"Before I Knew It, Three Years Had Passed"
I met Ms. C (27), three years into her time at First Class Ruby, on a weekday afternoon in January. We talked at a café near Ruby.
"At first I figured it'd be about six months," Ms. C laughs. "Save up, move on to the next step. That was the plan, but before I knew it, three years had gone by."
The First Year Was "Just Getting Used to It"
— What state were you in when you first joined?
C: I joined at 24, and honestly it was nothing but things I didn't understand. A soapland (soap) itself was a first for me, and I had a mountain of questions like "What do I do in this situation?" But Ruby had experienced senior staff I could consult, so I could ask them every little thing.
The first three months were around ¥300,000–350,000 a month. By no means low, but I had almost no nominations yet — it was mostly "free" (non-nomination) customers. Back then it was a "I could quit anytime, but for now I'll keep going" kind of feeling.
— What changed in your first year?
C: Regulars started forming in the latter half of year one. There were three people coming three or four times a month, and they became the pillar of a steady income. When nominations come in, your attitude toward the work shifts a little. A sense of agency is born — "I want this person to come back."
Year Two: The Road to ¥800K a Month
— How did year two change?
C: Nominations grew in the first half of year two. My monthly income stabilized at ¥600,000–700,000, and in peak season (around New Year's and before Valentine's) it sometimes topped ¥800,000.
— What did you consciously do to increase nominations?
C: "Getting remembered." Concretely, I keep a record of what we talked about. Just asking, the next time we meet, "That trip you mentioned last month — did you make it?" changes the impression completely. Customers react strongly to the fact that you "actually listened."
Also, not forcing the energy up. Ruby's customers tend to be the calm type, and some are enjoying quiet time. You read that mood and match it. This is something I feel got better the longer I stayed.
Year Three: Into the "Asset-Building" Stage
— Tell us about where you are now, in year three.
C: My monthly income averages ¥700,000–800,000. My monthly nomination count is fairly stable, so it doesn't swing wildly. What changed entering year three is "how I use money." For the first two years it was "earn and spend," but now it's shifted to "earn and grow."
¥100,000 each into mutual funds and a NISA every month. I reviewed my insurance and added medical insurance and a private pension. Before I knew it, my total assets had passed ¥10 million. Among friends my age, you basically never hear of anyone with ¥10 million saved, right?
— What do you think was the single biggest reason you could keep going for three years?
C: In a word, "I could trust the shop." Ruby's staff are sincere. They'll handle unpleasant customers for me, and they respect my judgment of "I can decline this customer." This shop has a culture of putting the woman's circumstances first.
That became a sense of security, and it let me keep going long-term. In an environment where you can't feel safe, no matter how much you earn, I don't think you can keep at it.
How to Judge "Quit or Keep Going"
— In those three years, were there times you thought about quitting?
C: Twice. The first was in my eighth month. I'd gotten the hang of the work, but a vague unease had crept in — "Is this okay for my future?" That time I had Mr. T, a staffer, hear me out, and he said, "You don't have to decide right now — you can even take a month off." I took two weeks off, realized I had more "reasons to keep going," and came back.
The second was at the end of year two. It was a period when I started feeling, "I should be thinking about my next career." But I couldn't picture any career at all that would keep my current income. I told myself again, "No need to rush the decision," and here I am.
— Are you thinking about quitting now?
C: Honestly, I do have the feeling that "I want to draw a line before I turn 30." But right now, my goal is to earn at Ruby for another two or three years and stack up assets.
I'll figure out what comes after while I save. The answer my current self needs is "keep going," so that's all I'm focused on.
A Message to Newcomers
— As a senior, what would you tell people considering joining?
C: "The first three months are everything," I think. If you can feel "I can trust this shop" there, you can keep going. Conversely, if even after three months you feel "something's off," you can take that as an honest signal.
What makes me glad I chose Ruby is that "I could work at my own pace." Even in the periods when I had few nominations, the staff never once blamed me. It was a job I could manage myself, as "my own work." That suited me, and I think it's the reason I could keep going long-term.
First Class Ruby — Recruitment Information - Official site: https://www.tfr-ruby.com/ - Location: Urawa Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture - Hours: 06:00–24:00 (fully flexible scheduling) - Application hotline: 070-1462-0622 (available 24 hours) - LINE ID: ruby2017s