Interview

I am currently part of the Planning Department. My work mainly involves conducting site surveys, reviewing plans, finalizing drawings, preparing area charts, and carrying out research to hand over to the Design Department. Each site has its own unique characteristics, so I learn something new through every task. One of the great things about working in the Planning Department is that I get to be involved in many different projects, which allows me to gain a broad range of knowledge.

During my job search, I felt that this company would be a place where I could grow. After actually joining, I can see how much I have developed compared to when I first started. Now in my second year, I continue to learn new things every day. What convinced me at the information session was the appeal of being assigned to a team or group where we design together, while also having the opportunity to take on individual responsibilities as a project lead.

I think it is an environment where younger staff can easily talk to their supervisors and ask questions when they do not understand something. Thanks to that support, we are able to gain knowledge, and even younger members are sometimes assigned to lead projects in the Design Department. Because of this environment, there are many opportunities to work directly with senior staff, and I have found that the distance between executives, managers, and new employees is much closer than I had imagined. It is easy to share opinions and ask questions, and instructions come directly from them.

I used to think that architectural firms were very formal and strict, but through breaks and company events I realized that many colleagues are actually very approachable. In terms of work, I found the Building Standards Act and Tokyo’s unique regulations to be more complex and challenging than I had imagined before joining. At university, we were often told that student design projects were ‘free,’ but through real projects I came to understand the limitations imposed by costs, site conditions, and various regulations—things I couldn’t fully grasp as a student.

Since I specialized in architectural design, design projects were of course important, but I wish I had taken lectures on structure, building systems, and regulations more proactively—not just for exams or credits, but to really learn the material.

When choosing a company, there are many things to consider, but I encourage you to look at various architectural firms and see if you feel that working at Gendai Sogo architects would be a good fit for you.