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Hello again, everyone.

Dumelang!

My name is Masae Yamamoto. I am an ex-JOCV member for Solid Waste Management and was working for two years in Botswana between March 2017 to March 2019.

Last time, I introduced my activities in Botswana and research work in graduate school. This time, I would like to share about my job hunting activities and the current work at a construction consultant firm.

What jobs are there in relation with "developing countries" and "waste"?

When I was a junior high school student, I had an opportunity to learn about the lives of children in developing countries and their surroundings, and after that, I developed an interest to learn about foreign countries, especially developing countries, and to have a relationship with them.

After graduating from senior high school, I enrolled at a university to study international relations, where I became interested in supporting developing countries in environmental issues including waste management. After graduating I, started working for a waste management company and also participating in JOCV program. Given this background, I naturally thought that I would like to be involved in developing countries even after completing graduate school, and to do more specialized work in environment and the waste issues. I finally decided to work as "consultant" and also to start job hunting soon.

In my case, I had a working experience; therefore, I applied for mid-career recruitment and identified a few consultant firms for job hunting. Since I had only taken the new graduate recruitment test so far, I was confused by the interview that asks for specialized knowledge to seek immediate competence and the short process from application to hiring decision. However, I was able to make good use of my experience and knowledge, and I was able to meet a consultant firm that could enhance my knowledge, and subsequently take the first step as a consultant.

Working as a volunteer and working as a consultant

The construction consultant firm I work for since April 2020 is implementing projects in a wide range of fields including roads, railways, bridges, rivers, dams, and the environment not only in Japan but also in countries around the world such as Asia and Africa. I belong to a department in charge of waste management projects in developing countries.

Immediately after joining the company, I participated in a project where I am in charge of collecting local information on waste management and creating a waste management plan. Currently, we are prohibited to go abroad due to COVID-19 pandemic hence not being able conduct field survey. As a result, I am only working in collaboration with local national staff.

After I started working, I became strongly aware of the similarities and differences between volunteers and consultants. When I was a volunteer, I spent two years living in a local community with local people and working with local people's perspective.

There were no other JOCV members in solid waste management in Botswana to have their consultations, so I was basically working alone and could not respond to wide range of inquiries by counterparts due to my limited knowledge and experience. ,

On the other hand, since the consultant work is done by a team consisting of several experts across different fields, such as organization/legal system, finance, equipment, and public awareness for waste management, management of final disposal site will work together to carry out a project. , even though a consultant team stays at a site for a short while, they can collect necessary information and produce huge and substantial results.

However, I think both volunteers and consultants will be the same in that they will act in accordance to improve the living environment of local people in developing countries. Regarding the difference between volunteers and consultants, none is better, it is natural to take different approach to local people by a volunteer or a consultant. It is upon oneself to decide which approach you prefer.

In conclusion

Through job hunting activities after returning home, I chose to be a development consultant making use of volunteering experience, and thus developing own growth. During my two years as a JOCV member in Botswana, I was able to spend my time thinking about my future, my own interests, and challenges. I hope that both JOCV members and non-JOCV members find out their own path and find a job that meets their wishes.