* This article is a reprint of Cover’s official note published on December 27, 2023.
COVER Corp. is proud to announce the launch of our “New Graduate Interview Project”.
The purpose of this program is to interview new graduate hires from 2023 and allow their thoughts to be the window through which aspiring COVER Corp. applicants can gain a variety of useful information, including the range of available positions, specific job content, company culture, and the types of talents we are looking for.
Our most recent interview was with Mr. M, a 2023 graduate hire from the corporate planning office’s business planning team.
Read along as he shares his experience in job hunting, why he decided to join COVER Corp., his current work content, and what he finds rewarding about his position.
■ Casting a Wide Net in the Entertainment Industry
— Joining us today is Mr. M from the corporate planning office’s business planning team. First, please introduce yourself and tell us what industry and jobs you were aiming for during your job search.
M: Hello, I’m M from the corporate planning office’s business planning team. I majored in service design in university, graduated in 2023, then joined COVER Corp. in April of the same year.
At that time, I was somewhat of a lemming in regards to searching for a job. In addition to the entertainment and IT industries, I also applied to many well-known companies in finance and infrastructure. Among those many prospects, however, the entertainment industry was what interested me the most.
When I was a teenager, mobile gaming was at its peak, with many different titles being released – I was quite the avid gamer myself. Even while attending university, you could say I was already a part of the entertainment industry in a way.
— Did you take COVER Corp.’s entrance exam at that time?
M: I didn’t, actually! I knew about the existence of COVER Corp. as a corporation, but it wasn’t on my radar, per say. In my mind, it was less of an entertainment company and more of a talent agency.
Interestingly enough, during my job search, I had already exhausted my other paths into the entertainment industry. Although I was grateful for all of the job offers that I received from companies high on my priority list, they were in industries that I didn’t care to enter, so I was admittedly disappointed.
However, during the October-to-November period just before my graduation, I found out that COVER Corp. would be holding a new graduate recruitment briefing for 2024. The timing was good, so I decided to give it a go!
■ Taking the COVER Corp. Recruitment Exam with a Different Crowd
— Would you be so kind as to share with us in detail your personal journey from becoming interested in COVER Corp. to officially joining the company?
M: Throughout my time as a university student, I worked as an intern at a job-hunting website specializing in new graduates. While performing my duties, I happened to discover that COVER Corp. was holding a recruitment information session for students graduating in 2024. I believe that was around October or November, shortly before I graduated.
“Will my job search ultimately end with me not being able to enter my first choice, the entertainment industry?” This was what was going through my head. So, I thought I would try joining the students graduating in 2024 and take a shot at an interview. “After all, it would be nice to enjoy the student life for one last year.” I was feeling adventurous; contemplating the future could come after I was accepted.
During the selection process, I researched COVER Corp. in more depth and was granted the privilege of speaking with the interviewers, executives, and the CEO himself, Mr. Tanigo. These opportunities reshaped my initial impression of COVER Corp. from an “entertainment agency” to an “entertainment company at the forefront of bringing Japan to the global stage.” I was smitten with the company, a powerhouse primed to take the world by storm, and I soon found myself wanting to challenge myself as an employee under their wing, so I decided to join. Moreover, being accepted into COVER Corp. reinvigorated my passion for the entertainment industry – this was a major factor in my decision to join.
— Was there any struggle in deciding between joining COVER Corp. versus the other companies from which you had already received job offers?
M: I mostly relied on intuition. (Laughs）
The other companies from which I received job offers were performing well in a business sense, but I couldn’t think of any reason to join them over COVER Corp. I also considered the fact that taking on major challenges becomes more difficult with age, so it may instead prove more interesting to do so as a new graduate.
Thankfully, the other companies understood my position when I chose to decline their offers, even offering their support in my decision. I was genuinely touched by their kindness. My junior high school and high school classmates, along with my friends from the seminar, also only put a positive spin on the situation, saying that I was “becoming part of the next big start-up.” My family, however, seemed to have more mixed feelings.
■ Forging a Path for Projects to Flourish
— Please tell us about your current job duties.
M: The primary objectives of the business planning team, the group to which I am assigned, is examining the entire scope of COVER Corp.’s business model from a bird’s-eye view, creating rules which allow both internal and external stakeholders to more easily perform their duties, and providing support between departments as projects move forward. Speaking of projects, the one in which I am currently involved is acting as secretariat for “hololive SUPER EXPO 2024”. I am primarily responsible for providing support to those who are in charge of each part of the event process, including technology and production progress management, as well as supporting our collaboration project “hololive x HoneyWork”, a joint venture with music creator “HoneyWorks”.
