RECRUIT

Until recently, I was in charge of the construction project for the Hasuda Smart Interchange (In-bound). Its completion has made it possible to enter and exit Expressway without having to go to the next interchange, significantly reducing traffic congestion on surrounding roads.

Seeing the work I was involved in reflected on the map gave me an unprecedented sense of accomplishment, and I strongly felt that I was contributing to society by making Expressway easier to use for local residents and drivers. When I saw the first car pass through at the opening ceremony, I was overwhelmed with emotion.

When I was in junior high school, Expressway was built in what used to be an empty area near my home, an interchange was constructed, and as a result, new factories and housing complexes were built in the surrounding area. I realized then just how much Expressway can change a Expressway area. Also, when I was job hunting, I heard from a senior from my university who had joined this company, and I learned that there was a field in the company where I could utilize my knowledge of electricity. At the same time, I learned about the impact that Expressway have on people's lives and local communities, and I came to want to support the region through Expressway.

Our company has a system where employees are transferred to different locations, and when I heard about the experiences of various people at different workplaces, it sounded fun. I was excited about the environment where I could gain various experiences in different places.

Until recently, I was the type to immediately ask for help whenever I encountered a problem, but now I've learned to take some time to think things through beforehand. I can now come up with an answer on my own and then offer my opinion by saying, "This is what I think, but..."

I've also gradually acquired technical knowledge. For example, I was able to translate a road information sign displaying traffic information into CAD (computer-aided design), simulate which position would be easiest for drivers to see, determine the optimal installation location, and propose it, which was then adopted. That was a moment when I truly felt I had grown.

I like that the company is constantly evolving, actively adopting new technologies and creating a more comfortable working environment. At our company, if you're working hard, senior colleagues will take an interest in what you're doing and offer information like, "This might be helpful." Currently, I'm working on the design of a new toilet building for a service area, and I'm experimenting to see if I can create a toilet that showcases the charm of the region. Because I get energy from those around me, it's easier to take on challenges, and I feel like taking on challenges fills me up with energy.

During my job search, I learned that Expressway support local economies and employment by supporting logistics. I thought that by maintaining and improving these Expressway, I could revitalize various regions in eastern Japan. This feeling was especially strong in Muroran, my first assignment location, where the population decline was quite advanced. In the future, I would like to be involved in developing the Expressway infrastructure to realize logistics MaaS* and revitalize future local communities.

*Logistics MaaS (Mobility as a Service): A new concept of mobility that utilizes ICT to cloudify transportation and seamlessly connect all modes of transport other than private cars.