INTERVIEW

2–3 years

MIO

Administration Department

Joined in 2019

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NAO

E-commerce Department

Joined in 2017

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NORIYUKI

Merchandising Department

Joined in 2018

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RYO

Receiving Department

Joined in 2018

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RYUICHI

Front End Department

Joined in 2019

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MIO

MIOInventory Auditor (Administration Department, Kanazawa Seaside Warehouse) Joined Costco in 2019

Mio joined Kanazawa Seaside Warehouse and performed cashier/cashier assistant and home delivery duties in the Front End Department. She was transferred to the Administration Department in March 20202 to control stock levels within a warehouse.

  1. Tell me about your current job.
I prepare for a warehouse inventory audit carried out twice a year and manage inventory levels in the warehouse. When there are delivery errors in the number of products, I liaise with the depot and other warehouses to identify the root cause and resolve the issue so that inventory record matches the physical count at the warehouse.
  1. How do you describe Costco’s work environment?
Costco offers an environment that maintains a fluid internal communication. Departments coordinate proactively with each other and, in my opinion, Costco employees cooperate and help each other beyond department boundaries. Supervisors/managers and staff take time to train new hires in a friendly and thorough manner, developing a mutual understanding and enhancing communication within the department.
  1. What is the best thing about joining Costco?
I strongly believe the best thing about joining Costco is how you are able to apply for jobs of your interest. I learned Costco’s business and operational flow during my time in the Front End Department and was motivated to gain more in-depth knowledge. A year later, I transferred to the Administration Department (inventory control) through internal job posting, taking on a new challenge.
  1. Tell me areas where you have made growth and progress since you joined Costco.
In my current line of work, not only I work with the Front End Department and Membership Department, I liaise with many other departments, including Fish and Merchandising. As a result, I have developed a confidence to proactively discuss matters with supervisors and managers in other departments. Even when different opinions are being expressed, I believe I am now able to respect other opinions while voicing my.
  1. Are there any specific areas that you focused in terms of self-development upon joining Costco?
Every day, different things happen in the warehouse. That is why I make sure to have a learning mindset and adapt a flexible approach to work.
  1. What are your future goals?
Warehouse offers various types of positions and I want to challenge myself by working in new environment where I can utilize my accumulated experiences. By learning Costco’s operation from different perspective, I plan to build my knowledge and acquire abilities to run the warehouse operation one day.
  1. A message to graduates thinking about applying to Costco.
Before joining Costco, I only had knowledge of Costco as a Costco member, but working at the warehouse made me realize completely different and interesting aspect of Costco. I am grateful for the fact that I am working in an environment where people around me support my motivation to learn and taking on new challenges. Ever since working for Costco, I learned more about appealing factors for Costco members and shopping at the warehouse became more fun, noticing things that I have never noticed before. I look forward to working with people who are keen to take on new challenges.

NAO

NAOChecker (E-commerce Department, Miki Depot) Joined Costco in 2017

Nao worked in the Front End Department of Shinmisato Warehouse as an arbeit for six months after receiving a job offer. She joined the Bakery Department as a full-time employee upon graduation and worked there for two years. After transferring to Miki Depot, she works in the E-commerce Department as a checker.

  1. Tell me about your current job.
I currently perform receiving duties in the E-commerce Department (Costco online business). My responsibilities include inspecting products received and registering them into the system to make sure correct products are delivered to members.
  1. How do you describe Costco’s work environment?
It is homey workplace and your opinions and ideas are welcomed. Costco also promotes an open door policy to facilitate an environment where it is easy to seek advice from managers.
  1. What is the best thing about joining Costco?
You are able to apply for a job that you are interested in. Jobs in the Bakery and E-commerce are very different but you can apply for a job when there are opportunities present. Job posting system is definitely one of the attractive features of working at Costco.
  1. Tell me areas where you have made growth and progress since you joined Costco.
I used to be passive but now I am able to work with initiative and share my views with colleagues.
  1. Are there any specific areas that you focused in terms of self-development upon joining Costco?
We need to be conscious that our work leads to members’ smiles. With this mindset, no matter how busy I am, I am motivated to perform well at work.
  1. What are your future goals?
My current goal is to apply for a managerial position one day. Costco has employees from a diverse background and so I want to become a manager who is able to communicate in ways that suit each employee and adapt to their individual learning styles. I want to become someone who is easy to talk and available when staff need advice or help.
  1. A message to graduates thinking about applying to Costco.
If you are interested in gaining experiences in varying jobs or advancing your career, let’s work together to realize our full potential!

NORIYUKI

NORIYUKISupervisor (Merchandising Department, Kawasaki Warehouse) Joined Costco in 2018

Noriyuki joined the Merchandising Department in Zama Warehouse upon graduation. He was promoted to Supervisor in 2020 and transferred to the Merchandising Department in Kawasaki Warehouse.

