| COUNTRY |
| India |
| EDUCATION |
| Bachelor’s in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence, Shivaji University, Kolhapur |
| COMPANY |
| A leading Japanese technology company that operates e-commerce, fintech, mobile, and digital services globally. |
| SUMMARY |
| This success story follows the inspiring journey of a computer science student from India who successfully secured a position as an IT engineer in Japan. From dedicating herself to learning Japanese to earning an internship opportunity in Japan, her experience is filled with challenges, growth, and valuable lessons. Despite facing multiple rejections during her early job search, she remained determined and continued improving her skills and confidence. Her perseverance eventually paid off when she received an offer from a leading Japanese technology company. Today, she is excited to begin the next chapter of her career in Japan, where she looks forward to growing both professionally and personally as an IT engineer. |
Discovering Japanese Culture, Ikigai, and Technology
I was 19 when I first heard of Ikigai. Learning about this Japanese concept of having a “reason for your being” at that age inspired me to build a career driven by passion and purpose. For me, that passion has always been technology.
From an early age, I was exposed to the world of computers and programming. My mother was a programming language teacher. Meanwhile, my father worked as a graphic designer. Growing up in that environment naturally drew me toward coding, problem-solving, and building things from scratch.
After high school, I chose to pursue computer science through a diploma program. Later, I continued with a degree focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over the past six years, I have studied programming, web development, and AI-related projects, gradually shaping my interest in a clear career direction.
My interest in technology also led me to Japan. I have always admired how Japan applies advanced innovations in practical ways, such as AI-powered safety systems in train stations designed to prevent accidents and improve everyday life. One example that particularly inspired me was the use of AI camera systems in railway stations to detect dangerous situations in real time. I was impressed not only by the technology itself, but also by Japan’s focus on using innovation to solve real, everyday problems.
Over time, my admiration for Japan’s innovations evolved into a clear career goal. I want to grow as an AI engineer in an environment where technology is used to make a meaningful impact.
A Big Part of My Career Story: Learning Japanese to Become a Foreign IT Engineer in Japan
As someone who loved reading books and exploring languages, I’m intrigued by how the Japanese language can have single words that carry deep and beautiful meanings — like ikigai. I started learning Japanese out of personal interest, but as becoming a foreign IT engineer in Japan became my career goal, I took it more seriously.
I enrolled at AtoJ Hirameki, and luckily, I received a scholarship after a screening. My N5 and N4 classes were free! All I had to do was pay for the textbooks and other supporting materials. I was very grateful for this opportunity.
Speaking practice is important when learning Japanese
If there’s one learning I’d like to pass on to others who are just starting to learn Japanese, it’s that speaking practice is the most important skill for interviews and professional communication. For nearly two years, I focused heavily on JLPT preparation but not enough on conversation practice. To improve, I began speaking regularly with Japanese friends through HelloTalk and communicating with teachers and peers in Japanese.
How FAST OFFER Helped My Career Story of Becoming a Foreign IT Engineer in Japan
My sensei at AtoJ Hirameki introduced me to the FAST OFFER international program. After signing up, the process of becoming a foreign IT engineer in Japan became much easier. Instead of preparing resumes and applications myself, all I had to do was submit a self-introduction video and prepare a presentation on my final year project. I also appreciated the support my career advisor gave me — from the mock interviews to countless pep talks.
Facing rejections and learning from them
After preparations, I did online interviews for two companies. Unfortunately, at that time, I wasn’t able to secure a job offer. My career advisor helped me through this time. She encouraged me to work on my skills. And so, instead of feeling defeated, I worked on analyzing what went wrong and working on it.
Here are some of my Japanese job interview mistakes:
- My Japanese speaking and listening skills need improvement. While I was good at reading and writing tests, my conversational Japanese needed to be better at the time.
- I became very nervous during panel interviews. There were instances when there was more than one person interviewing me, and this made me quite nervous.
- I didn’t ask for clarification. Whenever I didn’t understand what was being said, I just assumed what was being asked and answered blindly. At times, instead of asking interviewers to repeat questions, I would stay silent because of nervousness.
Through feedback, I was able to correct these mistakes by focusing on speaking and listening skills and I also worked up the courage to politely ask to repeat questions when necessary.
Internship in Japan: Spending a Month in Tokyo for an AI Project
After my first attempt at interviewing for jobs in Japan, I had an internship at a Japanese-founded company in Bangalore focused on AI and machine learning projects. One of the projects I was involved in is building a service for a Japanese nonprofit organization working on ocean cleanup and waste management. The AI system classified garbage and estimated waste weight automatically, helping improve recycling efficiency and reducing manual labor.
