キャリア自律の時代

The Age of Career Autonomy for shop clerks

N1advanced~6 min read
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As Japanese-style employment premised on lifetime employment reaches a turning point, the phrase "career autonomy" is drawing attention. Rather than entrusting one's life to a company, one designs one's career by one's own will. This idea is rapidly spreading among professionals, starting with shop clerks.

According to a survey conducted in spring, respondents who view changing jobs positively as "a means of career advancement" have doubled compared with ten years ago. The era when serving out one's career at a single company was considered a virtue is surely coming to an end.

Autonomy, however, comes with responsibility: continuous learning to maintain one's market value, the ability to articulate one's strengths, and an attitude unafraid of change. Leaving an organization without these is nothing but drifting, not freedom.

Companies, too, must change: supporting employees' growth and remaining an organization people choose. When individuals and organizations can rebuild an equal relationship, the Japanese labor market will move to a new stage.

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