Free Trip to Japan? Free Japanese Classes? Sign Me Up!
I need to be completely honest: I had low to no expectations when I signed up with FAST OFFER International back in 2018. I didn’t think that in a few years, I would have an engineering career in Japan. Through luck, the arduous work of FAST OFFER International, and my eagerness to learn more Japanese, I surpassed my expectations.
Like most Malaysians studying in the university, we had to study a foreign language. I chose Japanese for four semesters because I loved anime and J-dramas. When FAST OFFER International held an an information session at my school, I was excited about the idea of free Japanese classes and the opportunity to travel to Japan for free. It sounded like a win-win situation to me whether I got a job after the process.
I wasn’t really thinking about how real all of it was, that there really were a lot of opportunities for jobs in Japan for Malaysians available to me. It was unbelievable to me. If I did get a job in Japan, I knew that I would receive help from a country with a rich history of advanced technology. Still, I didn’t get my hopes up too much. I thought that if I did get a job in Japan, it would have been a pleasant surprise.
I thought: why not? With the program completely free, there was nothing to lose. Admittedly, it wasn’t that simple. I said yes to this opportunity that entailed more work on my part during my busy final year at Universiti Sains Malaysia studying Analytical Chemistry. But the classes were fun and interesting—a sort of break from the typical classes I took. So, I accepted the challenge and decided to maximize the rare opportunity.
Flying to Japan for the Job Interviews
Finally, I flew to Japan for the 6-day job interview trip. My Malaysian peers on that trip all had master’s degrees and it caused me to be even less confident.
On the final day, as they were announcing the list of successful applicants, I felt certain I didn’t get it. I didn’t feel too bad for myself. I didn’t expect to succeed, to begin with but I was bubbling with guilt. My mentor spent so much one-on-one time with me studying for the interviews. They dutifully edited my answers and coached me through every possible scenario. I thought of all the efforts FAST OFFER International’s team put in that got me to where I was. I was ready to apologize when suddenly, I heard my name! Turns out, I was just at the tail-end of the list of accepted applicants. I felt a rush of happiness from this unexpected success. I told my family when I found out, and they were supportive.
Getting my Work Visa for Japan at the Japanese Embassy in Malaysia
Getting my visa for Japan was easy enough with a company’s job offer and their full support. I worked with their HR department for all my requirements. I gave them everything they needed digitally, and they sent back requirements to me. The exchange of requirements from my company and myself took about a month. I went in person to the Japanese embassy in Malaysia to get my visa when I had all the documents. It was incredibly efficient as I got the results on the same day.
Navigating Work and Life as a Malaysian Engineer in Japan
In my first company, I was on the research and development team. The training was very thorough, and I had a job coach assigned to me who would work on projects with me, guide me with the company system, and all that. So, you’re never overwhelmed and lost in the beginning because of that. Plus, if you do find yourself in trouble, you can always ask for help.
A lot of Japanese companies put a lot into training, but it’s not the same all over Japan. In the company I presently work at, for example, I was only trained for three months.
Japanese companies aren’t only concerned about your engineering career. What I really appreciate about my first company was how proactive they were in helping nurture work-life balance. We weren’t compelled to work more than our superiors, we regularly had “No-Overtime-Day,” and women could take one paid leave a month for period-related issues.
Finding Community: Bonding with Fellow Malaysians in Japan
About a year later, another Malaysian who was also under FAST OFFER International, who was going to work at the same company reached out to me. We struck up a great friendship and we wound up living together in the dormitory. I was able to fully articulate the things I wanted to say to someone with a shared experience in my native language.
Together, we’ve been trying to visit every prefecture in Japan. We got to celebrate lots of holidays with other fellow Malaysians—not just the ones in Japan that came to every picturesque changing of seasons, but also Malaysian holidays. On Malaysia Day, we ate at an authentic Malaysian restaurant run by fellow Malaysians. We found different Malaysian restaurants around the country too—such as this one in Osaka.
We also took advantage of every holiday that landed on a Friday or Monday to venture out, making the best use of efficient trains to explore more of Japan.
Advancing My Career: Transitioning Between Companies in Japan
About less than a year ago, I was compelled to elevate my engineering career in Japan. I wanted to find a more competitive salary and work in the semiconductor industry. I’d spent an internship with a semiconductor before which gave me some experience to transition into that industry.
The difficulty of changing jobs once you’re in Japan depends on person to person. I did have 3 and a half years from my first company before I changed jobs. During that time, I was looking for a job, and I’d meet with other friends who were also in the same boat. We got new jobs at different rates depending on how serious and determined we were. For me, it took me some time to find the right company because I only picked 1-2 companies at a time. I wasn’t able to prepare strongly the first time, but that gave me an idea of how best to prepare for the next ones. For Japanese job interviews, preparation is key.
Seize the Opportunity: Launching Your Engineering Career in Japan as a Malaysian Graduate
After several attempts with different companies, I was eventually accepted by one of the biggest companies in Japan. I felt this would be a big step for my engineering career in Japan. One of the main reasons why I was chosen was—in my opinion—because of my advantage as a Malaysian.
