| COUNTRY |
| Morocco |
| EDUCATION |
| Bachelor in Computer Science, Major in Information Science, Université Abdelmalek Essadi Master’s in Computer Science, Major in Machine Learning, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology |
| COMPANY |
| Develops and improves industrial automation and control technologies, focusing on system design, product innovation, and performance optimization |
| SUMMARY |
| After self-studying Japanese allowed him to work closely with the Japanese team at a Lego Robotics Compeition, he became determined to pursue a path from Morocco to Japan. Thanks to a MEXT Scholarship and FAST OFFER International, he was able to turn his dream into a reality. |
How Robotics Helped This Moroccan Masters Student Secure a Job Before Graduation
Like a lot of people, I grew up with Japanese media. Anime and Japanese video games were part of my childhood. Though I was aware of Japan, it never sounded like a place I’d like to be in – I just thought of it as the place that produced these games I played, and the anime I watched. It was later on in my Bachelor’s that I started reading Japanese authors. These books gave me a look into real-life Japan, not “media” Japan. This sparked my interest in Japanese culture. I found it to be an interesting culture, very different from mine, so I felt that I’d like to experience it firsthand. The first thing I did to make this desire a reality was study the language. Self-studying was the first step to my journey from Morocco to Japan.
The Lego Robotics Competition that Changed My Life
When I was younger, I used to watch a lot of YouTube videos of people making cool little projects with robots. Robotics was a fun hobby, but it helped me realize early on how powerful creation was. Knowing you possess the ability to bring something into existence and give it purpose, an applicable use case, fostered my interest in Robotics. Aside from my classmates and professors in university, I wanted to interact with more like-minded individuals. To do this, I connected with people near my city. I got to meet someone who was a staff member at a company involved with robotics. It felt right to volunteer for future opportunities with the company, so I did.
During my time as a volunteer, we ended up going to the International Championship of Lego Robotics for children. That year, the event was hosted in my country, Morocco. As part of the staff, I was able to meet the Japanese team. I was studying Japanese, so I realized that I had an opportunity to practice my Japanese speaking skills. As luck would have it, one of the staff members had a medical emergency, so the opportunity to practice turned into a necessity. As the only staff member who could speak Japanese, I was assigned to stay close and assist them.
Revisiting the MEXT Scholarship
Interacting with the Japanese team reminded me that the MEXT Scholarship existed and was still an option for me. I had planned to apply for the Undergraduate Scholarship, but quickly gave up when I realized my grades were not up to par. But, now that I was about to graduate from my Bachelor’s, I thought that I could get my Master’s in Japan instead.
Thus, I began to look into possible universities to take my Master’s in. During my search, I eventually came across a laboratory working on my field of interest (Educational Technology). I messaged the Professor in charge, and was able to hop on a call with him. Granting my humble request, he wrote me a Letter of Recommendation that I used when the MEXT Scholarship opened in 2023.
The interview for the scholarship proved to be advantageous to me. Some of the interviewers happened to be friends with the Japanese team from the aforementioned Robotics Championship. They had told the interviewers about our interaction, so the staff quickly realized that I was the face of that story. It was a positive, even lucky, experience.
Arriving Early in Japan
Months after the interview, I received news that I got the scholarship. I was originally going to begin my Master’s in February of 2025, but I was offered to be flown out even earlier to study Japanese and get a head start on my research. So, I went to Japan early to take language and culture classes. Right now, I am working on my Master’s, and expect to graduate next year.
Preparing for Job Hunting with FAST OFFER International
A few months after starting my Master’s, I had a conversation with some of my Japanese classmates. I learned that they had already started jobhunting (就活) even though we were all first-year students. It led me to check the job support office of my university, where I came across a poster for FAST OFFER International. Offering N3 business Japanese and work culture lessons, I decided to give it a go. I attended the Zoom class, and from then on decided to participate in the other classes that they offered.
