Hello! I am Chang Choung Woo. I moved from South Korea to Japan by myself when I was fifteen, attended high school, and entered Rikkyo University. After graduating from the college, I took a job at ORICO.

When I started at ORICO, I first worked in a sales division in Chiba. After that, I applied for a position in a group company in Manila, Philippines. I then returned to the International Business Department in Japan, where I now work.

Why I came to Japan

In South Korea, academic credentials mean everything for a career. I decided to move abroad to Japan for high school because I wanted to put myself in a new environment where this culture is not as radical. Before coming to Japan, I only knew a little bit of Hiragana and Katakana, but I learned Japanese through Japanese TV series. I especially like old ones with Kimura Takuya in it.

What did you study in college?

At Rikkyo University, I majored in Community Development and Social Policy, specializing in Southeast Asian economy and poverty. Community Development and Social Policy is an academic discipline that aims to resolve social and personal issues from the perspective of a holistic social community, as an alternative to conventional top-down approaches led by the government. I specifically chose to study Southeast Asia because I always had a passion for the region. Another reason was that ORICO, which I was already interested in, had three bases in Southeast Asia.

Were you more focused on your studies or private activities?

To be honest, I was more focused on club activities than my studies. In the club, I organized events and performed as a DJ. I love music and was enthusiastic about spreading the music I like. For example, I organized a big event in a hall with a capacity of 200 people and invited foreign friends as well. I was always making an effort to make the events profitable.

What I wish I had done in college

Looking back to it, it would have been helpful if I had learned about financial statements when I was in college. They are difficult enough in Japanese, but in other countries like the Philippines, it is even harder because they are in English.

Challenges in job hunting

Before COVID-19, I had to attend interviews in a business suit. In spring and summer, it was hard for me because I am really not good with the hot weather in Japan. The Japanese culture of wearing business suits was difficult to get used to. I also struggled a bit with Tamatebako exam and WEB tests. Even though the questions themselves are quite basic ones from elementary or middle school, they seem much harder when they are in Japanese. I often got confused and could not solve them as quickly as I wanted to.

Advice for job hunters: Japanese linguistic skills

Japanese companies treat foreign students just as they would treat Japanese ones. So, it is important to study Japanese so that you will not be disadvantaged compared to Japanese competitors. I especially recommend watching TV commercials. Because their contents are compressed in a short duration of about fifteen seconds, they are very helpful in learning practical Japanese efficiently. When you get more used to Japanese, you can move on to a little more difficult things like TV series.

Business manners

It is important to know business manners that are unique to Japan. For example, exchanging business cards is a unique Japanese culture that you have to know when you work in Japan. I was trained in these manners after I was employed in ORICO, and it was very helpful. People who go to Japanese colleges also have opportunities to learn about these through part-time jobs or interviews.

Business sense

As a credit company, our main job is to temporarily substitute for the customers’ payments and to have them reimbursed afterwards. In this kind of job, it is important to have a good business sense. This means to accurately understand the situation, be considerate towards customers, and communicate appropriately with the boss. This skill can be acquired through your everyday work and from your colleagues as well as special training.

We currently have overseas businesses in Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. I work in the International Business Department, where I support operations and administrations in these countries. As well as internal governance, I am also involved in ‘external’ planning which is about expanding our business to the outside. For example, I am in charge of researching new enterprises, planning expansion towards new markets, investments, M&A, and so on. It is important to always collect information about markets abroad and to create proposals and projects based on the information. I also worked in the Philippines for one year by making use of an open recruitment, a system in which employees can apply to work abroad.

First experiences with sales

Before taking up a position in the International Business Department, I worked in a corporate sales division. I was a little anxious about corporate sales at first, but when I actually started working, it was very interesting and there was a lot I could learn. Of course, I occasionally made mistakes too, but mistakes are necessary for success. I struggled with the difference between the academic Japanese I was used to and the business Japanese that was required in writing approval documents, but it was a helpful experience in the end.

Why ORICO?

I have always wanted to work in the financial firm. Working in Japan as a foreign person is not only fun but can be quite difficult. For instance, we often have more trouble making credit cards and SIM cards. So, by working in a financial institution, I wanted to lend money and help people instead of borrowing it. I also felt that a social standing as a member of a financial institution would be a good status for me as a foreign person. I considered working in a bank, but banks seemed rather staid, so I decided to look for a credit company. I applied for ORICO because it was the first-ranking credit company then.

The work environment

Since there are a lot of young colleagues who are close to my age, we have much in common and the atmosphere is friendly. I feel secure because we can solve problems together even when there is trouble. My bosses are also very kind and support me with care.

Another thing I like about the environment is that there are opportunities for new challenges. For example, I was able to work in the Philippines for a year using an open recruitment system. With this system, anyone who volunteers gets a chance to experience working abroad. I have always wanted to work abroad, and I went to the Philippines in my third year because I wanted to first focus on building a firm understanding of my company. In the Philippines, I took up a position in the Corporate Planning Department and learned about operations and administration. I was also able to get to know the Philipino culture. In many of the Japanese companies, it is still rare for foreign employees to be actually able to work abroad. In comparison, ORICO is ready to support employees’ passion with enthusiasm.

Who is a good fit for ORICO?

A good fit

People who can enjoy challenges are a good fit. In our company, we have a new personnel system of open recruitment, in which you can volunteer for a position you want. Whereas it is still the norm for Japanese companies to assign employees to their positions, we are changing flexibly. For people who are eager to grow, ORICO will be the perfect environment.

Not so good

If you are a person who tends to do your work based only on past experiences or stereotypes, our environment might not be for you.