[Interview with Young Consultants at ARK CONSULTING Co., Ltd.] The Path Chosen by Two Inexperienced Professionals: What Is the Environment That Enables Growth on the “Fastest Career Track”?

ARK CONSULTING Co., Ltd., with its strength in SAP consulting, is achieving rapid growth. This time, we interviewed two young consultants — H and O — who made the transition from outside the consulting industry.

H has taken on the major responsibility of new business planning directly under the representative director; O was appointed team leader at a young age. We asked about the speed at which even junior employees can build businesses side by side with management in an environment where ambition is all it takes to grow.

From No Consulting Experience to the Path to ARK CONSULTING — Why the Two Chose the Company for Their Next Career Move

— H, could you tell us about your career background?

H: My career started when I joined a local IT company in Okayama as a new graduate in 2019. I was born and raised in Okayama, and at the time had absolutely no intention of leaving. But two months after joining, right after my orientation, I was transferred to Takamatsu — and for the next five years I worked in maintenance of SAP systems operated by a power company.

I started operations and maintenance with no prior experience whatsoever, and at the time didn’t even know what SAP was — but I heard that “getting this experience fresh out of university is very valuable” and threw myself into it.

— Why did you then move to ARK CONSULTING in Tokyo?

H: The main reason was skill development. The maintenance work at the time involved relatively long periods of standby if nothing went wrong — there were aspects that were steady and manageable, but I had a strong sense that my experience level wasn’t building beyond a certain ceiling. In the grip of that anxiety, I came across ARK CONSULTING by chance at an SAP seminar, and decided I wanted to build a career around SAP as a consultant, which led to my decision to go to Tokyo.

The biggest deciding factor in choosing ARK CONSULTING was that it was an organization in an expansion phase. Specialized in SAP, yet with the momentum of an organization about to grow substantially — I could feel that energy. Thinking “if I’m going to take a chance anyway, I want to be in an environment where I can feel the company’s growth firsthand,” I joined as a consultant in April 2024.

— O, could you tell us about your career background?

O: I studied science at university, and from my student days had an interest in programming and electrical design. I joined a comprehensive power tool manufacturer in Aichi Prefecture as a new graduate. I had originally been hoping for a design or systems role, but through the interview process was assigned to purchasing, where I worked on semiconductor procurement and price negotiations.

— So you started in a department different from what you’d hoped for.

O: Yes. But alongside the purchasing work, I had an opportunity to be involved in building an internal operational improvement system, and that was where I discovered my passion for operational reform. Thinking that I wanted to be involved in systems that support the core of a company from a more upstream perspective — not just from the purchasing angle — was when an agent introduced me to ARK CONSULTING.

— Among all the consulting firms available, what was the deciding factor in choosing ARK CONSULTING?

O: The interview with the president was the biggest deciding factor. Hearing directly from him “we promote based on capability and enthusiasm, not seniority” — I strongly resonated with that approach. I became convinced this was an environment where my ambition would be directed at the right things and properly recognized, and decided to join.

New Business Planning Directly Under the President, and a Growth Environment That Entrusts Even Young Employees with Team Leadership

— H, what work are you currently handling?

H: On my main project, I’m drawing on knowledge from before I joined to be involved from the upstream in system development for the power industry. Running in parallel with that is internal new business planning — a project at the very forefront of management, involving just the president, an executive officer, and myself.

— Quite a responsibility for a junior employee — I understand you were specifically selected by the president. What kind of business is it?

H: We are working on a strategy to shift the business model from the conventional model of dispatching engineers to one centered on acquiring prime engagements that the company leads and proposes itself. We are building a mechanism to combine AI and SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) with SAP’s public cloud environment, and package and propose it to clients as an optimized template.

— Balancing consulting work and new business — what sense of fulfillment do you find in handling both?

H: New business is a superb opportunity to learn how to grasp things from a perspective close to management. Rather than simply supporting the adoption of a product or service, I believe it develops a “bird’s-eye view of the entire process” — thinking about how to improve client revenues and how to optimize operations. Being able to be involved in business planning this far upstream while also working as an SAP consultant is truly a rare experience. That rarity is something I see as a major weapon for someone like me who jumped in without prior experience.

— Being close to management might also come with pressure. Is it an environment where junior employees can speak up freely?

H: Communication is very open. The president is aware of what every employee is doing and casually checks in with things like “how’s that project going?” I’m still relatively inexperienced, but ARK CONSULTING has a culture where you can speak your mind directly.

— O, what work are you currently handling?

O: I’m handling an SAP implementation project for a food industry client. Because it’s a client in the Tohoku region, the work is primarily remote. It’s sometimes frustrating not being able to meet in person, but I’m providing consistent support from requirements definition through to go-live. I’m currently acting as team leader for a team of five or six people — including members at the Senior Consultant level who are ranked above me — which keeps me in a very bracing environment.

