01 Provide services that exceed customer expectations.
First of all, could you tell us about the position of VFJ in the VW Group?
Volkswagen Financial Services Japan Co. Ltd. (VFJ) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Financial Services AG of Germany, which oversees financial services for the Volkswagen Group's global brands (Audi, Bentley, Ducati, Lamborghini, Volkswagen, etc.).
When did you start your business in Japan?
VFJ started its business in Japan in 1990. Since then, VFJ has contributed to the expansion of the VW Group's automobile sales by providing a variety of financing programs for end users and authorized dealers. The company has an established reputation for high quality financial services based on the motto "Customer Comes First" and is consistently ranked among the top in customer satisfaction surveys conducted by professional organizations.
02 The driving force behind VFJ's continued growth
What is the significance and appeal of working at VFJ?
VFJ has a passion for work and human resources. We will explore all possibilities with each other and work together to achieve our goals. At VFJ, even young people can play an important role if they have the ability and desire. In fact, the global warming countermeasures through carbon offsetting and the car sharing, which is said to be the first attempt in the import car industry, are all the ideas of young members. These members took their own initiative to persuade the top management and led the project to success. Several others in their 30s have become department heads.
Isn’t this quite rare even in the case of global companies?
Of course, these things have been possible because of the compactness of the organization, but there is no doubt that the sense of unity as a team has supported VFJ's growth.
03 A New Vision for Growth
With the global economic situation changing so drastically, what stance do you think VFJ will take?
For the further growth of the VW Group, Volkswagen Financial Services AG has presented a new vision, the core of which is "FS WAY". A Living Commitment to our Customer, Responsibility, Trust, Courage, and Enthusiasm are the five core values of VFJ, and we have positioned these as the core concepts of our corporate culture.
What is the goal of implementing the “FS WAY” among employees?
Now that the situation surrounding automobiles is about to change drastically, we need to go back to the basics of service and think about what we should do as a member of the VW Group and give it shape. We are convinced that more thorough implementation of the "FS WAY" by employees will lead to the evolution of VFJ.
04 We are looking for professionals
We believe that excellent human resources are indispensable for the evolution and growth of VFJ. Please tell us about the kind of human resources you are looking for.
We at VFJ are looking for professionals who can think and act on their own and provide high added value to our customers. In other words, you must be able to discover issues on your own and work through them to the end, have unrivaled expertise and a desire to grow and improve, and be trusted and respected by others. The top management also regularly emphasizes the three MINDS consisting of OPEN MIND (readiness to take on the challenge of change), TOUGH MIND (spirit, strictness with oneself), and TENDER MIND (connection with others).
Are there likely to be any changes in your expectations for mid-career hiring or in your hiring policies?
Since its establishment, VFJ has continued to expand its business, but has always welcomed professionals in various fields as immediate contributors, based on the principle of a minority elite. This stance will probably remain unchanged in the future, but now that we have entered what could be called the second stage of our business, we would like to identify more professional qualities when hiring.
05 A Balanced Way of Life
Do you have any message for those who are thinking of applying to VFJ?
We are not particular about the industry you come from, but if you like cars or have an affinity to the VW Group brand, you may be a good fit. On top of that, I would like to recommend VFJ to those who want to achieve a high level of balance between the desire to exercise their own expertise and the desire to balance work and private life. VFJ has been working on work-life balance for a long time. There are many people who are so busy with hard work that they lose sight of what's important.
But, of course, there is always a lot of hard work involved. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in order to build a better company, and we need to accomplish it all by ourselves. VFJ is looking forward to the challenge of those who share our values.