Because of my strong performance during the internship, I got the opportunity to spend one month in Tokyo, where I got to experience Japanese working culture firsthand. Plus, it also helped my conversational Japanese! During my time in Tokyo, I learned about networking systems, servers, infrastructure, and Japanese business practices. I also experienced how Japanese companies approach teamwork and problem-solving. One thing that stood out to me was how teams focused on solving issues together rather than blaming individuals when mistakes happened.
Living in Tokyo: An Exciting and Challenging Time
Living in Tokyo was both exciting and challenging! One of the first challenges I had to face was understanding Japan’s train system and navigating stations filled with kanji. On my first night, I missed the final train connection and became lost, but the locals kindly helped me reach a taxi stand. That experience left a strong impression on me and reinforced my belief that Japanese people are extremely kind and supportive.
During this time, I was also able to explore places such as Tokyo Tower, Skytree, Ueno Park, and riverside areas around Tokyo. I especially enjoyed discovering local restaurants and interacting with Japanese people. One time, I visited this restaurant, and I was greeted warmly by the staff. They recommended dishes and even gave me a handmade origami gift when I left!
Taking a Second Chance at Becoming a Foreign IT Engineer in Japan: My Career Story Continues
After some time, I got a message from my career advisor that I was selected to do an interview with a leading Japanese technology company. I was over the moon! Even before I thought of becoming a foreign IT engineer in Japan, I had already admired this company because of their leadership in 5G and Open RAN technology. I never expected to receive an opportunity from such a major Japanese company!
The interview process: How it went and what I did right this time
The interview process consisted of two rounds. The first interview focused mainly on evaluating my Japanese communication skills, diving into my personal background, and my motivation for working in Japan.
The second interview was more technical and included detailed discussions about my projects and problem-solving approaches. I was asked about the reasoning behind my technical decisions, including why I chose web applications instead of Android applications for certain projects.
Fortunately, this time, I was able to answer questions with ease. It was partly thanks to my career advisor who never stopped believing in me! She took great care of training me until I was able to become more confident.
I got over two main challenges that I had before: nervousness and difficulty understanding spoken Japanese. This time, I learned that it’s perfectly acceptable to politely ask interviewers to repeat questions when necessary. In fact, recruiters appreciated my honesty and communication skills more when I clarified questions instead of pretending to understand them. So, to anyone who is like, don’t be afraid to speak up!
A New Chapter in My Career Story: Being a Foreign IT Engineer in Japan
After the interviews, I was informed that I got a job offer! What excites me most is the company’s flexible training system, where employees can explore different technologies before choosing projects aligned with their interests. My exact role will be decided after training, but possible positions can include software engineering, networking engineering, and data science.
As I prepare to officially move to Japan, I’m continuing to improve my Japanese and AI knowledge. For others who dream of working in Japan, I hope my story will inspire you to go after your dream!
FAST OFFER CAREER GUIDE: How To Start Your Career Story as a Foreign IT Engineer in Japan
Japan’s growing demand for tech talent has created more opportunities than ever for foreign IT engineers looking to build a long-term career in the Japanese tech industry. Interested in starting your career story as a foreign IT engineer in Japan? From learning Japanese and developing technical skills to understanding Japanese work culture and job-hunting practices, the journey requires patience, adaptability, and persistence. Here are some tips to note!
Understand the Japanese IT Job Market
Japan’s technology industry continues to expand in areas such as software engineering, AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, fintech, and data science. Many Japanese companies are actively hiring international talent to address engineering shortages and support global business growth. Large corporations, startups, and international tech companies often provide opportunities for foreign engineers with strong technical foundations and communication skills.
Popular roles that many of our successful IT engineer candidates land are:
- Software Engineer
- Front-End or Back-End Developer
- AI Engineer
- QA Engineer
Researching the industry early helps you understand which skills, programming languages, and certifications are most valuable for your target role.
Build Strong Technical Skills
Technical ability is one of the most important factors when applying for IT jobs in Japan. Our successful candidates shared that companies often evaluate candidates through technical interviews and final year project discussions.
Building personal projects or completing internships can strengthen your resume and help you stand out during interviews.
Work on Conversational Japanese Skills
Japanese language ability significantly increases job opportunities for foreign IT talents looking to start a career story in Japan. Many companies prefer candidates with at least conversational Japanese skills, especially for teamwork and daily communication.
A common learning path of our successful candidates includes self-studying to reach N4 and attending formal classes to further develop their Japanese language skills.
