Hello, my name is Haruna Suzuki. I joined Sakaeya in April 2023.

I'm still relatively new to the workforce, inexperienced and immature, but even in this short time, I've had many enjoyable experiences and made mistakes. So, today I'd like to share what I've learned from those experiences.

First, the reason I decided to join Sakaeya is that I wanted to work in my hometown of Nagano and interact with people.

I had various criteria in mind, such as wanting to do a certain type of work, but the most important thing was the "warmth" I felt from the senior staff members who were working there. I participated in an internship during my job search in university, and when I was nervous and couldn't move well, the senior staff members patiently taught me each task one by one and gave me lots of kind words like, "Are you feeling okay?" and "You've been a great help, thank you." It was the first time I had received so much kindness during an internship, so I was shocked by how kind these people were, and at the same time, I felt a sense of admiration, thinking, "I want to be like these senior staff members." After that, I took the entrance exam and was able to get a job offer.

When I first joined the company, there was a lot to learn, and there were many times when I found it difficult. However, I learned the ropes with the kind guidance of my senior colleagues. I was also fortunate to have supportive colleagues who joined at the same time as me. They helped and encouraged me a lot, and they remain a great source of support for me today. Currently, I belong to the "Service Staff" department, and my main duties include explaining the facilities to guests in their rooms after they arrive, and delivering dinner and breakfast, explaining the dishes to the guests. Since I've loved talking to people and listening to their stories ever since I was a student, I find it enjoyable and very rewarding to be able to talk to so many guests every day. We also have many repeat customers who know more about Sakaeya's past and our senior staff than I do, so I've learned a lot from them.

While there were enjoyable moments, I also made many mistakes and caused trouble for my seniors. To be honest, I could go on and on remembering them, but for example, I thought I had finished cleaning up the dining area completely, only to find that I had left something undone when my senior checked. Also, when explaining the dishes, I mistakenly described a dish that had been served before when it had changed to a new seasonal dish, and due to my lack of knowledge, I called the edible chrysanthemum placed next to the sashimi a dandelion.

Furthermore, there have been instances where we intended to explain to guests that "breakfast will be served in the dining area," but the guests misunderstood this as meaning "breakfast will be served in their rooms," resulting in them waiting in their rooms in the morning, and leading to complaints from those guests.

Through my past failures, I learned from the president and my seniors about my own weaknesses, which I had been pretending not to see. I've always had a habit of thinking, "I want to avoid unpleasant things and getting scolded as much as possible," and "I want to change things to make them easier for me." As a result, if I made a mistake and panicked, I would immediately try to cover it up. However, no matter how well you try to cover it up, you can't hide mistakes once they happen, and they'll be found out immediately. In fact, it could even lead to bigger complaints. Joining Sakaeya made me realize that I had been completely avoiding facing my own weaknesses in the past.

My seniors, upon seeing my mistakes, not only gave me careful advice each time I made a mistake, but also words of encouragement, saying things like, "Suzuki, you have a bad habit like this. It will stop your growth, and it's a waste because you have good points too," and "It's very good that you've realized your weaknesses." From these experiences, I decided to make overcoming my weaknesses my goal from now on. However, overcoming weaknesses is not an easy task.

Nevertheless, with the goal of "doing something to grow," I decided to start by writing at least one "carbon copy postcard" every day. These postcards come in a booklet of thin paper called a "carbon copy postcard," and by inserting carbon paper and the postcard underneath, you can keep a paper copy of what you've written. In a world where digital communication and messaging via smartphones and other devices are the norm, I initially wondered, "Why would anyone write a postcard?" However, when I actually received a postcard from a senior colleague, the carefully written characters and heartfelt message warmed my heart and made me happy. When I tried writing one myself, I felt that postcards allow me to express my gratitude and apologies more honestly to the recipient compared to tools like email or LINE. This may not directly lead to overcoming my weaknesses, but I hope that by writing postcards, I can develop the habit of honestly admitting my mistakes and sincerely conveying my apologies and gratitude to others.

There are many things I can do to overcome my weaknesses. I am still inexperienced and have many challenges to overcome, but I will work hard to grow even more and become someone who is supported by others, like my seniors. And as a member of the Sakaeya staff, I will be able to provide the best hospitality so that customers will think, "I want to come back here again!"

There are countless things you can do to grow!

Hina Suzuki

【profile】
Born in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture
Joined the company in 2023
Motto: A gentle countenance and kind words.
Hobbies: Driving, watching stage performances