Chapter 17: Deep Impressions (Asking for Votes)

Sumitomo can be said to be one of the oldest corporate conglomerates in Japan. To mention just one achievement, one of the most beloved toys for men, and the foundation for the renown of Lanxiang—the world’s first hydraulic excavator—was developed by a construction machinery manufacturer under the Sumitomo Group. The group is so vast that even though today Tao Zhiming had come to the headquarters of its real estate company, it remained one of the top targets for new graduates in Japan’s recruitment season.

The competition was therefore of a completely different caliber. Besides the elite from the four national universities, there were many confident returnees from overseas, as well as promising students from second-tier universities. Tao Zhiming knew no one and had no intention of socializing; upon arrival, he simply waited quietly.

His attitude differed from others—he was here entirely with the mindset of starting work, expecting to be paid daily. Although Sumitomo was vast and powerful, it did not neglect the cultivation of its future talent. Especially now, with financing channels broadening and the real estate sector undergoing major expansion, there was a huge gap in talent for this field. With their resources, they were likely already clear on the plans brewing at the top. Tao Zhiming hoped they would offer an even higher salary.

After sitting for a while, he was surprised to see Shigeya Yosuke enter, looking rather dignified. Tao Zhiming smiled slightly—he had evidently been provoked. His former roommate, once a lost cause, had suddenly become more sought after. Yosuke must have wrestled with himself in recent days, perhaps subconsciously unable to bear not suffering defeat alongside Tao Zhiming. Yet he still came.

And familiar faces did not end there. Before long, Yamane Yokohisa and another woman arrived together. This time, Yamane Yokohisa was no longer as relaxed as he had been two days ago; upon seeing Tao Zhiming, he even showed a hint of wariness.

Tao Zhiming smiled—could it be that, aside from the Mitsubishi Yosuke had mentioned, Sumitomo was also a serious target for Yamane? Yokohisa’s gaze was intense. His companion, noticing his reaction, quietly asked him what was going on, then cast a similarly wary look at Tao Zhiming.

Tao Zhiming simply maintained his smile. Interesting—Yamane Yokohisa seemed to treat the woman with a certain respect. Had he seen Tao Zhiming’s performance at Tomokazu and now regarded him as a formidable opponent?

Indeed, among so many fresh competitors, Tao Zhiming, with his University of Tokyo background, extensive professional experience, and managerial perspective, was like a bug in the system. Moreover, Tao Dailang’s academic credentials were in management. When it came to questions in this field, Tao Zhiming was well-versed both in theory and practice.

The morning’s initial interview was conducted in a group format. This was not new to Tao Zhiming, but in 1986, it was still rare. Although group interviews had existed for some time, using them effectively required high standards from the interviewers.

Upon reflection, it made sense. As a top-tier company, Sumitomo received an overwhelming number of applications, and all from the cream of the crop. As for the interviewers, such a large corporation had no shortage of HR personnel.

Yamane Yokohisa, unfortunately, was assigned to the same group as Tao Zhiming. After entering the room, he worked hard to adjust his attitude and remained silent. The group discussion consisted of eight participants. There were four interviewers. Upon entering, Tao Zhiming focused first on observing the four interviewers.

The first segment involved a female interviewer explaining the interview rules. The process was as follows: each person would have one minute for self-introduction. Then, three minutes would be allotted to review and contemplate the topic. After that, five minutes would be given for the eight participants to discuss and assign roles. This was the hallmark of a leaderless group discussion—everyone would act as if in a meeting, discussing a topic and needing to fill various roles such as leader, timekeeper, reporter, and collaborators.

Once roles were assigned, a twenty-minute free discussion would commence, followed by five minutes for the reporter to present the summary. Afterwards, the interviewers would ask questions, concluding the interview.

Tao Zhiming was unsure how much experience the other seven had with this group interview format, but—there were many pitfalls. Often, participants unwittingly devolved into debates and arguments, forgetting that the scenario was meant to showcase collaborative problem-solving. The observers were assessing each individual’s comprehension, communication, emotional control, and other abilities.

After the rules were explained, the self-introductions began. There was no designated starting point—this, too, was part of the assessment. Predictably, someone eager to stand out, seated at the edge, took the initiative: “May I suggest we start from here? My name is...”

Tao Zhixing multitasked; during this segment, accurately remembering others’ names would help avoid mistakes during the discussion. The main focus, though, was on the interviewers’ reactions as each candidate introduced themselves.

Of course, competent interviewers would not betray much emotion. However, in those days, technology was not as advanced; they would use video cameras to record and review later, but still had to take notes, revealing some information.

Listening to the introductions, Tao Zhiming felt that all around him were talents. Each candidate skillfully highlighted their strengths and downplayed weaknesses.

When it was Tao Zhiming’s turn, he stood up—his six-foot frame and recently groomed, clean, handsome appearance made a striking impression.

“My name is Tao Dailang, and I study management at the University of Tokyo. After losing my parents to a car accident in my first year, I have lived independently with resilience. I devoted much time to studying and research to enhance my abilities and broaden my perspective, which may have made me seem introverted, but in truth, I have grown calm and goal-oriented.

I am skilled at communicating with others; due to my family home’s acquisition negotiations with a real estate company, I have handled the talks independently. Through this process, I conducted in-depth research into the real estate field. Sumitomo’s status and strength in real estate greatly impressed me, and from this experience, I saw the vast future of the industry. I am grateful for the opportunity to introduce myself and believe I can grow together with the company.”

He spoke of Tao Dailang’s family tragedy without hesitation, preempting any trouble Yamane Yokohisa might stir by subtly suggesting that Tao Dailang had been timid during his student days. Mentioning the home acquisition negotiations, handling such matters as a student was unique among the mostly typical introductions focusing on academics, grades, club activities, and part-time jobs.

From this point, he transitioned naturally to why he chose Sumitomo for the interview. Compared to others’ formulaic introductions, Tao Zhiming’s was the most distinctive and natural, logically reinforcing his traits: calmness, clear goals, strong communication, and a talent for learning and research.

This introduction left a memorable mark on the seven other candidates and the four interviewers. At least two interviewers showed distinct body language, taking a second look at Tao Zhiming.

Even Yamane Yokohisa, who knew him, began to doubt his previous impressions. Had the former Tao Dailang seemed introverted and weak because he was focused on self-improvement? It almost made sense—now, he was composed and confident.

Once all eight had finished introducing themselves, the interviewers handed out the topic. Tao Zhiming immediately began to contemplate.

Sumitomo planned to use a budget of ten million yen to collaborate with a university, aiming to enhance its image and influence among students to ensure a steady supply of high-quality talent in the future. Five alternative plans were provided, each with its own costs.

The task was for the eight candidates to discuss and reach a unified conclusion within budget constraints, deciding which plan to use for the collaboration.

The topic was unexpectedly practical—it felt like a real issue discussed within HR, now brought directly into the recruitment process.

The room fell silent; everyone carefully examined the topic, considering what to say and what role to take in the discussion.

“Well then, let’s begin discussing role assignments.” As the three minutes ended, the interviewer collected the topic sheets.

Even the details of the five alternatives had to be memorized.

The eight candidates exchanged glances—the real competition had begun.

Tao Zhiming did not speak first; being overly assertive did not align with Japanese corporate expectations of talent.

Composure was his persona.