Overcoming Doubts: My Path to Becoming a Chinese Graduate Working in Japan’s IT Industry
This is the story of how I became a Chinese graduate working in Japan.
When I first entered the university, I was concerned about the employment path of my major and my future. Most of my classmates had chosen to go to graduate school or work in the accounting and auditing industry after graduation. I was not interested in either of those paths. I had a more audacious dream of joining the IT industry and becoming a technology developer.
I once participated in an innovation contest in China where I developed an online ordering application using IT software (Java, Spring Boot, Mybatis, MySql, and Redis). Through this experience, I felt a great sense of accomplishment and started thinking about becoming a programmer. However, the IT industry in China is very competitive. It can be difficult for a non-informatics graduate like me to get into companies. The reason being, that without an IT-related degree, I had no professional endorsements or great project experience.
Unlocking New Opportunities: Pursuing My Dream in Japan with FAST OFFER International
Lucky for me, ASIA to JAPAN’s FAST OFFER International came to Zhongnan University of Finance and Economics in June 2022. FAST OFFER International held an information session to introduce Japanese working culture and how they help foreigners find jobs in Japan. They painted a picture where I can imagine a Chinese graduate like me working in Japan.
Two key points that made me want to work in Japan:
- Even liberal arts students can enter the IT industry because Japanese companies do not focus on students’ majors when hiring and provide ample training opportunities for fresh graduates.
- Most companies strictly adhere to the Labor Standards Act, reduce overtime hours as much as possible, and offer generous benefits packages.
FAST OFFER International opened another door for my future. They helped me realize I had other options besides finding a job in China via the fall employment. My interest in Japan based on anime and TV dramas such as “Yuru Can” and “Shiroi Kyotou” evolved into Japan as my dream work destination.
I immediately visited the official website of FAST OFFER International. There, I saw success stories of Chinese talents like me, getting jobs in Japan. Some of these success stories were from prestigious universities such as Tsinghua University. Making up my mind to work in Japan, I immediately bought a Japanese language textbook to self-study. I passed the JLPT N1 exam a year and a half later. When I felt ready, I signed up with FAST OFFER International.
Streamlining the Job Hunt: My Experience with FAST OFFER International Looking for an IT Job in Japan
The FAST OFFER International program is very efficient because of its simple process.
First, job seekers need to submit only three documents to FAST OFFER International:
- Their personal information via the official website.
- Submit a one-minute PR video
- Submit their graduation thesis (Final Year Project)
A few days after submitting the documents, a staff member from ASIA to JAPAN will contact you to schedule a time for an interview. During the 30-minute interview, I talked about why I wanted to be a Chinese graduate working in Japan, as well as my hopes and conditions for working in Japan.
Later that day, the staff member told me which companies had selected me for the application screening process. If you are interested, you can prepare yourself by reading Job Description and past interview experiences in advance. Once I was invited for an interview, I received 2-3 interview coaching sessions by ASIA to JAPAN, which not only gave me basic information about the company, such as business description and size but also answered several questions in the form of mock interviews and provided feedback from the company’s perspective. The atmosphere of the mock interview was very informal, and the staff was very experienced and kind, which helped alleviate many of my concerns.
Overall, my job search went relatively smoothly. I was interviewed by a total of three Japanese companies. Failing at my first two led to many things to reflect on.
Job interview preparation for Japan:
- I can’t be too caught up with the job description questions.
- I need to prepare more for the common questions asked by Japanese companies.
- Don’t memorize scripts by rote and learn to adapt them to the actual interview.
Thanks to learning from my past mistakes, at my third interview, I was able to calmly communicate with the interviewer and ultimately received a job offer.
Navigating the Cultural Differences in Job Interviews as a Chinese Graduate
Looking back on my internship interview experience in China during my undergraduate years and comparing it with the interview experience with Japanese companies, I believe the selection criteria for Chinese and Japanese companies are completely different.
Chinese companies place more emphasis on experience and skills, and after the interviewer checks the candidate’s basic skills in a written test, which often asks questions about Java and project experience. The purpose of such selection criteria is to get them moving as quickly as possible.
On the other hand, Japanese companies do not emphasize experience. Instead, they ask about what applicants learned from past experiences, and they focus less on technical content and more on whether the candidate’s personality fits the company culture. In addition, hiring information in Japan is highly transparent: each company has a dedicated “New Graduate Recruitment” page, where seemingly “sensitive” information in China, such as salaries, salary increase rates, and turnover rates, are openly disclosed. Hiring in Japan is more open to international talents than in China, whose percentage of foreigners hired is low.
Beyond the Job Offer: How FAST OFFER International Shaped My Journey to Japan
Furthermore, job hunting with FAST OFFER International benefited me beyond the job offer.
- They helped improve my Japanese. Thanks to my job search, I was also able to improve my Japanese conversation skills. Until then, I had often watched dramas and TV programs as a hobby, so listening was not difficult. I had enough practice in listening, so I unconsciously picked up the tone of voice and beautiful pronunciation. However, I felt I couldn’t be more fluent because no one spoke Japanese around me. Thanks to FAST OFFER International’s free mock interviews, I could casually practice my Japanese. Through them, I’m still taking Japanese lessons as part of my job offer and constantly learning how to use Japanese in work situations.
- They helped me network. Perhaps more importantly, I was able to meet and network with other foreigners who are also going to work in Japan soon. As we wait for our turn to fly out, together, we’ve been sharing information that can help each other out. I’ve never been to Japan so talking to them helps my anxieties. Questions that keep running in my mind: Will my Japanese be enough? How is the garbage disposal system different from that in China? How will I change trains in the labyrinthine subway stations?
My Goals When I Start Working in Japan as a Chinese Graduate
Right now, I am also studying for IT-related certifications to improve my professional skills. When I get to Japan in October, I hope to gradually get used to the Japanese lifestyles and customs. This would help me meet my goal of working as a Chinese graduate in Japan for 3-5 years. After that, based on my experience in the workplace, I would like to set my next career goal.
Advice for Chinese Students Who Want to Work in Japan
Finally, I would like to share advice on job hunting with other students hoping to find a job in Japan.
- Sign up with FAST OFFER International as soon as you can. The more time you have with them, the more companies you’ll reach. This way, you’ll have more options on hand and maybe even have time to participate in the fall recruitment process in China.
- Get experience in China during your undergraduate years. This will give you a clear picture of the differences between China and Japan. Whatever you learn there will help your direction in your job search—whether you prefer to fly to Japan or the kind of job you want.
Keeping these in mind, and with hard work and determination, you, too can find the right-fitting job for you in Japan.
