Getting a Job in Japan with N4 Japanese: My Journey 

Making the Leap from Medicine to Information Technology 

I once planned to become a surgeon, but my path took an unexpected turn that eventually led me to getting a job in Japan, with just N4-level Japanese. After I realized that I’m more interested in studying technology, I switched to the computer science department.  

While studying information systems, I realized that Japan is a great place to work in as a computer science professional. It’s a country that’s leading in technology, and I believe working there would hone my skills. But at this point, I don’t have any concrete plans yet.   

However, when I watched PewDiePie’s vlogs of how he went to live in Japan as a foreigner. It made me think that I could also do it. This is where my journey of getting a job in Japan truly began.  

But even though I only seriously started considering pursuing a career and job opportunities in my third year of college, I was already interested in Japanese culture since I was young. One of my hobbies is watching movies, and in high school, I watched The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. The amazing cars and the exciting racing featured in the movie made me very interested in JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) car culture. I’m in awe of how creative they are with modifying Japanese-made cars to boost performance. At the same time, I’m also very interested in video games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. And so, it was always in my plans to visit Japan as a tourist. But little did I know that in the future I could actually live and work in Japan! 

Discovering the FAST OFFER International Program and Starting My Japanese Learning Journey 

 
In order for me to live and work in Japan, learning Japanese was going to be necessary. I talked about my plans of going to Japan for work with one of my professors, and he got me in touch with the AtoJ Hirameki team. Fortunately, I got a slot and was enrolled in their Japanese classes. 

I was able to skip the N5 classes and join the N4 instead, because I already had some basic knowledge about Japanese. However, my journey wasn’t as smooth sailing. After starting the classes in my first year of college, I had to quit due to some unforeseen circumstances in my personal life. However, I never really let go of my goal. And in my third year, I managed to get back into the classes. I diligently attended all of the sessions, and in 6 months, I was able to pass the N4 level.  

The obstacles to learning Japanese 

I was a little bit behind due to skipping the N5 level, so I didn’t have as much fundamental knowledge as my peers. I had a hard time catching up to them, but I managed to pull through.  
 
I had to spend a lot of time memorizing vocabulary and kanji. It was also hard to incorporate grammar patterns in everyday conversations. But little by little, through practicing every day, I got better.  

My number one tip for learning Japanese is to understand the reasoning behind the grammar rules instead of just memorizing them. Once I fully understood the meaning behind the patterns and why they are used, it helped me become more attuned to the language.  

Getting a Job in Japan with N4 Japanese: My Journey in Tokyo 

A week of many firsts 

At a certain point, my Japanese is already good enough that I was referred to the FAST OFFER International program as a job candidate. I got the clearance to go do my first-ever job interview in Japan. I can’t believe it!  

At this point in my life, I don’t even have a passport. I had to apply for one right away, and thankfully, I was issued one week before my flight. I did so many things for the first time that week: first time being on an airplane, first international trip, first job interview. 

Doing a job interview with N4 Japanese 

Landing in Japan and seeing the beautiful scenery was unreal. But soon, I was brought back to the reality of job hunting. Getting a job in Japan with N4 Japanese is possible. I’ve seen other people do it. Still, it made me nervous. To ease my nervousness, I made sure to prepare very well for it. I researched the company and had all the responses ready for any kind of questions. 

But to my surprise, I wasn’t asked any technical questions at all during the first round of interviews! In India, the interviews are all about technical questions. However, my interviews in Japan were mostly personal questions. I was even asked what I did when I was in university. It felt great that they cared about me as a person more than my skill set, and they were really friendly.  

Meanwhile, the second round of interviews was more on the technical side. I got asked about my graduation project, how my skills will be beneficial for the company, and if they’re suitable for the role.  

Getting accepted and landing the job offer  

After the interview, five other job candidates and I were ushered into a waiting room to stand by for the results. I went out to the balcony to get some fresh air and called my mother to tell her how the second interview went. At that moment, my mentor called me inside and gave me the news that all of us passed and got the job.  

The room was suddenly overwhelmed with happiness. We started jumping and punching the air. I got to share that happiness with my mother, who was still on the phone. It was truly an amazing moment!  

Getting Ready to Start Working in Japan 

I will start working in Japan in 2027, so I still have a whole year in front of me to prepare myself. One important thing that I want to do is brush up more on my Japanese. Getting a job in Japan with N4 Japanese is one thing. But if I want to go further in my career, I know that I have to improve my Japanese skills even more. 

Now, I’m studying for the JLPT N3 exam. Hopefully, by the end of 2026, I will be ready to take the JLPT N2 exam as well. I’ll also be attending business Japanese classes to be able to effectively communicate in the workplace with my colleagues. In addition, I will be going to Japan for 3 months to attend a language school to perfect my Japanese. And after that, I will be attending on-site training with the company. 

Reflecting on My Journey of Getting a Job in Japan with N4 Japanese 

Looking back at my journey, I was stressed about a lot of things. Through this experience of going through a job interview in Japan, I realized that stress would lead to no good. Since then, I started taking things more slowly, and that helped me enjoy the experience more. Now, I still try to plan well but also make a conscious effort to be more focused on being in the moment instead of worrying too much about what’s to come.  

FAST OFFER CAREER GUIDE: Tips for Getting a Job in Japan with N4 Japanese

If you’re an engineer or a computer science professional, having N4-level Japanese can be sufficient enough to get a job in Japan. Most of the positions in this field prioritize technical ability over advanced language skills. Here are some tips to take note of to increase your chances of getting an engineering or computer science job in Japan with N4 Japanese.

Show Willingness to Improve Your Japanese

Many companies are willing to hire N4-level candidates if they see potential for growth and improvement. Make it clear that you are committed to improving after joining the company. This includes studying for JLPT N3 and making efforts to improve. Some of our candidates even got sponsored Japanese classes to improve their communication skills.

Practice Answering Common Interview Questions in Simple Japanese

Keep in mind that you don’t need perfect Japanese. Rather, you need clear communication to convey your skills. Prepare answers for common questions like:

• Why do you want to work in Japan?
• Why did you apply to this company?
• What are your strengths?

Write your answers in simple Japanese and practice speaking them.

Prepare a Simple but Strong Self-Introduction (自己紹介)

Even with basic Japanese, a clear and confident self-introduction can make a strong first impression. Keep it short, easy to understand, and focused on your background. Practice your self-introduction until you’re confident that it comes across naturally.

Partner with FAST OFFER International to Train Under a Career Advisor & Get Connected to the Right Company

If you pass FAST OFFER International’s screening, you are partnered with a career advisor who can set up mentoring sessions with you. During these sessions, you’ll be able to sharpen your Japanese conversational and interviewing skills. Not only this, they can connect you to Japanese companies who are keen to hire international talents who have around N3 or N4 Japanese. Explore our website to learn more!