Kochicari Hosts a Career Workshop at Japan Soccer College to Promote Parallel Careers

Kochicari’s Groundbreaking Career Workshop

Kochicari, a subsidiary of E-3 Co., Ltd., has recently made waves by conducting a significant career workshop at the Japan Soccer College, aimed at second-year students in coaching and referee majors. This event, themed "Parallel Careers," was part of the students’ practical job training curriculum and sparked high levels of interest and approval among the attendees. An impressive 90.5% of participants found the workshop to be particularly informative and helpful.

Understanding the Landscape for Young Coaches

The workshop addressed a pivotal issue frequently faced by young coaches in the sports sector: the necessity of maintaining financial stability. Many emerging coaches, often employed by local clubs, resort to additional jobs to secure their income. Unfortunately, this results in a trend where coaches tend to depart from the field as they approach pivotal life stages, such as marriage or long-term planning, particularly in their late twenties to early thirties. Surveys conducted by E-3 Co., Ltd. indicated that more than 70% of club representatives acknowledge a shortage of young coaches.

Moreover, the prevalent employment structure comprises mainly fixed contracts, allowing few to thrive as professional coaches due to the default exit of many young professionals from the field. The workshop tackled these pressing issues by sharing the current realities of coaching careers, typical contract situations, and alternative work models such as shortened hours and a four-day workweek.

In addition, the event illuminated the rising trend of short-time permanent employment and highlighted transferable skills that sports professionals possess, such as communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and team management. Participants were also presented with examples of parallel career opportunities to broaden their future prospects.

Feedback Highlights from Participants

To gauge the effectiveness of the session, a participant survey was conducted, yielding insightful feedback:

- Content Clarity: 100% found the information comprehensible, with 66.7% rating it as "very clear."
- Relevance: An overwhelming 90.5% stated the content was valuable, and 71.4% deemed it extremely relevant to their careers.
- Career Aspirations: All respondents expressed their desire to continue coaching after graduation, with 90.5% aspiring to become professional coaches.
- Interest in Kochicari Services: While 14.3% planned to consult immediately, 19.0% expressed a desire for further inquiries, while 61.9% remained unsure and 4.8% showed no interest.
- Key Themes: The current status of coaching careers and the concept of parallel careers emerged as highly impactful topics.

The workshop's outcomes are particularly striking, given that a significant majority of students aim to join professional clubs post-graduation, yet they are expressing an eagerness to leverage Kochicari's resources to enhance their career trajectories. The overarching theme regarding coaching career realities indicates substantial awareness and introspection prompted by the workshop.

Ongoing Support for Students

In addition to the workshop, Kochicari provides free one-on-one consultations via its official LINE account, facilitating initial steps for students seeking guidance. The company plans to collaborate closely with institutions to support students in designing dual paths of employment and coaching, starting during their academic journey.

Unique Aspects of the Initiative

- This initiative stands out as a rare instance of a recruitment agency directly integrating into formal educational curricula.
- It focuses on career planning with the premise of continuing coaching.

Workshop Details

- Institution: Japan Soccer College (International Comprehensive Academy)
- Target Audience: Second-year students from coaching and referee majors
- Format: Online
- Content: Overview of career realities, contract details, alternative work models, employment market trends, alternatives for career exploration, and pre-interview steps.