Hello, everyone.
This is Enta.
What Does a Slope Engineer Think Is the Right Career? How Can You Figure It Out? (Part 1)
Last time, I talked about how I “preferred making things to working as a slope contractor” and about the different paths that led me to that line of work.
This time,"The Problem of How to Find the Right Job"About...
First, let me address a common misconception lol
Don't you think that if you join a major general contractor, you'll be able to really cut your teeth on the job site?
"If you're going to get a job in the construction industry, you should go with a major general contractor!"
I think a lot of people feel this way.
You probably have this image of working for a major general contractor and really going all out on big construction sites, right?
But what is the reality?
The operations of major general contractors aren't limited to on-site construction, you know.
Of course, there is on-site construction management, but there are also departments for design and cost estimation, sales and order acquisition, research and development, head office administration and accounting, safety management, materials and procurement, human resources and general affairs...
There are all kinds of departments.
Even if you join the company right out of college,I don't know where I'll be assigned。
Of course, we’ll discuss what you want to do, but,
Stories like, “I joined the company because I wanted to work in the field, but before I knew it, I was at headquarters making quotes,” aren’t that uncommon, lol.
It's not that I hate the job of preparing quotes at headquarters. It's just that...There are people for whom this is the right job。
The problem is,Joining a company without knowing whether you'll be able to do the work you want to do or the work you're suited forThat's it.
There’s absolutely no guarantee that you’ll get to work on construction sites just because you join a major general contractor.
This isn't limited to major general contractors; it's the same at any company of a certain size.
I often tell young people that general contractors with annual revenue of over 100 billion are basically like government agencies, lol.
If you’re the type of person who wants to handle on-site work from start to finish and tackle as many projects as possible, I’d recommend joining a local general contractor with annual sales under 5 billion lol.
Since work at major general contractors is overly specialized and fragmented, they may not be well-suited to handling everything from start to finish.
However, when it comes to general contractors, being able to choose from a wide range of specialized jobs is the best strategy.
It really is an insane amount of work, and since the scope of the work is completely different, this might actually be the best way to become an expert in a single field.
The Question of Whether Aptitude Tests Really Tell You Everything
I'm sure you've all done this at least once while job hunting.
A career aptitude test along the lines of, “You’re suited for this kind of job!”
So, honestly, how did it go? Did I get it right? lol
You can find them on sites like Rikunabi and Mynavi, too, right? There are all kinds—the Holland Vocational Interest Inventory, the Kraepelin Test, the MBTI, StrengthsFinder, and more.
Kraepelin is a common topic on the technical intern training program exams.
These areWhile it may indicate "tendencies," it does not guarantee compatibility with specific occupations.That's right.
For example, let's say the MBTI results show you're an "ISTJ (Administrator type)"—there's no way you could tell if that means you're suited for a job in slope stabilization or not, lol.
Well, that's something the boss or someone like that...
Because,Because the reality of the job of a slope maintenance worker isn't included among the diagnostic options,That's it.
"Slope Construction" doesn't appear as an option on aptitude tests, does it? It's just lumped into the broad category of "Civil Engineering and Construction."
But even within the civil engineering and construction fields, there are surveyors, paving contractors, bridge builders, tunnel builders, landscapers, slope engineers, foundation specialists, and pipe fitters—all of themA completely different jobThat's it.
Since aptitude tests are merely an indication of tendencies,Don't get overconfidentThat's what I think.
"Just give it a try" is ultimately the best approach
So how can you figure out what career is right for you?
In my opinion,The quickest way to find the right job is to “just give it a try.”I think that's the only option.
This is important.
Once you've been at a job for six months to a year, you start to get a rough idea of what it's all about.
My body is getting used to it, I'm starting to understand the workflow, and I'm getting a sense of the workplace dynamics.
Only then can you determine whether this is right for you.
However,I don't want you to use the wrong criteria for making your decision.That's right.
It's not about "whether you can or can't."
It's not even a matter of "whether it's fun or not."
"Whether it's right for me or not"Please base your decision on that.
These three may seem similar, but they’re actually completely different.
Time will tell whether it's possible or not.
If you put in the effort, anyone can get the hang of a job to some extent. Whether it happens quickly or slowly is another matter.
Whether you have fun or not depends on your environment. If your boss is the worst, it’s hell; if your team is the best, it’s heaven.
Even for the same job, the situation can change drastically depending on the environment, so it’s risky to use this as a criterion.
Well then"Whether it's right for me or not"What's that supposed to mean?
I'll write a little more about this next time.
Do you feel like your current job is a good fit for you? Or do you feel like something isn't quite right?
See you later.
