Future Indian Inventor Scores a Job Opportunity in Japan

Wanting to Invent Impactful Tech Inspired Me to Pursue Job Opportunities in Japan

Technology has always tickled my curiosity. In grade school, I was in awe of how tiny electrons flowing made up electricity. Then, in high school, I got curious about Apple technology and learned about how they started touch screens in 2008. That got me to ask my teacher then how I, too, could invent impactful technology one day. They pointed me to Electronics Engineering, which could lead to a career in research and development. It hadn’t crossed my mind yet how job opportunities in Japan would be key to this dream.

One day when I was making a digital payment through my phone, I got curious about QR codes. Every Indian uses this piece of technology because we’re the number one in the world for digital payment transactions. Turns out, a Japanese company invented this two-dimensional matrix barcode to help them label car parts. Now, it’s used all over the world. My interest was sparked.

I began to learn more about Japanese technology in university, from bullet trains to electric vehicles to digital cameras. I also learned the key role of Japan’s exemplary work culture and philosophies in producing such amazing tech. Learning about these facets made it easy to imagine myself in Japan, and how my values would fit right in. Perhaps the best thing I learned from my professor though, was that there were a lot of job opportunities in Japan for foreigners. So, I set Japan as my career goal.

How can foreigners take advantage of Japan’s many job opportunities?

Here’s what I learned from journey looking for a job in Japan as an Indian.

Learn to Speak Japanese

Working on this goal, in November of last year, I began studying Japanese and Japanese culture. Knowing more about Japan made me more determined to work there. I was certain that in Japan I could grow as a person and professional while creating technology that could contribute to society. Thankfully, SRM University has a partnership with FAST OFFER International that wound together the Japanese classes and job hunting.

When FAST OFFER International told me that if I focused, it would only take months to learn enough Japanese to land a job opportunity in Japan, I couldn’t believe it. I was starting from scratch. I’m glad to report that they were right.

Sign Up with FAST OFFER International During Your Final Year at the University

Getting your timing right can really help your journey. This might not be possible with everyone, but starting your Japanese studies in your final year in college is the most ideal as it will allow you to look for jobs in japan before you even graduate. This will help you swiftly transition from university to work without much downtime. But more importantly, in my case, it allowed me time to focus on my Japanese studies. During my final year, I only had to think of my thesis or Final Year Project and Japanese studies.

I started learning in November 2023 and began job interviews when passed the N4 classes in June 2024. I had functional Japanese in less than seven months! Upon upskilling to N3 level Japanese in September , I finally succeeded with a good multinational Japanese company. That means it took me 11 months of seven-hour classes five days a week until I reached my goal.

Keep Moving Forward

I had to persevere through challenges to secure that job opportunity in Japan. From June to September, eight different Japanese companies interviewed me and I flew twice to Japan under FAST OFFER International’s sponsorship. I had so many exciting job opportunities from big Japanese companies, but also a lot of disappointment.

In one instance, while doing the second round with an online interview at a hotel with a company I really liked, the hotel’s housekeeping staff burst in, causing a confusing scene with my barely functional Japanese. Due to the hotel’s policies, I was at fault. I’d forgotten to let them know in advance not to come in and it cost me that interview.

There were also times when I wasn’t entirely sure why I didn’t land the job after doing well and getting good feedback from the interviews. Most probably it was a matter of “job fit.” With several candidates, Japanese employers would choose candidates whose Final Year Project and skill set best fit their needs.

Still, whether it was within my control or not, the rejections always stung. At the same time, I knew I couldn’t stay in that feeling. I couldn’t dwell on the sadness because I had another opportunity lined up. During this time, you need the mental fortitude to take control of your feelings. You could let the feeling of failure spill out to the next opportunity, or you could improve and restart with vigor.

Stay Grateful, Stay Motivated

One thing that helped me keep motivated in this arduous road of landing a job opportunity in Japan was gratitude. FAST OFFER International didn’t give up on me throughout the journey. They even bought me roundtrip tickets to Japan twice. Those experiences were a dream come true in themselves. Those were my first trips abroad and I couldn’t have afforded flying to Japan without their sponsorship. I saw parts of Japan I used to only dream of as a kid. I got to bite into hot, freshly made, scrumptious takoyaki. I got to visit the famous techie hub Akihabara. This helped me never lose sight of what an amazing opportunity this was that I couldn’t give up.

