhat do you find most rewarding about working in the Diverse Urban Development Group?

KatoOffice building development involves many phases: selecting and acquiring land, demolishing existing properties, design, construction, attracting tenants and sales. Being involved in all of these phases is the unique reward of real estate work at Sumitomo Corporation. Large real estate developers often split responsibilities by phase. As the real estate division of an integrated trading company, our manpower is limited, so we manage projects end-to-end. It's demanding, but it also means we have the authority and responsibility to make decisions throughout the project. Facing off with designers, contractors, consultants and brokers as a team to build something together is extremely fulfilling.

KatagiriCompared to your first year, in what ways do you feel you have grown?

KatoI've become better at seeing things from others' perspectives and tailoring my negotiations, explanations and communication accordingly. All work ultimately relies on human connections. When someone has a different opinion, I first recognize that their sense of "normal" may be different to mine. Then I evaluate their personality and mindset to find the best way to propose a solution and reach a middle ground. For those with a rational mindset, I streamline discussions and directly present quantitative explanations alongside the advantages and disadvantages. For those who value relationships and obligations, I make my approach more personal. It's about reading people and adjusting accordingly, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.