Changing Jobs from an Automotive Parts Manufacturer｜Introducing Career Plans and Career Change Methods

Current Status and Future Prospects of the Automotive Industry

A very large number of people are involved in the automotive industry, which is a key industry in Japan. Cars are indispensable in today’s society, and although it is a mature market, the demand for cars continues to be stable.
Therefore, there is a stable need for automotive parts, and as long as people need cars in the future, there will be demand for them.

However, the automotive industry is currently facing a major turning point due to a major revolution called CASE. In the near future, the very nature of the car itself will change, and the environment surrounding the industry and even the nature of society will undergo a complete transformation.
Automobile manufacturers are required to change from the traditional business model of mass-producing and selling automobiles to one of providing automobile-related services, and whether or not they can respond to these changes will determine the future of their companies.
There are also many other issues that need to be resolved, such as the pervasive labor shortage, the development of sales channels in emerging countries, and barriers to the practical application of automated driving. Companies need to respond flexibly to these challenges as the times change.

What is CASE?
stands for Connected Autonomous Shared Electric, meaning connected, automated, sharing, and electrified.
Connected: cars will be constantly connected to the Internet
・Autonomous: cars will not drive themselves, but will be driven automatically
・Sharing: cars will not be owned by individuals, but shared by multiple people
・Electrification: transition from gasoline and hybrid vehicles to electric vehicles (EV)

I want to change jobs from the automotive industry! Common Reasons for Career Change

The three main reasons for wanting to change jobs from the automotive industry are

• Concerned about the future of the current company
• Limited scope for work and skill development.
• Old corporate culture, including no salary increase and evaluation system

Concerned about the future of the current company

The first is a pattern in which a person considers changing jobs because he or she is concerned about the future of the company for which he or she is currently working. As mentioned above, the automotive industry is currently in a transitional period. Competition among manufacturers is intensifying, and while they are making efforts to survive, such as by expanding overseas, problems are accumulating, such as price competition that is being passed on to subcontractors. In particular, the impact of electrification has been significant, reducing the number of automobile parts from about 30,000 to about 20,000, requiring changes in the production system that has been stochastic so far.
Disappointed by such industry-wide trends or by the management policies of companies, an increasing number of people are seeking opportunities to work in other industries.

Limited scope for work and skill development.

Most Japanese automotive parts manufacturers are large companies, and in most cases, the job types and roles are subdivided. Each individual’s responsibilities are defined in detail, and they are required to be optimal within the scope of their work. Therefore, although it is possible to become an expert within the scope of the job, it is difficult to acquire broad skills outside the scope of the job.
For those who feel that their job responsibilities are insufficient or that their career is limited, changing jobs can be a way to achieve these goals.

Old corporate culture, including no salary increase and evaluation system

Japan’s auto parts manufacturers are an industry that has supported the Japanese economy. The history of the industry is long, and many companies still retain their old-fashioned structures. Many people have doubts or are dissatisfied with the seniority system, an evaluation system that does not reflect salary, or a tendency to place importance on vertical ties, and consider changing jobs.

Job-based employment has been developing in recent years, but even so, annual salary ranges are constrained by age, and salary increases are not expected. On the other hand, foreign automakers have been raising their salary ranges significantly to attract IT personnel, and there has been a noticeable shift of workers from Japanese companies to foreign companies in search of a fairer evaluation system.

Is it possible to change jobs from an automotive (parts) manufacturer to another industry?

As mentioned above, in many cases, car manufacturers build their careers in segmented jobs. Therefore, it is obvious that many people are highly skilled experts in a certain field and are fully capable of working in other industries and sectors.
For example, someone experienced in the design and development of automotive components can work as a designer of electronic and mechanical components in other industries. In addition, efficient business processes that employ the latest technologies are something that many companies would like to refer to. Therefore, experienced production managers and program managers are in demand from companies that provide consulting and IT solutions for the manufacturing industry.
As you can see, the automotive industry is not the only place where you can utilize your experience and skills. You can take on the challenge of changing jobs with confidence that you can be successful in other industries and occupations as well.

Changing Jobs from an Automobile (Parts) Manufacturer｜Career Options

How can my experience and skills in the automotive industry be put to use? Many people may not have a concrete image of what they are looking for.
Here, we will introduce specific job opportunities from automotive parts manufacturers.
Whether you want to increase your annual salary or advance your career, please use this information as a reference for a career plan that fulfills your wishes.

Startups and ventures

Age: Recommended for 20-40s

Recommended for 20-40 year olds who want to expand their discretion, challenge themselves and improve their skills. The government has also increased its supplementary budget to 1 trillion yen under its 5-year startup development plan. The amount of funding for domestic startups has also increased to a record high, with a total of 877.4 billion yen raised in 2022. Overseas, electric vehicle manufacturers such as Tesla and startup companies related to automated driving are emerging one after another. In Japan, job-based employment is also emphasized and is recommended as an environment for acquiring practical skills.

