外国人社員のキャリア形成――キャリア・コンサルティングの事例から――

抄録

This paper is a report and discussion about the current state of support for career formation among foreign employees and the problems associated with it, based on three case studies of career consulting. Career formation is a process of attempting self-realization through one’s profession while asking oneself about one’s values and capabilities; however, we can mention four problems that impede career formation for foreign employees: (1) insufficient language skills for the communication necessary for carrying out their duties, (2) fear that they will not easily adapt themselves to a different culture, which will have deleterious effects on their work life, (3) friction and conflicts that arise between foreign employees and companies due to differences in views on professional abilities and systems for evaluating human resources, and 4) the difficulty in obtaining information about social services when changing jobs, etc. In response to these issues, companies that take on foreign employees can take an active role in preparing a working environment for them by such means as assigning career consultants who speak the employees’ native languages, raising awareness about career formation for employees, and training in intercultural understanding. These are some of the ways in which companies need to proceed with supporting career formation, using methods appropriate to each individual company. Moreover, although hiring foreign employees is based on such corporate concepts as reducing human resources expenses and acquiring sophisticated technology and knowledge, these employees also bring cultural and interpersonal exchanges to local communities and move Japan toward a diverse, multicultural society. Amid these developments, it will be necessary for the entire society to take an interest in cultural diversity in career development. I think that we ought to join with local communities and promote the training of career consultants who will support career formation for foreigners.