Ms. Yuho Asano (Department of Law, Faculty of Law) and Ms. Shizuka Tada (Graduate School of Public Policy), both of whom received job offers from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), discussed how they struggled with repeated interviews at government offices.

During their first interview, they were told that they lacked depth. In response, they reassessed themselves through consultations, part-time work and participation in NPOs. At interviews, they spoke from the other party's perspective instead of simply emphasizing their personal strengths. They discovered the importance of having a strong, fundamental feeling towards their decision to seek a career as a national civil servant.

Also receiving an offer from the MHLW was Mr. Yoshiyuki Kanno (Department of Law, Faculty of Law). "I want to become a person who can discuss the meaning of Japan and our national government," said Yoshiyuki when explaining why he changed his career path from lawyer to national civil servant.

Mr. Kunitomo Hisada (Chuo Law School), who received an offer from the National Tax Agency, discussed the appeal of becoming a national civil servant. "Lawyers take action to resolve an incident which has already occurred. National civil servants act to prevent such incidents from happening in the first place. I was drawn by that difference."

Fight using your real ability
Refusing to lose to the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University

Mr. Eiki Iwamaru (Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law), recipient of a job offer from the Ministry of Defense, had been interested in a career as a national civil servant ever since he was in high school. He was particularly interested in National Police Agency. However, after entering Chuo University, Eiki acquired an international perspective and decided to enter the Ministry of Defense, an agency which works to protect people.

"I will work to refine myself," said Mr. Akira Shimizu (Department of Law, Faculty of Law), who received an offer from the National Tax Agency. "I want to be involved in the fundamental workings of Japan." After a reform of government agencies, Mr. Takahiro Hirai (the Graduate School of Public Policy) became the first Chuo University student to receive a job offer from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. "There is no value in being completely fixated on one thing," said Takahiro when asked what is important. "It's common for matters to turn completely upside down in today's society. Although it is important to carry out your original intention, it is not necessary to pin everything down until you reach that goal."

At the celebratory event, I felt the strong bonds and high-quality education of Chuo University. Mr. Akira Nakatsugawa, a lawyer (graduated from the Chuo University Faculty of Law in 1958), who originally worked at the Ministry of Justice, discussed how some Chuo University students feel inferior to students at the University of Tokyo or Kyoto University. "Fight using your real ability," he encouraged students. "Never accept defeat." Many former Chuo students who I interviewed said that interviews at government agencies focus on the unique qualities of the interviewee and that it is therefore most important to express yourself honestly.

A new batch of students has joined the team which leads our country. I hope that these students will accomplish great things.

(Student Reporter: Ms. Mariko Yajima, 2nd-year student at the Faculty of Law)