  1. Tell me about your current job.
In order to create sales floor that attracts members’ attention and increase consumer appetite, I start working before the opening hour to restock and display products. Also, creating and managing shift schedules are one of Supervisor’s important responsibilities.
  1. How do you describe Costco’s work environment?
Unlike other companies in Japan, Costco employees call each other by first name, regardless of age and position, and it promotes open and lively working environment.
  1. What is the best thing about joining Costco?
You are able to advance your career if you put the effort in and there are many supervisors/managers who praise and recognize your efforts.
  1. Tell me areas where you have made growth and progress since you joined Costco.
I now manage my work by setting goals and milestones first. I am able to think backwards from a goal/milestone to identify what needs to be done to achieve the set goals and milestones. I am no longer just a doer, but instead, I am able to move forward with initiatives.
  1. Are there any specific areas that you focused in terms of self-development upon joining Costco?
In order to speed up my personal growth and development, I make a conscious decision to be proactive rather than passive.
  1. What are your future goals?
My immediate goal is to become a manager within three years. To be successfully promoted into a manager role, I plan to build knowledge of departments where I have no previous work experience by actively engaging in learning opportunities.
  1. A message to graduates thinking about applying to Costco.
Costco has made a steady growth over recent years. At Costco, you are able to advance your career if you put necessary effort in, so let’s motivate each other to achieve further personal growth.

RYO

RYOChecker (Receiving Department, Ichihara Depot) Joined Costco in 2018

Ryo joined Ichikawa Depot (now known as Ichihara Depot) as a student arbeit, enrolled in Costco’s Student Program, and joined the Shipping Department upon graduation. Initially, his duties were sticking Japanese-print labels on imported products. After acquiring a forklift license, his duties changed to receiving and inspecting products.

  1. Tell me about your current job.
My primary duties are receiving and inspecting domestic products. More than 150 trucks make deliveries each day and I make sure smooth delivery of products to warehouses through unloading products using a forklift, inspecting products, and sorting them by warehouses on a daily basis.
  1. How do you describe Costco’s work environment?
It is a lively workplace with many kind people. Ichihara Depot has a wide age group of employees and everyone is friendly. There is always someone to guide you in tricky situations and it did not take me long to settle in at work.
  1. What is the best thing about joining Costco?
Working at a depot means I get to see new products before they are displayed at warehouses. Costco receives new products every day and many of them are imported products that are not widely available in Japan. It is exciting to see new products as they are unloaded and there is a theme-park feel like the one in a warehouse even at the depot.
  1. Tell me areas where you have made growth and progress since you joined Costco.
I used to focus on just one task at hand and struggled to see the big picture. As I learned new tasks and responsibilities, I acquired skills to prioritize my tasks, abilities to make decisions, and flexibility to handle multiple tasks.
  1. Are there any specific areas that you focused in terms of self-development upon joining Costco?
I started my Costco career as a student arbeit and so when I became a full-time employee, I was conscious about developing a business mindset and using appropriate business manners. Professional way of speaking and the right mindset towards work are still important focal points in my daily work.
Now I am providing forklift training.
  1. What are your future goals?
I only have experiences in working in one department out of many departments in a depot, and so, going forward, I want to lean additional duties such as unloading to further improve my skills. At the same time, I want to build a solid knowledge base of depot operations to apply for a managerial position in the future.
  1. A message to graduates thinking about applying to Costco.
Costco is a place where you can grow if you put your effort in and it is a rewarding place to work. It promotes a diverse environment and you are able to gain varying experiences. Depot and warehouses may be in different locations but I look forward to working with you as a member of Costco.

RYUICHI

RYUICHIAssistant (Front End Department, Hisayama Warehouse) Joined Costco in 2019

Ryuichi joined the Front End Department in Hisayama Warehouse upon graduation. He was transferred to the Merchandising Department in December 2019 and worked as a tech sales, selling jewelry and electrical products. He returned to the Front End Department in March 2021.

  1. Tell me about your current job.
I perform cashier duties, take home delivery orders, and collect shopping carts.
  1. How do you describe Costco’s work environment?
It is homey workplace and managers are welcoming and easy to talk to.
  1. What is the best thing about joining Costco?
Costco offers a good employee benefit system and you can take annual paid leaves without issues.
  1. Tell me areas where you have made growth and progress since you joined Costco.
I am now in a position to train new staff because my knowledge on products and procedures increased.
  1. Are there any specific areas that you focused in terms of self-development upon joining Costco?
If I come across something I do not know or understand, I write it down to so that I can look it up or ask someone later. I also try to be time-conscious in my work.
  1. What are your future goals?
To acquire in-depth knowledge of work and procedures to step up to a supervisor and manager position one day.
  1. A message to graduates thinking about applying to Costco.
Costco has a good employee benefit plan and promotes a good work-life balance. We are able to take some time off from work when needed. It can be hectic at work at times but it is a great place to work because Costco offers a friendly and supportive work environment. I look forward to working with you one day.

Student Program

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5 years+

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Assistant WHS Manager

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WHS Manager

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