入社試験 Entrance examination

After failing the civil service exam following my university graduation during the job scarcity era, I saw a job opening at a consumer finance company that was still thriving amidst the economic downturn, despite being a small to medium-sized enterprise, and decided to apply.

After passing the general knowledge paper test, I had an interview with Kondo, the Area Manager who oversees the stores in the Kanto region. Kondo, who had a punch perm and wore an expensive-looking suit, looked like a yakuza and asked me if I knew "Naniwa Kin'yuudo," a manga. He led me into a reception room that seemed more fitting for a business negotiation than a job interview and asked me this question while we drank coffee.

"Oh, yes, I know it," I replied.

I was surprised by this question that wasn't at all related to the interview, but at the same time, I felt the tension I had been feeling until then ease.

"It's like that," Kondo said, smiling while speaking in Kansai dialect and probing my thoughts.

... Saying something like "It's like Naniwa Kin'yuudo in a manga" isn't something that's said in a job interview that will decide my hiring...I thought, wondering what kind of HR personnel would use such casual words. Nonetheless, I was drawn in by the powerful storytelling skills of Kondo, the frank Area Manager.

"Did you belong to the cheerleading club in college?" Kondo asked happily as he looked at my resume.

"This job is fun. It's a world where those with the ability rise to the top, and even I, a high school graduate, now have subordinates who graduated from first-rate universities," he continued.

"You seem to have done well on the exam, and I think you could do it. We'll decide to hire you. We'll contact you by the day after tomorrow."

Feeling like I was being carried away by Kondo's words, I easily decided to join the company after receiving the news of my acceptance the following day.