How Self-Studying Japanese Helped Me Get a Computer Science Job in Japan

How Japan Became My Dream Career Destination 

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I am resilient and determined. Whenever I set a goal, I give my all to achieve it and refuse to let setbacks discourage me. My journey to finding a job in Japan was marked with difficult moments and disappointments, but I kept moving forward. From self-studying Japanese to secure a computer science job in Japan to going through rigorous interview preparations, I can confidently say that I gave it my all.  

Through my story, I hope to inspire others who dream of following the same path and remind them that persistence and hard work can eventually lead to success. 

Everything started during my third year in college. One of my friends is very fond of Japanese culture, and over time, I began to share the same interest, too! We watched many Japanese dramas and movies together! Some of our favorites are the Japanese shows Alice in Borderland and Kimi no Na wa.  

While watching these shows, I noticed how the Japanese respect everyone equally. Even when speaking to children, they show kindness and respect. I really like these values because they match the kind of person I want to become.  

Another reason I became interested in Japan is its advanced technology and work culture. One of my friends was especially interested in working in Japan, and he used to share many technical and technological developments happening there. After hearing about Japan’s technology and innovation, my interest in working there grew even stronger.  

How I Self-Studied Japanese for Computer Science Jobs in Japan 

Lucky for me, my college offered Japanese language classes when I was in my second year. The program covered JLPT N5 material, but there were no classes available for N4 or N3. And so, after completing the N5 class, my friends and I decided to continue studying Japanese on our own.  

We mainly used textbooks and online resources to continue our studies. For N5, we studied for about one month, and then we spent around one and a half years studying N4 and N3 together.  

Materials I used for self-studying Japanese for computer science jobs in Japan 

1. Minna no Nihongo 
2. Shinkanzen Master 
3. Nihongo Dekita for conversation practice 
4. YouTube channels such as Tomo Sensei 
5. Various Tamil and Japanese-learning YouTube channels 

Tips and techniques that helped me self-study Japanese 

1. One technique that really helped me improve my Japanese was translating daily conversations into Japanese. Whenever my friends and I spoke with each other, we tried to use Japanese as much as possible. This helped us learn more practical vocabulary beyond what was written in textbooks. 
2. I did not separate Kanji from vocabulary learning. Whenever I learned a new word, I also studied its Kanji at the same time. This method made it easier for me to remember Kanji naturally without spending extra hours memorizing them separately. To memorize Kanji, I often focused on stroke patterns. Sometimes, I create stories in my mind to connect the meaning of the Kanji with its symbols. For example, if a Kanji contained the water symbol, I associated it with words related to water. This technique made memorization much easier. I also used JLPT preparation apps and Kanji learning apps regularly to strengthen my vocabulary and reading skills. 

Signing Up for the FAST OFFER Program Helped Me Secure a Computer Science Job in Japan 

After studying Japanese, I began searching for a program that could introduce me to the right opportunities. As a Computer Science student, I have always been passionate about coding and web technologies. My interest in programming started when I studied Python as part of my coursework, and from that moment, I became fascinated by how technology can be used to solve problems.  

What I enjoy most about programming is the combination of logical thinking and problem-solving. Writing code requires you to think critically, analyze different approaches, and constantly look for ways to improve and optimize solutions. For example, a program that initially takes 100 lines of code can sometimes be simplified into just 5 well-optimized lines.  

I find that process both challenging and rewarding. And so, I want to find a job in Japan that will fit my skills and interests. Doing so on my own would be challenging, and that’s why I signed up with the FAST OFFER program.  

My first attempt at a Japanese job interview 

I learned about FAST OFFER from some of my seniors who had already gotten placements in Japan with their help. 

Just a few weeks later, I got a call from my career advisor. She told me that a company is interested in my profile. I had only 10 days to prepare for the interview, so I worked very hard for it. I attended the first interview and successfully cleared it. However, after the second interview, I was informed that the company did not select any candidates because they were looking for those with very high technical skills. 

The result came on the day of Pongal, which is an important festival in our state. I felt very disappointed because it was supposed to be a happy occasion, but I received sad news instead. After that, I motivated myself and decided to prepare even harder next time. I started improving my technical skills. 

Flying to Japan for my second try 

I asked my mentor whether there would be more opportunities in February. She told me that there were not many companies hiring during that month, but there could be opportunities in March. 

At the same time, many people around me said that there were very few opportunities in Japan for IT students. Hearing that made me worried about whether I would get an opportunity or not. 

But one day in February, I received an exciting message from my mentor. She had applied me to five companies, and I was shortlisted for interviews. Out of those five companies, four companies called me for interviews. 

Then my mentor told me, “You are flying to Japan.” 

That moment felt unbelievable. I cannot fully express how happy I was, and I even had happy tears. My friends and family were all extremely happy for me. 

I almost didn’t make it in time for the interview 

My travel to Japan was a very adventurous and challenging experience. The journey involved multiple transits: Tiruchirappalli to Malaysia, Malaysia to the Philippines, and then to Japan.  

When I arrived in Malaysia, I had a 10-hour layover. I was able to roam around the airport and also used this time to continue to prepare for the job interviews. However, the flight going to the Philippines was delayed by 3 hours. This was a problem because I had to go through immigration and fill out QR code forms upon arrival. Unfortunately, by the time I finished all the immigration processes, the check-in counter was already closed, and I missed my flight going to Japan.  

This was quite stressful, but luckily, the FAST OFFER team was able to rebook tickets for the next 9 AM morning flight to Japan. It was already 2:25 AM, and so in the meantime, I continued preparing for my job interviews. 

Arriving in Japan — finally! 

Finally, I reached Japan safely and was able to prepare for attending orientation the next day. On the interview day, I had four interviews and all went well. The companies were very welcoming and appreciated my personality. The interviewers asked me about my hobbies, my preferences, and my background. 

At the end of the interview process, I was selected by multiple companies but decided on the one that was the best fit for me in terms of my career goals. I’m grateful for the support that FAST OFFER gave me during this time. All those preparations and mock interviews really paid off! 

My Company Visit Made Me Feel Very Welcome as a Foreign Talent 

After I accepted the job offer, I had the opportunity to make a company visit. During the tour, I found the environment very welcoming. The staff was kind, and there were other Indian employees as well, including someone from my home state.

They explained the work culture, research and development activities, and living arrangements, which made me feel comfortable and excited about joining. 

In the End, the Important Thing is That I Never Gave Up 

Of course, the journey wasn’t done testing my patience just yet. On my way back to India, I ran into another unexpected challenge. My baggage got lost because of a tagging mistake during transit. At that point, I could only laugh at how one adventure seemed to lead to another. Although it was frustrating, I chose to focus on finding solutions instead of dwelling on the problem. After everything I had already been through, this was simply another obstacle to overcome. 

Looking back, this entire journey was full of uncertainty and challenges. However, it ultimately led me to achieving my goal of getting a job in Japan. I am especially happy because the role matches my skills and past projects, and I believe I can contribute effectively to the company. 

Now I am excited about starting a new chapter in Japan. I look forward to exploring the country, experiencing its culture, trying Japanese food, visiting places like Tokyo Disneyland and many onsens, and participating in activities like mountain climbing. Overall, this journey has been truly meaningful, and overcoming all these challenges makes success even more rewarding.