The Start of “Let’s Have Fun!” Training for Our Newest Recruits! Part 1

Hello! I am Kato from the 1st Division of the Public Relations Business Headquarters, and I joined the company in April.

Do you know what kind of “Let’s Have Fun!” spirit is packed into the SUNNY SIDE UP training program for new employees?

In this article, I would like to share the highlights of the first week of training, while also capturing the atmosphere of our new graduates!

The Nervous Excitement of the Entrance Ceremony

Dressed in our favorite outfits and filled with nervous anticipation, we finally arrived at SUNNY SIDE UP.

With our hair and makeup beautifully done by professional stylists, the excitement was palpable even before the ceremony began!Welcomed by everyone’s warm words, we finally took our first steps as members of SUNNY SIDE UP.It was a memorable entrance ceremony where each of us received an appointment certificate and a commemorative gift, fueling our excitement for the upcoming training.

▼ Please see this article for more details on the entrance ceremony!
Welcoming our largest group of new graduates ever! The 2023 SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP Entrance Ceremony 🌸

The First Step Toward “Let’s Have Fun!”

The first step of professional training is, of course, business etiquette.

Through group work, we learned everything from the absolute basics, such as reporting, contacting, and consulting (Hou-Ren-So) and the professional mindset, to open-ended questions like “What does it mean to work?”The new graduates spoke about their desire to work to help others and to achieve their future goals.It was a great opportunity to share the passion we hold within!

We also had many opportunities to hear lectures from our executives.We learned about the origin of the name SUNNY SIDE UP, the “Let’s Have Fun!” DNA that defines the company,and even heard precious behind-the-scenes stories and insights into the executives’ private lives…!

By learning about the history of SUNNY SIDE UP, we rediscovered the influence that PR has on the world and were thrilled by the possibility of reaching out to the world through our own PR work.

Interacting with Senior Colleagues Outside the Office ♪

Training at SUNNY SIDE UP is not just about classroom learning!

We stepped out of the meeting room to visit Meiji Jingu Shrine with our third-year senior colleagues!The Class of ’23 is full of bright and unique personalities, and the conversation never stopped on the way to the shrine!We prayed for a great start to our professional lives at SUNNY SIDE UP!

We also had lunch and recreation with our second-year seniors at Shinjuku Gyoen, where the cherry blossoms were in full bloom ♪

Some members were nervous at first meeting seniors for the first time,but thanks to a game called “Blind Square,” the tension melted away and we grew much closer!

Looking back at my camera roll, it’s filled with photos of everyone smiling ♪Being outdoors helped us open up,and it was a time where we caught glimpses of our colleagues’ hidden personalities!

▼ Comment from the Education Coordinator
The main goal was to create an environment where new employees could feel comfortable consulting with seniors close to their own age. To achieve this, the HR department collaborated with second- and third-year seniors to plan these activities. We brainstormed many ideas together, thinking carefully about what kind of content would help bridge the distance between everyone.

How Much Do You Know? About Your Peers and Yourself

In the Business Basics lectures, we had time to learn about hospitality and leadership in addition to language usage, grooming, and how to exchange business cards.During group work, we shared examples of “hospitality recently received or given,”and it was heartwarming to hear stories of what colleagues had done for each other during the training.Since this session, it has become a habit among us to call out “Nice hospitality!” whenever we see a colleague doing something wonderful! (Laughs)

Furthermore, during the lecture where we created motivation graphs to share our past experiences, everyone expressed a desire to hear from every single member, making it a truly valuable time to get to know our peers.

Week 1 Complete! To be continued in the Week 2 edition…!

What did you think of our first week?

Interacting with the executives we admire, learning business etiquette through group work, communicating with seniors while being active outdoors, and making new discoveries by seriously reflecting on ourselves and our peers…It was a week that constantly overturned our preconceptions of training, with many lectures focusing more on output than input!

We truly felt that the “Let’s Have Fun!” spirit starts right from the training,and I even heard voices saying, “I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of training awaits us next week.”

What kind of events and lectures are in store for the second week…?!Please look forward to the Week 2 update!