Before coming to Finland, I worked as a buyer for a Japanese trading company for 6 years and for a year for an Australian logistics company. In 2020, I came to Jyväskylä, and I started learning Finnish at a vocational school for one year. While studying Finnish, I contemplated my future. I wanted to work in the same industry as before. Initially, I thought I would work in a logistics company as a warehouse worker or a truck driver. However, when I discovered the opportunity to pursue a degree program in Purchasing and Logistics Engineering at Jamk University of Applied Sciences, I realized my future job didn't have to be limited only to warehouse work or truck driving. Given my background in trading and logistics, I believed I could enhance my skills. The purchasing and logistics program is not common, so I am quite lucky to have found this opportunity in Jyväskylä.
I have been enjoying studying purchasing and logistics at Jamk. One of the reasons is that my previous work experience aligns well with my current studies, making me feel that I am improving my skills. To be honest, studying at Jamk is not easy. What surprised me was the number of assignments and presentations. I have also graduated from a university in Tokyo, Japan, and I think in Jamk has more assignments and presentations than Japanese universities. Therefore, I have improved my presentation skills and time management skills in preparing presentations, assignments, and exams. It is important to collaborate with my classmates, share our knowledge, and come up with answers together. If I had done everything by myself, I wouldn't have made the progress I have. Therefore, I am grateful to my friends. Furthermore, our class is quite international, creating an interesting environment.
My past work experience and current research have definitely come together over the past year and a half. I previously worked as a purchaser in a trading company in Japan, so I am very happy to be studying Basics of Purchasing, Purchasing Management, as well as Purchasing Analysis and Development. It is also crucial for me to learn the importance of negotiation with suppliers and calculation methods using Excel to understand where the most money is being spent. After graduation, I aspire to work in an internationalized company as a purchaser.
