International students advance beyond the level after the shock of working part-time in Japan

 International students advance beyond the level after the shock of working part-time in Japan

Once hiding in a warehouse to cry after making a customer angry, Tan Phat has just been promoted two levels while working part-time at a fashion store.

Le Viet Tan Phat, 21 years old, is a sophomore at the Faculty of International Relations, Asia University (Tokyo). For more than two years in Japan, Phat worked part-time at a fashion company and was just promoted. For this young man from Hue, that achievement is the result of his experiences without a shortage of smiles and tears.

Graduated from the Japanese class at Quoc Hoc Hue University in 2018, Phat "gap year" a year before going to Japan with a scholarship of 100% of the tuition fee of Asia University. After a year of studying languages ​​at the school branch, he became a freshman in 2020.

Wanting to have the opportunity to improve his Japanese language, interact with local people more to understand more about the culture and language, Phat found a part-time job and became the only foreigner accepted into the fashion company he is currently working at, in that recruitment.

Phat visits the city of Kyoto in 2019. Photo: Provided by the character

Phat visits the city of Kyoto in 2019. Photo: Provided by the character

Before working officially, Phat and his Japanese colleagues had to undergo three theoretical training sessions. They were given work manuals and asked to memorize them. After each session, someone will check. Phat often had to borrow your notebook to take pictures because he couldn't keep up with what his manager said.

"I am also trained in how to walk, smile and speak politely. Staff should always be welcoming, eyes wide open, chin raised a little and friendly smile, straight gait, hands in the right position.. ", Phat said.

Phat's first job was to arrange and bring clothes from the warehouse to display. After every hour, he was changed and rotated in positions so as not to create a feeling of boredom. Initially, Phat was overwhelmed with the principles to remember such as how many centimeters apart the clothes are beautiful, the shirt tag must always be put inside, the hat must be turned up so that customers know or how to fold the winter clothes. .. After a day when guests rummage through to choose, the staff must make sure the clothes are neatly displayed as they were before they can leave.

However, those principles are not what pressure Phat.

When there are many guests, Phat is confused when asked for advice on choosing clothes, coordinating clothes or finding a certain outfit similar to the advertisement on TV. Not familiar with all the products, not fluent in Japanese, so many times Phat could not hear the customer's request, had to ask his colleague for help.

"My heart is pounding, I feel scared because I don't know what the customer will ask and how I should answer. I asked again and again but still didn't understand, so I had to apologize and ask my seniors to listen to me." , Phat said.

Every night when he comes home, he also torments and blames himself. During the first four months, Phat brought the stress from the store to sleep. The feeling of "Japanese shock" made him self-deprecating. At work, he only answered questions when asked and almost avoided talking to colleagues.

Once, Phat met a female customer who came to exchange goods. Not knowing the law of changing clothes, using honorifics that are not smooth, Phat stammered explaining, making the guest angry, demanding to see the manager.

The feeling of inferiority resurfaced, followed by long-standing pressures and loneliness in a foreign land, he was helpless and pitiful. Tears kept pouring out, Phat sobbed every hour and ran into the warehouse to cry. "There was no one at that time, the warehouse was full of tall boxes, the laughter of customers was still very close, but no one heard my cry," Phat recalls.

Phat walks in a park in Tokyo 2020. Photo: Character provided

Phat walks in a park in Tokyo 2020. Photo: Character provided

He is determined to change, both to challenge himself and learn to adapt. Recognizing that smiling and welcoming is the key to work, from there, laugh more and take the initiative to start a conversation. The smile and optimism that were Phat's strengths, after a time of being immersed in guilt, are now being promoted again.

Phat gradually feels attached, loves his work more every time he is complimented by a beautiful smile, and customers leave positive feedback. His smile was even mentioned in every meeting and became a "brand".