The more specific details of my work can vary.
For example, I create and conclude contracts necessary for projects to progress. When participating in production work involving studios, I do everything from coordinating with the planning team to reviewing project content, thereafter confirming and aligning schedules between the 2D and 3D teams, and much more.
During the initial stages of any given greenlit project, details of the plan may yet remain undecided, so my role is to somehow negotiate with each team and try to move the project forward. Think of it like retrieving the ball thrown by one department and then passing it along to the next department along the production line.
Which should be prioritized, “department optimization” or “overall optimization”? A case could be made for acting toward either choice, but when it comes to the business planning team, we oversee each action under the course of “overall optimization”, forging a path for projects to proceed smoothly and efficiently.
No matter the company, it’s not farfetched to assume that information tends to remain contained within each department, and it can be difficult to figure out who to contact for the information or permission necessary to take action… The role of the business planning team is to support those aspects which may be difficult to put into words and lead them to the next step in the process.
■ The Undeniable Merits of Performing on Personal Propositions
— Although acting as a go-between for related departments and supporting the smooth flow of a project from its inception is a rewarding line of work, wouldn’t it be considered a heavy weight on the shoulders of a new graduate?
M: I would guess that many of those who wish to work in the entertainment industry would prefer to be on the side of content creation. I, too, felt the same way. The business planning team does not directly produce any content itself. Our mission is to create and foster an environment in which creators on the frontline can maneuver unencumbered. It isn’t an easy undertaking – a single mistake can have a domino effect down the line. Nevertheless, I find it very rewarding to be able to see the whole picture from the beginning and deal with what comes our way, knowing how to efficiently push along a project that is progressing well.
In the beginning, I sometimes had trouble understanding some of the internal terminology and keeping track of key individuals in each department. However, my immediate supervisor, having taken such circumstances into account, had laid groundwork in advance that would make my job easier, allowing me to proceed with my work more smoothly. I was a little concerned about whether or not I would still be able to properly function when that assistance was no longer available, but I was and still am truly grateful for being provided with a way forward. In a start-up company, I believe there may be cases where the foundation for new employees to grow is instead not laid down, but that wasn’t the case for my induction into the business planning team, making for a welcome contrast.
— The scope of your duties is vast, ranging from establishing rules to coordinating between departments, so, despite the fact that you’re a newcomer, I imagine that your personal responsibilities are equally encompassing.
M: Although I, by virtue of my position, do not have the final say in the decisions that are made, I am certainly entrusted with a great deal of discretion in how I go about my work. If so desired, I could offer proposals for improving business operations, or even make moves that could have a major impact on the flow of said operations. Since I am positioned to maintain projects involving tens of millions of yen, I believe the amount of money that I handle is a substantial sum for a newcomer like myself.
In addition, the corporate planning office to which I belong holds meetings with executive management at least once a week, allowing me to hear their thoughts and their visions for the future direction of our company. As a newcomer, this is invaluable experience for me because I doubt that I would have many other opportunities to come into direct contact with management.
— What type of student do you think is best suited for the corporate planning office?
M: Due to the nature of the work, I think that a person capable of making rational decisions from a management perspective would be suited for this position. In fact, many such individuals are already present here. Someone who can stay the course while maintaining consistency of the required resources. When creating entertainment content, there will be times when the thoughts of the parties involved clash, and neither party wishes to yield or can reach a compromise. It is at that time when one’s resolve must be strengthened, because the project needs to move forward, no matter what. Those with such resolve, who can keep a cool head and keep the train rolling are the ones who can thrive. I myself have learned a great deal from the people in my team, and they continue to spur my efforts.
■ Personal Values & Suggested Values
— In closing, please offer a message to all of the job hunters out there.
M: My own personal job search was filled with countless potholes. With the expectations of my family looming overhead, I somehow progressed along the academic track from junior high school to high school, from high school to university. I thought that finding a job was the final destination, so to speak. When I came to the fork in the road of pursuing my interests versus following the treaded path toward a company that would be a popular choice, I thought: “There is also risk in sacrificing my desires and living with regret.” I was also encouraged upon hearing the news that a friend of mine throughout junior high school and high school had landed a job in space development, a field completely unrelated to their major, solely because it “sounded interesting.”
And upon finding a job, you may find yourself in a situation that wasn’t quite what you expected, perhaps even disappointing or uninteresting. If it does come to that, try not to concern yourself with the idea that it was “the path that was chosen for you.” Instead, value your own judgment. It was your choice, your decision that can nurture your growth. Create a future without regret – a future of your own making.
