Protean Career Association's New Certified Qualification "Career Development Diagnosis Advisor" Sees First Cohort of 18 Graduates

The Protean Career Association (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Directors: Kensuke Tanaka, Toru Ariyama; hereinafter referred to as "the Association") is an organization that supports the development of better relationships between organizations and individuals, and the proactive career development of individuals.

We are pleased to announce the graduation of 18 individuals from the first cohort of the "Career Development Diagnosis Advisor Training Course." These certified advisors will now utilize the Career Development Diagnosis to support individual career autonomy and organizational human resource development as specialized professionals.

What is the Career Development Diagnosis?

The Career Development Diagnosis is a diagnostic tool developed under the supervision of Kensuke Tanaka, Professor at Hosei University's Faculty of Career Design and Representative Director of the Association. It visualizes an individual's career condition.

This tool measures an individual's career status from six indicators: "Career Goals," "Self-Understanding," "Health & Well-being," "Adaptability to Change," "Relationship Building," and "Career Capital." It allows individuals to objectively grasp their strengths, challenges, and areas for growth.

Similar to an annual health check-up, regularly reviewing one's career status aims to deepen self-awareness, leading to autonomous career formation and improved well-being.

Furthermore, it serves as a common language not only for individuals but also for supervisors, HR departments, and organizations to maximize employee potential.

Details here: https://protean-career.or.jp/career-diagnosis/

What is a Career Development Diagnosis Advisor?

A Career Development Diagnosis Advisor does not merely explain the diagnosis results. They act as a companion, utilizing the results and engaging in dialogue with the test-taker to deepen self-understanding, encourage proactive thinking about their own careers, and support them in taking action.

The training course provides systematic learning in areas such as:

Dialogue techniques to elicit insights from participants

Feedback methods that respect autonomy

How to conduct career dialogues

Support methods for behavioral change

Only after passing the certification exam can one be called a "Career Development Diagnosis Advisor."

The first cohort of certified advisors includes individuals with diverse backgrounds, such as corporate HR personnel, managers, career consultants, and training instructors. They are expected to utilize the Career Development Diagnosis in their respective fields to support the growth of both individuals and organizations.

Value and Potential Perceived by the First Cohort of Certified Advisors

Interviews with the first cohort of certified advisors revealed a shared understanding that "diagnosis results are not an evaluation, but rather material for individuals to consider their own careers."

Career Development Diagnosis Advisors are expected to play a role not just in conveying results, but in accompanying individuals to help them gain insights and take action.

In simulated career interviews using the Career Development Diagnosis, a strategy was employed to encourage participants who tend to focus on low scores to begin the conversation with high-scoring items. This approach aims to prompt reflection on strengths and past successes, leading to natural self-disclosure.

Certified advisors shared feedback such as, "It's important not to get caught up in the numbers, but to understand the underlying aspirations and values," and "There is value in deepening introspection triggered by the diagnosis results and connecting it to small behavioral changes."

Regarding future applications, expectations are high for its use in various settings beyond career interviews using diagnosis results, including integrating it into their own training programs, responding to requests on how to conduct one-on-one meetings between superiors and subordinates, and supporting individuals who do not express specific concerns in career consulting. Applications are anticipated in one-on-one meetings, management development, career training, organizational development, and team building.

Four of the certified individuals interviewed for this article were members who were significantly involved in the course development. One commented, "Now that it's complete, I'm overwhelmed with emotion. I hope this qualification spreads as a means to support the career autonomy of many people."

First Cohort Certified Advisors

Mariko Ishioka, Ryota Inaba, Tetsuya Kato, Yuji Morita

Total of 18 individuals

July 12: Career Development Diagnosis Advisor Training Course Held

Following the birth of its first certified advisors, the Protean Career Association will hold the "2nd Career Development Diagnosis Advisor Training Course" on July 12, 2026.

This course offers practical learning not only on how to interpret the Career Development Diagnosis but also on how to conduct career dialogues and feedback methods using the diagnosis results, as well as points for supportive guidance to promote behavioral change.

Amidst growing interest in promoting human capital management and supporting career autonomy, this is an opportunity for HR personnel, managers, career consultants, training instructors, and others who support the career development of employees and clients to acquire new support skills.

▼Date and Time

Course: 2026/7/12 9:00-12:00

Certification Exam: August-September 2026 *Dates to be announced separately

Fee: General ¥33,000 (tax included) / Certified Advisor ¥22,000 (tax included)

▼Application Form Here

https://pci.jotform.com/form/261703384968468

◆Certified Service Provider: 4designs Inc.

Name: 4designs Inc.

Location: H1O Nihonbashi Kayabacho 311, 2-12-10 Nihonbashi Kayabacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Established: July 2019

President & CEO: Toru Ariyama

Business Overview: Management consulting, organizational development support for maximizing human capital, career development support, etc.

Website: https://4designs.co.jp/

Service: Protean Career Dock https://protean-career.or.jp/company-seminar

Clients: Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd. / Sumitomo Corporation / Morinaga & Co., Ltd. / POLA INC. / Dentsu Digital Inc. / Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. / Intage Inc. / EXA CORPORATION, and over 200 other companies.

◆Association Overview

Official Name: Protean Career Association

Location: 2F Shinjuku Washington Hotel Building Main Tower, 3-2-9 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Business Overview: Career dialogue-based organizational development support services / Individual career support services / Certified qualification system operation

Representative Directors: Kensuke Tanaka (Professor, Faculty of Career Design, Hosei University) / Toru Ariyama (Representative Director & CEO, 4designs Inc.)

Established: March 2020

Association Website: https://protean-career.or.jp/

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