I then took the internal assessment test with the staff of FAST OFFER International. I thought I did badly, but I was told that my level was where it should be for job interviews. However, at that point in time, it was still too early for job hunting. So, I took one more N3 class and sharpened my language and interview skills. After the class concluded, I could begin job hunting. My career advisor was very helpful and made sure I was up to date with interview opportunities. When the interviews started, she gave me guidance on what to expect, what to prepare for, and how to improve my answers.
FAST OFFER’s N3 Classes Helped Me Ace the Interview
The N3 classes helped me learn about business Japanese and gave me a glimpse of the life of a worker in Japan. More importantly, they helped me get ready for interviews. Aside from preparing for my responses to possible questions, I was able to prepare my presentation decks to be used during the interviews.
I received four interview opportunities, but had to turn down two as I could tell that the roles offered did not align with what I wanted. I pushed through with the remaining two. My first interview was pleasant as the people interviewing were kind and understanding of my Japanese skills. The first round was with HR, who mostly used simple Japanese. The second round was more technical with figureheads from the department. Here, I was encouraged to share my master’s research using English to fully express what I wanted to say; a gesture I appreciate. The final interview was with staff in higher positions. Across these rounds, I made sure to stay consistent throughout. The morning after, I got the offer!
When I received the offer, I had yet to celebrate. I wanted confirmation that acceptance would be a good decision. I asked my career advisor for her opinion, and she shared her thoughts as a friend, not just as staff. Feeling encouraged by her advice, I decided to accept the offer. But I was worried about my skills, so I immediately looked for private Japanese tutors to improve further. It was only after a week that everything sank in. I realized that this was a real offer, a real opportunity to work in Japan. When reality hit, I felt happy!
Indefinitely Extending My Stay in Japan
A few months after I arrived in Japan, I took a road trip with my friends to a small village north of Fukui. There was a festival, and we made the trip to experience it. We got up to chat with one of the locals, who happened to be a graduate of the school we were studying in! He told us to leave for a bit and come back later. When we returned, we were greeted with a surprise feast. We sat in his house, met his entire family, and connected. This was a positive experience that left a nice impression on me and shaped the way I view Japan. It set expectations about how nice people were, and served as a reminder of people’s kindness despite what you may hear online.
In the future, I plan to continue seeking these opportunities to connect with people. At first, I only wanted to experience the culture. I did not think too much about the future. But these days I feel like continuing what I have started here, not wanting to close the chapter just yet. Aside from meeting new people, I look forward to improving my language skills, moving into a bigger city, and learning what actual AI projects look like. I want to contribute and have real office experience.
Connecting with People to Help You Achieve Your Goals
If you wish to learn Japanese, you have to be willing to connect with people and speak the language. Having people to connect with and talk to will give you a firsthand experience of their culture. You not only learn real, not textbook, Japanese, but you also get to learn about things you would not know unless someone was actually teaching you from a cultural point of view. Similarly, I suggest avoiding hanging out with people from the same country as you. When you do that, you end up playing it safe and not putting yourself out there. If you are able to make yourself interact with people outside your nationality, you could get that authentic international experience that people normally look for when traveling to different countries. Be curious and diversify!
Even after two years here, I still think doing things in Japanese is challenging. Lucky for me, I like a challenge!
FAST OFFER CAREER GUIDE: Tips for Moroccan Students Who Want to Work in Japan One Day
- Job hunting starts while you’re in school!
- You need to take advantage of the fact that Japanese companies love hiring new graduates. However, this means that you need to be able to navigate Japanese job interviews as soon as possible. Interviews can start as early as your 3rd year in college but you can still enter the New grad job market until about two-three years from graduating.
- Start learning Japanese ASAP!
- Take advantage of FAST OFFER International’s free Japanese classes for global talents!
- Choose a degree that’s both in demand in Japan and something you’re passionate about.
- FAST OFFER International’s Japanese classes are typically geared towards Mechanical, Electrical, and Computer Science Engineering degree students because these are the industries that are almost always in demand in Japan. Consider taking these courses if you have genuine interest in them.
- Join international contests
- Although not a requirement, winning contests will surely give your profile an edge! Even if you don’t win, your exposure to an erudite international culture will broaden your horizons.
