"In this study, we collected case examples of utilization of career counseling, with a focus on private-sector companies, and aimed to analyze the current status of career counseling at Japanese companies and its features, including administrative structures, on the basis of these case examples. For the study, we conducted a free-response survey and interview survey (both in March and April 2014). During the free-response survey, 43 career counselors were asked to describe case examples, primarily those that were beneficial to their respective organizations. For the interview survey, career counselors at large companies were interviewed. These surveys found that in-house career counseling at Japanese companies is progressing at a rapid rate, and in particular that such counseling's roles and functions within organizations have been progressively clarified over the past 20 years. In specific terms, career counseling exhibits quintessentially Japanese characteristics, with functions that can be roughly categorized as (a) retention, (b) relational adjustment and dialogue promotion, and (c) imparting of meaning and provision of value. "

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