Listen to Feedback and Keep Improving

Another thing that helped keep me motivated was the feedback I constantly got. FAST OFFER International helped me improve consistently. Before the interviews, we had mock sessions where they gave me incredibly detailed and helpful feedback. After every set of bulk interviews, they also gave me a feedback report. This gave me specific things to work on for the next interviews, so I didn’t repeat mistakes.

Focusing on improving allowed me to keep moving forward. Instead of feeling down about failing, FAST OFFER International’s feedback was something concrete I could focus on instead. I never felt stuck. I always felt like I was on this journey that would eventually pay off.

Prepare Well but Answer on Your Feet

What really helped my confidence was how much I prepared for the interviews. For the last interview I got, I went all out with my preparations. I prepared 113 questions, each with its own answer in Japanese. This allowed me to have enough vocabulary to explain any question, even if it was a highly technical one about my final year project. I felt extremely confident that whatever question they threw at me, I’d be prepared.

A caveat you need to remember though, is that answering on your feet trumps preparation. This means that you can’t answer them word-for-word according to your preparation. You have to be present at the interviews. Don’t sound like a robot with memorized answers! One way to show this is to always rephrase your answer by quoting back part of your question. Here’s a simplified example:

The Question: What do you do in your free time?

My answer: In my free time, I like to paint and draw.

Every Journey to Finding the Right Job Opportunity In Japan is Different

It’s important to acknowledge that everybody’s path is different. I think it’s important to keep that in mind as you go through the process, to stay true to yourself and not mimic others. As useful as all the advice can be, it’s important to apply them according to your personal context. You need to understand and trust yourself to fully trust the process. It’s not just about working hard and toiling away. You need to work smart! Knowing yourself, taking advantage of your strengths, working on your weaknesses, and keeping your morale up will help you persevere through difficulties, failures, and rejections until you reach your goal.

The Big Pay Off: Landing That Research and Development Job Opportunity in Japan

I was confident after the final interview. No matter what, I knew I’d given my best. Still, I was trying to manage my expectations. I’d felt this way before, just the night before, when I was so sure I’d get into this one company but was turned down.

While waiting for the result from that one last company, I went out with friends for lunch. We joked that whoever succeeded with the interviews should foot the bill. Then, my phone rang. After the call, I gladly and proudly told them that the bill was on me.

With the pressure lifted, I got to see more tourist spots. I reveled in all the clean roads and streets, the super-fast trains, and the delicious vending machine bentos. The company tour happened the next day and I got to see where I’d eventually be part of. On the last day, I went to ASIA to JAPAN’s farewell party with my head held high, dawning my traditional Pancha.

Looking back on my first trip to Japan, I had this small goal: to watch Haikyu: the Dumpster Battle in the Japanese cinema. But because I was rejected by the companies that interviewed me then, I felt too guilty to spend my dad’s money. On my second trip to Japan, when I finally succeeded, Haikyu wasn’t playing in the cinemas anymore. As I boarded the plane back to India, as luck would have it, the in-flight movie was Haikyu: the Dumpster Battle! It was as if my success had sunk in the second time around. I was overwhelmed with happiness.

Beyond the Job Opportunity: What I’m Excited about Life in Japan

I’m really excited about working for my company, but landing this job opportunity in Japan is more than just about meeting my career goals. There’s so much about Japan itself that I’m going to enjoy.

Japan’s scenic nature is woven with the city.

I love nature! However, in India, if you want to see some nature, you have to travel far out of the city. Japan meanwhile, has this beautiful landscape that combines their lush mountains with their bustling metropolitan. I’m excited to cycle about town, passing grass fields and open skies.

I want to learn Japanese animation.

In my free time, I also want to elevate my art through learning animation. What better place to do that than in Japan? And thanks to my salary, I can afford an iPad that can handle the necessary app.

I hope to be more active in Japan.

Like most Indian engineering students my age, I’ve focused most of my time on studying to the detriment of sports. In Japan, I hope I can play more sports, specifically volleyball! Perhaps not Haikyu-level of competitiveness, but it would be lovely to engage that part of myself I haven’t been able to in Japan.

The possibilities are endless! I couldn’t have chosen a better country for my future.