— Starting with no SAP experience and being appointed team leader after just six months is an exceptionally fast trajectory. How did you develop your expertise?

O: In the first two months, I obtained all the certification qualifications for financial accounting, management accounting, sales management, procurement management, and production management. I felt that getting a grasp of the overall ERP picture was indispensable first. While studying late into the nights, I was also involved alongside seasoned veterans in the concept planning phase for a large enterprise — which allowed me to catch up rapidly through hands-on practice.

— Achieving that level of mastery in such a short time can’t be easy. Do you have any tips for accelerating growth?

O: I think it’s about always working with a perspective one or two levels above your current rank. I joined in 2024 at the “Analyst 1” level, but even when tasks were delegated to me, I was always thinking “if I were the leader, how would I manage the schedule and what would I need to do by when?” That attitude was recognized, and in May 2025 I was promoted two steps to “Analyst 3.” Being able to jump ranks based on motivation even without prior experience is one of the company’s attractions.

— Both of you came in without consulting backgrounds. What is the company’s support like?

O: The training program is very comprehensive. Beyond business manners, there’s a systematic learning environment covering management, documentation, and logical thinking. Furthermore, managers and senior colleagues are extremely supportive — no matter how busy they are, they will give you their genuine attention when you ask a question. That “quality of the people” is something I feel strongly supports the growth of newcomers.

H: I agree with O completely. When I joined, having training on the fundamentals of consulting — logical thinking, facilitation, and so on — put me at ease. Currently, through actual work, I’m honing the logical thinking that allows me to systematically organize things. Also, the president sometimes gives me direct feedback on things like how I run meetings — and somehow that directness and closeness is an energizing kind of stimulus for me right now.

A Culture Rich with Ambitious Types and Brimming with Energy

— From your perspective as younger members, what is the atmosphere like internally?

O: There are many people with passion and ambition, and the office atmosphere is full of energy. The company has a clear ranking system, and it’s an environment where if you have the drive, you can speak up and aim higher. Because of that, many people are hungrily pursuing advancement, which I feel is what cultivates the vibrant atmosphere.

Outside of work, clubs and activities are very active. I’m in the futsal club, but there are also unique activities like basketball, mountain climbing, kickboxing, and more. Being able to casually connect with members you haven’t worked with on a project is a real plus.

— H, I understand you also serve as president of the mountaineering club.

H: Yes. On top of the mountaineering club, I’m also in the tennis club and basketball club. In my student days I played soft tennis and volleyball, but now I serve as president and a founding member of the mountaineering club. Just last weekend, about ten club members climbed a mountain in Kanagawa and ate hotpot together. There are many younger members at the company, and as O said, it’s a very energetic environment.

— Work and play are both very social, it sounds.

O: Yes — it’s a place where connecting with different people comes naturally. I enjoy watching movies and going out for drinks with friends, but going to futsal with colleagues is also an important way to unwind. I’d like to see even more internal events going forward.

Wanting to Contribute to “Building the Organization” — and Grow as an Organizational Leader

— O, what challenges would you like to take on going forward, and what is your vision for the future?

O: Rather than simply implementing SAP, I want to grow into a consultant who can make clients better from a management perspective. Looking ahead to future global engagements, I’m currently polishing my English through online conversation lessons. I want to become someone who can develop the next generation of leaders at the company that has elevated me.

— You keep working on yourself every day without letting up.

O: I devour specialist books on production management and procurement management, deepening my understanding of front-line operations. Daily study is essential as a consultant, and working with the actual SAP system itself has shifted from being a “chore” to something I find “enjoyable.” Feeling that satisfaction in the work, I want to keep aiming higher.

— H, are there challenges you want to take on going forward?

H: I want to be deeply involved in building the organization. Expanding prime engagements requires the ability to develop people and restructure the organization. I want to resolve the challenges that come with the company’s growth — things like management and fostering organizational culture — one by one.

— Is there anything you’d like to say to people considering joining ARK CONSULTING?

H: ARK CONSULTING is an environment where, if you put your hand up and say you want to do something, you can take on challenges even in domains you have no experience in. For people who want to sharpen their SAP expertise, of course, but also for those who want to update themselves alongside the company’s growth — this is the finest stage there is. I truly want to meet people who can enjoy this growth phase of our company and grow together with us.

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【Post-Interview Note】

ARK CONSULTING Co., Ltd. — Company Information

Address	ARK Mori Building 17F, 1-12-32 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6017
Representative	Representative Director & President: Ikuki Tei
Capital	¥80,000,000 (as of November 1, 2023)
Business Activities	IT consulting and IT product development

ARK CONSULTING Co., Ltd. — Job Listings