<Points to keep in mind>
Automobile and mobility-related startup companies in particular are characterized by their rapid growth. Because of the possibility of business integration and acquisitions, the scope of work may change regardless of the position you held when you joined the company. Therefore, you need to be flexible enough to adapt to such changes.

consulting firm

Age: Recommended for people in their 20s-30s
Recommended for people who want to improve their skills in a short period of time and increase their salary
Many companies are looking for experience in the automotive industry to expand their future careers.

<Points to keep in mind>
A disadvantage of some companies, especially strategy consulting firms, is that they require you to produce results within a set period of time, which means that you will have to work a lot of overtime. On the other hand, the fact that you can increase your salary and improve your skills in a short period of time by sharing intense time and experience with excellent supervisors and colleagues is a big advantage.

foreign-owned enterprise

Age: 20s-50s
Recommended for those who want to make use of English and increase salary with fair evaluation system
Many career opportunities available even for 50s

<Points to keep in mind>
Foreign-affiliated companies are often looking for people who can make an immediate impact, and many companies below medium size do not offer extensive training. Therefore, while it is true that young careers can be a bottleneck for those in their 20s, there are cases where youth can be an advantage if you have even one “strong point”.

IT industry

Age: 20’s-50’s
Career advancement is possible with IT-related knowledge
Aim for higher annual salary and expertise in the IT industry, especially if you have experience in electrical/electronics or software-related fields.

<Points to keep in mind>
In the IT industry, IT-related experience is sometimes required for planning-related and sales-related positions. If you do not have any experience at this point, one option is to try the IT industry after gaining experience in the electrical industry or consulting firms.

Tips for a successful career change from an automotive (parts) manufacturer

In order to successfully change jobs from an automotive parts manufacturer, you need to keep a few things in mind. Please use this information as a reference as you proceed with your job change.

Clarify in what ways you can contribute.

For mid-career hires, we are basically looking for immediate employment. In the past, there were some cases where a lack of industry experience prevented an increase in annual salary when crossing over into a new industry. In recent years, however, it has become possible to change jobs regardless of industry or sector, by leveraging one’s past experience and skills and demonstrating that one can contribute to solving problems faced by companies.
First, you need to unload your skills and strengths, and then clarify how you can contribute to the company.
It is important that the employer has a bright vision of how the company will change if this person joins the company.

Clearly determine the annual income line to decline, even if your income will be reduced.

Changing jobs can increase or decrease your annual salary. Often, if experience and skills do not meet the requirements of the new job, or if the position is lower, the annual salary will decrease.
Of course, there are cases in which a lower annual salary will allow you to gain experience for a better career in the long run or to have a better work-life balance. Realistically, however, a lower annual salary may result in a lower quality of life or, in the worst case scenario, in a loss of livelihood.
Money issues should be considered severely. In advance, make clear the minimum annual salary line you are declining.
If the offer is below that line, we recommend that you do not force yourself to change jobs and look for a new job that better matches your needs and makes sense for you.

Use a recruitment agent

Gathering information is the key to finding a new job, and it takes a lot of effort and time. It is a heavy burden to do all of this while working. In order to succeed in your job search within the limited time you have, using a recruitment agent is one way to do so.
A recruitment agent will not only introduce you to jobs that match your needs and skills, but will also provide you with the guidance and advice you need to prepare for interviews and other aspects of your job search.
Turnpoint Consulting Turnpoint Consulting, Inc. is a recruitment agency specializing in the automotive, IT, technology, and mobility services industries. We can provide advice based on industry annual salary averages, annual salary relative to competitors, and the latest trends in the industry.
We provide thorough support for job seekers through interviews and interview preparation to ensure that interviews lead to results, leading them to their ideal job change.

Finally.

The automotive industry is currently undergoing a major transition and its future is uncertain. Under such circumstances, many people may be concerned about the future of the company they are currently working for, or of parts manufacturers as a whole.

There are a wide range of opportunities to use your experience and skills at an automotive parts manufacturer.

Whether you want to work in an industry or company with high future potential, increase your annual salary, or change your environment, why not look for a new job that offers you hopes and conditions that you cannot fulfill at your current workplace and enhance your daily life?

Supervision: Turnpoint Consulting Media Team (Contact: Shintaro Kondo)
We are a media team that provides useful information about changing jobs related to the automotive and mobility industry. For those who are thinking about changing jobs, we will provide information about the job market in the automotive and mobility industry and how to prepare for the selection process, and for corporate recruiters, we will provide information about the flow of human resources in this industry. Our goal is to help you by providing information about changing jobs and recruitment in the automotive and mobility industry.