[A Day in the Life of Senior Consultant Hiroki Tanaka] Respecting Dialogue with Many People to Boost Efficiency and Client Relationships

Hiroki Tanaka
Vertex Partners Inc., Senior Consultant
After graduating from university, he joined a major Japanese IT consulting firm and spent four years on core-system replacement projects and similar work. He gained broad experience covering back-office system development, infrastructure operations support, and engineer management. He then joined Vertex Partners in December 2023. He currently works in IT consulting centered on the DX domain, providing end-to-end support from initial concept through deployment and operation.

9:30
On days he goes to the client site, he heads straight to the on-site office. He uses the morning for output work such as document creation and process design. Lately, he uses the “Pomodoro Technique” — 25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break — to sharpen focus and improve efficiency. He focuses during the quieter morning hours to produce high-quality output.

12:00
For lunch, he often uses the client’s employee cafeteria. He sometimes eats with colleagues from Vertex Partners or with the client’s staff, chatting about things outside of work. He makes good use of it as valuable time to deepen relationships in a casual atmosphere.

13:00
After lunch, he often has short meetings — including standing chats — with a wide range of people, both inside his company and at the client. Casual conversation often surfaces hints and insights for improving the work. He always tries to gather information through dialogue.

14:00
Client meeting. Agendas are wide-ranging — progress reports, shared issues, future direction, and more. He holds meetings face-to-face whenever possible, focusing on subtle expressions and remarks to read the other side’s intent.

15:00
Meeting with his manager. They share information on project progress, the client’s situation, and team structure. He also openly raises challenges and concerns about how the project is moving.

16:00
Meeting with a key person on the client side. They normally use chat and email, but he deliberately creates chances to speak directly. Things that are hard to convey in writing flow easily through conversation. Confirmations about materials and light consultations can be wrapped up on the spot, which also speeds up decision-making.

18:00
Sits in on a mid-career hiring interview for Vertex Partners. As an interviewer, he carefully confirms the candidate’s experience and intent and assesses fit with the company. After the interview, he shares impressions with the other interviewers and discusses outcomes and evaluations. Because hiring affects both the company’s and the candidate’s future, he approaches it with care.

19:00
He looks back on the day’s work and reviews tomorrow’s tasks, preparing materials. If meetings are scheduled, he checks the agenda in advance and organizes the necessary information. He also sends out any items that need to be shared with stakeholders. Careful preparation lets him hit the ground running the next day.

20:00
Leaves the office. His schedule is aligned with the client’s working hours, and he often leaves around 20:00. The office tends to be quieter in the evening, so he uses that time for his own work.

21:00
Arrives home. After dinner, he often spends time on his hobbies. Playing games or watching videos with family — immersing himself in what he enjoys — helps him deliberately switch off from work. Keeping a clear on/off contrast lifts his performance in the days that follow.