| COUNTRY |
| Malaysia |
| EDUCATION |
| Bachelor’s in Mechatronics Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia |
| COMPANY |
| A global Japanese manufacturing company specializing in automotive steering systems, precision bearings, and industrial machine tools |
| SUMMARY |
| Driven by the 3-month Nagoya internship, he was convinced to launch his mechatronics career in Japan. Through FAST OFFER International, he found a perfectly suited company and control engineering position in Japan. He’s excited to spend the next years of his life seeing more of Japan. |
Learning Japanese Unlocked a Career Opportunity from the Get-Go
When I first signed up for FAST OFFER International’s Japanese classes, I wasn’t thinking of working in Japan one day. I just thought it would be fun! However, halfway through the beginner classes, a Japanese manufacturing company visited my university in search of potential interns. It sounded exciting, so I applied, going through an interview process with extremely rudimentary Japanese. To my surprise, I landed the 3-month internship in Nagoya, Japan.
From left to right, Nagoya castle, my final intern presentation, company I interned at.
My Internship Experience in Nagoya, Japan
For a little over three months, I got to experience a Japanese workplace. I was surprised at how generous my coworkers were with their time and knowledge to me, a mere intern. Right while they’re busy working, I would come up to them with my questions and my beginner Japanese, and they would always make time to help me fully understand. Sometimes, they too would pause from what they were doing and ask me for my opinion. That seemed to help them hurdle over whatever stunted them. These conversations were integrated into their workflow. It helped expand and clarify their thoughts and ultimately pushed them forward.
One time, I asked my manager about specifications on the project we were working on. He went above and beyond to answer my question; he didn’t just email me a PowerPoint. Instead, he drove both of us to the factory floor so he could explain and show me the answers to my questions. That effort paid off, as that experience helped me figure out a solution to our problems.
During that time, I learned how to clearly express complex engineering ideas to my team and department heads. I grew so fast thanks to that environment. All the theories I learned in school were brought to life in that real-world industrial workplace. The experience truly changed me. I learned how to clearly and confidently express complex engineering ideas to my team and department heads.
Exploring Japan
The workplace was just one aspect. There was also Japan itself. I stayed in a lot of motels and hostels as I explored Kyoto and Kansai, befriending locals every step of the way. They were so gracious to each other and to me. Uji City captivated me so much that I went back three times. Each time, I happily wandered about scenic mountains, rivers, and historical traditional architecture.
Working on My Final Year Project Back in Malaysia
When I returned to Malaysia, life felt a little drab compared to. Soon enough, the hubbub of my final year project carried me away. I worked on a 3D-Printed Ankle Foot Orthosis, an exoskeleton empowering independent mobility in the elderly. I chose the topic because, as an engineer, I was hoping to get more experience in Robotics and hardware aspects of my mechatronics degree, which I found particularly exciting.
As I worked on my project, though, studying the related literature, it brought me back to Japan. Along with Europe, the projects in Japan were more advanced because of the amount of support they received.
A Vision of My Future Career As a Control Engineer in Japan
So, when it was time to think of the next step after university, Japan felt like the obvious choice. My internship experience proved to me how I could perfectly fit and grow within a Japanese workplace. I also realized, though, that the next time, I would like to be part of a company that aligned more with my career goals. I wanted to be part of a company that would allow me to use as much of my mechatronics degree as possible, and focus on control systems and high-end research and development. I imagined perhaps a company in the automotive space, as cars—perhaps one of the most widely used robots today—are exactly that perfect intersection of mechatronics. I told my FAST OFFER Career Advisor exactly these goals!
To be honest, though, I didn’t want to put all my eggs in one basket. At the same time, I applied for jobs in Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia. But before the other opportunities got a chance, FAST OFFER International invited me to interview for a Control Engineer position at a global Japanese manufacturing company specializing in automotive steering systems. It was exactly what I was hoping for!
Preparing for the Online Job Interview with my Career Advisor
I had three weeks to prepare for the job interview. With my career advisor, I created a thorough 20-page document as a detailed script for anticipated questions. At a mock interview session, my career advisor wisely recommended using concise bullet points to make memorizing easier. I revised this document with each of the four mock interview sessions with my career advisor, and it only reached its final form about three days before my interview.
The Job Interview for the Control Engineer Position in Japan
For about 50 minutes, I talked to the company’s HR and technical heads. It felt a bit chaotic having to juggle a conversation between multiple people in a Zoom call with laggy internet. They were so quick and willing to accommodate, though, repeating points I may have missed between net-frozen moments. But at the same time, my confidence was firmly rooted in my efforts and experiences. After just a few hours after that one interview round, my career advisor delivered the good news. My parents—once hesitant—were incredibly glad.
My Future as a Control Engineer in Japan
The view from Mt. Rokko Tenran Observatory in Osaka
It suddenly feels quick, but in truth, I’d been taking Japanese classes since 2024. There were times when I really struggled, having to juggle learning Japanese with my academics. Through it all, even though at times I was tired, I tried to open my eyes a little bit more to see how fun the classes were. Staying in the moment during difficult times, focusing on what was immediately in front of me, helped me stay on track. Now, there’s a whole future ahead of me in Japan. Having spent just a few months in Japan, I feel like there’s still so much to see, explore, and grow into in the next 5-10 years of my life.
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