| COUNTRY |
| India |
| EDUCATION |
| Master in Mechanical Engineering, Ritsumeikan University Bachelor in Electronics and Telecommunication, Aliah University |
| COMPANY |
| A global manufacturer of construction and mining machinery. |
| SUMMARY |
| Inspired by the excellent quality of Japanese products, this engineer from India pursued a career in Japan. He enrolled at Ritsumeikan University to complete a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. While working on his studies, he took a part-time job at a konbini, which helped him hone his Japanese skills. With good language skills and a master’s degree under his belt, he began job hunting for an engineering role in Japan. Thanks to FAST OFFER International, he secured a job offer from a company he had admired since childhood. |
Growing Up with Japanese Products Inspired Me to Be an Engineer in Japan
As a kid, I enjoyed anime and Japanese culture. As a teenager, I discovered that I liked computers and programming. As an adult, I developed an interest in robotics and engineering. Through engineering, my love for Japan and technology intersected, and led me to achieve things I had only dreamed of.
In India, a lot of our electronic products are Japan-made. Microwaves, fans, televisions, and many more. These products have always been among us. They are so well-made that they can be passed from one generation to another. Average Japanese products last two to three generations, which is an amazing engineering feat to me! Inspired by the durability of Japanese products, I decided that I want to become an engineer capable of making them. What better way to train than to learn from the source?
International Student to Engineer in Japan Success Story
Moving to Japan as an International Student
My success story from international student to engineer in Japan started during my senior undergraduate year. At the time, I realized that I wanted to work in Japan. However, I felt that this was close to impossible given the highly competitive application process. I took a chance and enrolled in Ritsumeikan University to pursue a master’s in mechanical engineering. I felt that this would increase my chances of landing a job in Japan upon graduation. I got in and started living in Japan to study. After completing a semester, I sought part-time work to further my Japanese-speaking skills.
Learning the Language Through Immersion
When I first arrived in Japan, I had only around a month’s worth of serious Japanese language studies under my belt. I was able to self-study hiragana, katakana, and kanji, and around half of the N5 coursework through YouTube.
Unfortunately, my first few weeks in Japan were tough as my attempts to speak the language failed for a while. I would try to speak Japanese, but would end up speaking English due to nervousness. I eventually improved my language skills through immersion.
My part-time job at the konbini helped me improve. I was assigned a variety of tasks, ranging from frying chicken to stocking inventory. To effectively communicate with my colleagues, I had to learn quickly. By taking note of words I did not know and translating them later, I slowly built my vocabulary. I also carefully copied the way my colleagues spoke. Eventually, I could pronounce words similarly to them despite not knowing much grammar yet. I would soon cover any gaps through the Japanese language classes of FAST OFFER.
Meeting FAST OFFER Through University Senpais
I have my senpais to thank for introducing me to FAST OFFER. They told me that they were able to find jobs from reputable companies through FAST OFFER. At first, I didn’t believe it because it sounded too good to be true. What could possibly set FAST OFFER apart from the many other companies that promise the same?
To ease my doubts, I did some research about FAST OFFER and found many positive testimonials from students all around the world. I decided to take a chance and apply. Finally, I found a way forward to transition from international student to engineer in Japan — a success story in the making!
Getting a Job Offer from a Company I Admired Since Childhood
Preparing My FAST OFFER Profile
I was accepted into the FAST OFFER program and got free Japanese language classes. Eventually, a company I had been eyeing opened applications. My FAST OFFER career advisor told me about the opening, but mentioned that I needed to improve my profile, prepare a PR video, and create a presentation deck. All these had to be accomplished soon.
Though I wasn’t sure if I would pass, I took a chance by completing my profile and filming my video. I powered through the exhaustion, and I was able to complete the requirements.
One day, I received a text from my career advisor bearing good news. To this day, I have this message screenshotted for motivation. It was a message saying that a company had shortlisted me! It was not just a small company either. It was a brand I grew up with, a brand that my countrymen used and trusted.
It was amazing to me that among all the applicants they received, I was one of the lucky few who were shortlisted. I took a chance and did my best to prepare for the interview. I booked many practice sessions, attended mentor sessions, and perfected my deck. There were many corrections until the last day, but I got them done.
My Experience with Job Interviews
The interviews went well. In the first one, I was interviewed by their friendly human resource personnel, who declared that “you are the one we want to hire in the company”.
In the second one, a company engineer asked more technical questions. They were also kind, but that particular interview left me unsure of my results. All I could think about were things I should have said, and things I should not have. It was an intense moment for me, and I honestly thought I did not clear it. I kept turning to my career advisor for reassurance. Thankfully, she calmly eased my concerns each time.
Getting a Job Offer
When I finally learned that I had passed, my head started spinning. I literally fell from my chair. I couldn’t believe what was happening, and everything felt like a dream. My family must have felt this too, because up to now, they still haven’t processed that I secured a job with a renowned Japanese company. After all, it was the only company I applied for, and it was amazing that I passed on the first try. All this, thanks to the assistance of FAST OFFER.
My Advice to Those Who Want to Work in Japan: Take Your Chance
If you are preparing to come to Japan like me, it is important to have a certain mindset. You have to be ready and willing to assimilate into the culture and be a chameleon. You will need to have expectations about how you will live and how you will adjust. Learn to blend in so that they eventually see you as one of their own, not just a gaijin.
To train your Japanese language skills, I recommend having full conversations with yourself in Japanese. This is one way to practice immersion without the pressure of making mistakes in front of others. Create whole scripts for various scenarios (i.e., buying in the konbini, perusing the grocery store, etc.). Then, practice conversations from both sides.
Using romaji is all right, as long as you know what each word means. Develop your grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation this way. I increase my self-immersion by watching a lot of YouTube videos about everyday life in Japan.
In the future, I look forward to improving my work-life balance and living a comfortable life in Japan.
What are you waiting for? Try and take a chance, too!
FAST OFFER CAREER GUIDE: Tips to Get an Engineering Job in Japan for International Students
Are you an international engineering student who wants to get a job in Japan after graduation? The good news is that engineering foreign talent is in demand. You just need the right strategy to secure a job offer. Here are some tips you should take note of to increase your chances of getting hired.
Prepare a Japanese Resume
Many companies require a Japanese-style resume. Aside from technical skills, work experience, and educational background, a Japanese resume contains personal information. This can include your commute time, marital status, spouse information, and dependents. Here’s a more thorough guide on how to write a Japanese resume.
Improve Your Japanese
For engineering roles, you don’t need perfect Japanese. It just needs to be at a level where you’re able to express yourself well in job interviews. Many of our successful engineering candidates secured a job offer with just JLPT N4. Want to start improving your Japanese? Take our classes here.
Start Job Hunting Early
Once you’ve prepared your resume and you’re confident in your Japanese language skills, start your job hunting as soon as you can. Japan’s hiring system is very structured and has specific timings for hiring fresh graduates. Missing the timeline can mean waiting an entire year for the next hiring cycle. So, it’s crucial to begin your job hunt at least 12–18 months before graduation.
