Don't Stick to the Script: A Keio Graduate's Guide to Shukatsu - Why Mao Hotta Applied to Every Industry—and Why You Should Explore Too

When Mao Hotta was a junior at Keio University, she panicked. Everyone around her was deep into shukatsu—talking nonstop about recruitment exams, interviews, and company rankings. But Mao had just realized that her dream of becoming a journalist wasn't what she actually wanted.

"I lost my dream, my purpose for shukatsu. I was kind of panicked."

So she did something unconventional: she applied everywhere.

---You applied to almost every industry. Why?

Mao: I thought to myself—I'm a student. I don't know about the real world. I don't know about real experiences or industries at all. So why not try all the industries?

I went to interviews at developers, PR companies, advertising companies, marketing, TV, consulting—every company you could imagine. Banks. I wanted to use this opportunity to explore my career opportunities.

---You got offers from multiple industries. Why choose Goldman Sachs?

Mao: I got five or six different offers. I kind of knew I would be really successful at an advertising company or TV company—those felt natural to me. But I chose Goldman specifically because it was so different from what I expected, and so different from hospitality.

I wanted to challenge myself. It's not always right to start with what you want to do. Go into a different industry, and you might learn something new you've never known before.

---How is Japanese job hunting different from the US?

Mao: In the US, companies really see your major and your GPA. But Japanese companies don't really care about majors and GPAs.

That's actually an advantage. It means you're free to explore beyond your major. I spent four years studying journalism, did an exchange at Boston University as a communications major, and ended up in investment banking. In Japan, that's fine.

---What's your advice for undergrads in the middle of shukatsu?

Mao: Every adult will say random things during recruitment. "This important person says this, so I should do this." Don't think that way. Just chill and explore the opportunities you have.

Don't stick with your major. Try as much as you can—a variety of industries and companies.

And my last piece of advice?

"Don't really listen to anyone's advice. It's my advice."

---How did you know hospitality was right for you?

Mao: The time in the hotel was just so... I felt so right when I was there. Working with my coworkers, we worked really hard to satisfy guests, to increase the guest experience. That's when I realized—this is my job, the thing I want to do for the rest of my life.

Just follow your feeling in that moment. Don't really think about the path you have to create.

Final Thoughts

Mao's shukatsu journey was anything but conventional. She applied to every industry she could find, received offers from multiple sectors, and chose the one that scared her most. That willingness to explore—and to challenge herself—led her to Goldman Sachs, and eventually back to her true passion: hospitality.

"Don't really listen to anyone's advice. It's my advice."

For students in the middle of shukatsu, Mao's message is liberating: you don't have to have it all figured out. Use this time to explore. Try industries you've never considered. The worst that happens? You learn something new about yourself. The best? You might just find your calling.

This is Article 3 in a 3-part series featuring Mao Hotta's journey from Goldman Sachs to hospitality entrepreneurship.

(Editor: Jelper Club Operations Team)