This big Japanese company is hoping to be more global, and that means having more employees capable of crossing cultural barriers and with more languages under their belt. Since I’m able to speak Japanese well now, alongside Malay, Chinese, and English—three languages typical for Chinese Malaysians—my resume looked promising to them. In Malaysia, there’s a wide variety of languages and you won’t run out of people you can talk to in Malay, Chinese, or English—which really helps your fluency.
The company I am working in now is also working on being more foreigner-friendly to meet its Sustainable Development Goals. This means their salary system is KPI-based, much like other global companies. They’re also actively trying to hire more female engineers for a more inclusive workplace.
The difficulties of moving from one Japanese prefecture to another
Not all engineering careers in Japan look the same. Although companies in Japan do prefer you stay in one company for as long as possible, if you find yourself in need of a change, and you’ve already thoroughly improved your Japanese, you can definitely find another job given there are so many opportunities in Japan. However, of course, changing jobs does have its own challenges. First, you’ll be undergoing rigorous training that’s very specific to your company all over again.
One of the most challenging parts with changing jobs though is needing to move. In my case, I had to move far away from the friends I’d made for three and a half years. My present company’s plant is also found in a somewhat rural area where there are cultural nuances, local ordinances, and infrastructure differences that are new to me.
There’s not a lot of public transportation in rural areas so you need to be able to drive. The new location also means locals are speaking a different dialect. Relocating also means my area has a different set of ordinances. Rules about recycling may differ from place to place, and you might find yourself fined if you simply continue what you’ve been doing. If you like biking, rules also differ on navigating pedestrians and roads. In some parts, you must get off your bike whenever you bike on a pedestrian, and in some parts, register it at a police station to get a plate number-like sticker. You have to learn new things whenever you move: a new language, new policies, or a new Malaysian restaurant to come to for comfort.
Take a Chance and Start a Career in Japan
Looking back on my experiences in Japan, I feel grateful. I didn’t believe it but because FAST OFFER International believed in me, I was able to go further than I thought possible and tell this success story. There’s really a lot of jobs in Japan for Malaysians—you just need to apply yourself. There were a lot of challenges along the way, and there still are—but it all feels worth it. There’s so much to enjoy and appreciate in Japan. This whole experience, learning to live and thrive on my own, has given me immeasurable personal growth.
I encourage more Malaysians to take advantage of this opportunity. When you go to college, choose Japanese as your required foreign language classes and it already makes a big difference. If you can, also take a master’s degree which will help you have a higher starting salary and bigger salary increments—with the same work as those with bachelor’s degrees. Then, sign up for FAST OFFER International which can give you free Japanese classes and allow you to start your career in Japan.
8 Important Tips for Malaysian Expats Eyeing an Engineering Career in Japan
Get a master’s degree if you can!
You can take advantage of a common salary scheme in Japan which gives master’s degree holders a higher salary and raises their salaries in bigger increments even though they usually handle the same work as bachelor’s degree holders.
Apply with FAST OFFER International as soon as you can.
If you have basic Japanese already, tap into FAST OFFER’s business Japanese classes to tighten your skills. As soon as you hit your final year of university—whether it’s a bachelor’s or master’s degree—your job hunt officially starts. Applying early will give you enough time to reach a sufficient level of Japanese. When you hit 26, visa rules begin to change, so you want to start the journey as soon as you can.
For your required foreign language elective, choose the Japanese language.
Two to three semesters will give you basic Japanese, but going beyond basic will raise your chances exponentially.
The Malaysian Advantage in Japan: Multilingual and Multicultural Fits into Japan’s Globalization Goal.
Being multilingual might be common in Malaysia, but it’s not so in Japan.
If you have scholarships, find out about your scholarship’s fine print.
One of the most common loans, the PTPTN loan, requires you to pay back the loan if you don’t reach a certain grade. Scholarships from private companies, usually come with a bond that requires you to work in their company for some years before you can work in Japan, or you can break the bond by paying a fee.
Learn to cook your local favorites!
I’m lucky to be a good cook, which meant I could self-soothe with homecooked meals that reminded me of home even amidst a pandemic that kept me from seeing family for years. Don’t forget to get your family heirloom recipes before flying out. If you’re unable to find the right ingredients, you can get creative. If you’re looking to substitute your favorite Malaysian flavors, you’ll find equivalents shipped from Southeast Asian neighbors Vietnam, Thailand, or the Philippines in the groceries.
Find your community in Japan.
It’s truly special to find people with a shared experience. A hack to find that community? Ask FAST OFFER International about other fellow Malaysian talents in the company you’re joining, or those in the area.
Lots of Engineering Career Opportunities in Japan for foreigners.
If you’re wondering what kind of specialty will help you best get into Japan—get an Engineering degree. Openings for Engineering are usually in companies looking to globalize and thus are more open to foreigners. They also give more leeway for your level of Japanese compared to looking for work in the humanities.