Induction Training in Japan

When a new employee starts working for a private company in Japan, rather than immediately assigning the recruit to the actual workplace, it is common for the company to provide training. Specifically, the following training is conducted to give new employees the basic knowledge to engage in business as new working members of society.

①Business Etiquette
Themes covered include business greetings, how to exchange business cards, information on seating – including selecting kamiza (seats for senior ranked persons) and shimoza (seats for lower ranked persons), making phone calls and writing emails, etc.

②Knowledge of the Company’s Business
Description of products and services, internal organization, the roles of each department, etc.

③Knowledge of Internal Operations
Attendance management, internal application processes, operation of business systems, preparation for telework, etc.
Additional details on the training are explained below.
In some cases, ①Business Etiquette training is conducted before joining the company as a form of pre-employment training for those who have been offered a job. This is often the first part of the training program, taking place before sessions about the company, and it aims to help new employees understand and master the common business etiquettes and social procedures expected of new working members of society.

For greetings and exchanging business cards, the instructor may give a classroom lecture, or have new employees practice exchanging business cards through group role-playing.

The important thing to remember here is that participants will be performing the same actions in their actual jobs, so they need to attend the training with the awareness that this practice is identical to how it will be in the workplace.

As a representative of a company, greeting and exchanging business with those outside cards creates an impression of the company. Therefore, the participants’ ability to behave with good manners will greatly affect the impression they give.

It is important to participate in the training with an awareness of the practical situation, not just expecting to learn through listening-only.

For ②Knowledge of the Company’s Business, training provides the knowledge of the company’s products and services, as well as organization.

This training aims to help the participants perform their duties smoothly with the knowledge of the company’s business. Themes include what kind of business the company is engaged in, what kind of products and services are used to generate sales and profits, and what kind of departments have been established.

In terms of knowledge of products and services, there may be opportunities to learn not only the names of products but also specialist terminology as well as the technology used in their development and manufacture.

In most cases, classroom-based lectures are provided, but in the case of manufacturing companies, there are occasions where participants can gain a better understanding by visiting factories and seeing the products being made. In some companies, the person in charge of each department will introduce their own department directly, this allows participants to ask more in-depth questions about the organization.

For ③Knowledge of Internal Operations, the training aims to share knowledge on administrative procedures in the company, such as how to maintain employee attendance records, and what procedures are required when an employee wants to take a day off. The training also includes how to operate the software and tools used for the application process, with the goal of having each employee be able to complete various processes on their own.

In recent years, many companies are introducing telework so presently training sessions are being held to teach employees how to perform the necessary procedures and tools to telework from home. Telework involves attendance management, and each company has its own policies in place, so it’s important to have a good understanding of a company’s rules before starting work.

I hope you find the information above is useful.

Lastly, induction training is not something that you learn in that time alone but there are always opportunities to practice.

Therefore, if there is anything you don’t understand, you should proactively ask questions to the senior employees and instructors around you, and learn as you go.

There are many things to learn immediately after joining the company, and it may seem daunting at times, but please take advantage of the training opportunities so that you can work, as an employee of the company, with pride.