How I Redirected My Dream to Pursuing Job Opportunities in Japan
When I chose my degree in Law, it was because I loved how the law could help manage societies for the highest common good, and how I could become a high-paid lawyer in China. Sadly, when the Coronavirus pandemic hit, it completely changed the Chinese economy and job market. Suddenly, that future became impossible. It became difficult to find an internship even as someone from a top university like me. I could see the damaging effects of the pandemic continuing for years to come. This made me rethink my vision of the future. My research brought me to consider Japan as the perfect place to grow in my career, and even eventually retire. The best part? There are so many job opportunities in Japan that there’s plenty of room for Chinese Nationals like me.
In truth, I’ve always been interested in Japan. Like many others, I love anime. But what sealed the deal for me were the facts about living and working in Japan. The more I researched about Japan, the more I was convinced. My background in law also allowed me a deeper appreciation of Japan: it’s a country where labor laws fully care for employees through full-time employment, job stability until retirement, overtime pay, allowances, and benefits. Work-Life-Balance is possible in Japan because companies respect holidays and office hours. Company culture is marked by exemplary tea work and cooperation. The difference is also apparent from their interviews where they gauge, more than your skillset, your character as a person.
Finding My Path from China to Japan: Job Hunting with FAST OFFER International
Determined, I began to study Japanese in earnest and quickly reached the Japanese N1 level. I then researched how to job hunt in Japan. That’s when I came across FAST OFFER International. I quickly signed up with them and they provided me a mentor to guide me through the process. In my four months of job hunting with them, I received four interview opportunities, of which I took two.
I didn’t do well with my first online job interview with a Japanese company. I missed researching about the company. On the second opportunity I took, I made up for it. I double-downed on my preparations. This all paid off when I aced the second interview round and later was sent an acceptance e-mail. I remember the feeling of reading the result, the sheer relief that washed over me. For years, I was anxious about my life in China, but imagining my future now set in Japan filled me with hope and happiness. Landing a job opportunity in Japan as a Chinese national brightened my future.
3 Important Things I Did To Help Me Land A Job Opportunity in Japan as a Chinese National
- I researched a lot about the company that was interviewing me. It’s important to know the company well so you can make a connection with them. Japanese companies look for employees who understand their vision and goals.
- I watched videos on YouTube on how to conduct yourself in Japanese Job Interviews. Japanese companies operate with Japanese manners. As a Chinese national, I’m blind to what’s considered respectful and normal in Japan. Reading up on these cultural differences, but most importantly, seeing them through videos, made a lot of difference in how I successfully handled job interviews.
- I used AI for better, more natural-sounding translations. I didn’t solely rely on AI, but ChatGPT greatly helped me fine-tune my preparations. As a Chinese national, my translations would have sounded stilted. I prepared personal, concrete, and honest answers to anticipated questions then had ChatGPT refine my answers to sound more like they were spoken by a Japanese native. This was a big help! The HR department gave me high praise for my interview.
Looking Forward to the Adventures That Will Shape Me in Japan
When I started studying Law, imagining myself as a Chinese lawyer one day, I was a completely different. Shinji Ikari, the protagonist of my favorite anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, also went through a transformation. When the story began, he was just a child, but everything that happened made him a better person. Studying law helped me mature into the better, friendlier person I am today. I’m sure that the big adventures waiting in Japan for me will transform me once again, into an even brighter person. Life can surprise you, dreams can change, and sometimes, that can all be for the better.
My Goals in Japan: From Professional to Personal
Once I’m in Japan working as a project manager, I hope to excel and get a higher position. I plan to work in Japan until retirement! Outside of work, I also want to experience Tokyo’s bustling city life to the fullest. I’m sure to enjoy the many places I can visit and photograph, and the colorful international expat community I can make meaningful relationships with. I dream of enjoying a fulfilling, happy life in Japan with a stable job and marriage (I need a girlfriend first, though!). Anything is possible!
Encouragement for Fellow Chinese Nationals Facing Challenges in the Local Scene
When I was looking for opportunities in China, I was incredibly anxious. Getting to a top university was for nothing because it didn’t make a difference in my job hunt. When I began to look for opportunities in Japan as a Chinese national though , hope sprung. I pivoted away from practicing law, but was still able to use a lot of the transferrable skills I picked up at the university.
I want to encourage my fellow Chinese peers, who are probably going through the same difficulties, to open their eyes to this bigger job opportunity in Japan. Go for it! Do it! Everything you need is under your fingertips: FAST OFFER International will connect you to humongous opportunities, the internet to get information from, and even AI can boost your journey. If you do your best, you can find a job in Japan that suits you.The world gets bigger the moment you step out of the box!
