Majored in Japanese history in the Faculty of Literature at university. I spent my student days constantly thinking about how to convey information clearly, even to those who are not interested in history, which helped build my foundation as a technical writer. Currently, I am excited to learn new information every day, while also honing my management skills to ensure that projects progress smoothly, in addition to refining my expressions.
Reason for Joining the CompanyI have always been interested in jobs related to writing. Initially, during my job search, I looked at publishing and education companies, but ultimately both of those roles mainly involved editing, and there was no guarantee I would be assigned to the editorial department right away... That's when I found Human Science, which was looking for technical writers. As I reviewed their business activities, I realized that they were not affiliated with any particular manufacturer but operated as an independent production company creating instruction manuals, which made the opportunity to work on various products very appealing. Although I am still in my third year, I have seen many things that I would never have encountered in other jobs, and I feel reassured that my instincts were correct.
Since joining the companyWhen I first joined the company, my main role was to assist my seniors. I was primarily responsible for checking whether the content was accurate according to the manuscript, whether there were any layout issues, and whether the delivered data met the required format. The areas I worked in included manuals for printers, home appliances, and software for developers. At that time, I couldn't check the content in detail, but it was a valuable learning experience to see the types of projects the company was involved in. As a new graduate, I didn't feel it much, but when I asked those who joined mid-career, I learned that the human science training program for newcomers is quite thorough. For example, it's not enough for writers to just study writing; they also learn how to use specialized tools for translation during training. Thanks to that, I am now able to create schedules that take translation into account.
Current Business ActivitiesWe create complex manuals for software engineers. Our primary focus is on writing tasks, but we also oversee manual production as coordinators, in addition to creating original content. Specifically, this includes schedule creation, information gathering from clients, task allocation to team members, and progress management. The projects we handle involve translation from Japanese to English, so we first create the Japanese version, followed by the English version. Additionally, outside of our main work, I participate in three teams as sub-tasks (committee activities). These include the 'Environment Preparation Work Team,' which prepares the operating environment for software, the 'Presentation Team,' which prepares for seminars and exhibitions and creates materials, and the 'Video Manual Team,' which researches how to create instructional videos. Interacting with members I usually don't work with provides a great stimulus.
Job SatisfactionThere is a great sense of achievement every time we manage to adjust various issues and deliver the product. Even when we are fully prepared, product development often does not progress as planned due to delays in information or unexpectedly high numbers of revisions. While we want to maintain quality, we are required to operate within limited time constraints. Although it is rare, I also feel a sense of fulfillment when we are able to proceed according to the initial schedule. After all the hard work, it is simply delightful to see the products I have been involved with out in the world, whether on street corners or in magazines. Each time I take on a new product, I have to research new technologies and information, and since I am the type who gets excited and says, 'Wow, I didn't know this existed!', I find that aspect interesting as well.
Future GoalsI want to improve my management skills. Currently, I am working as both a writer and in management, but I particularly feel that I lack skills in management. I want to ensure that projects progress smoothly, such as through schedule management and improving efficiency. By being seconded to another production company for eight months, I learned that it's okay to try various methods instead of being stuck in one approach, so I want to expand my own toolkit. If I can predict to some extent during the planning stage that 'this situation seems risky,' it will be possible to create a schedule that prepares for potential troubles. If I develop the ability to sense crises, such as realizing 'this is going badly' during the process, I can take proactive measures. My goal is to be able to smoothly manage larger projects than the ones I am currently handling.
