| COUNTRY |
| India |
| EDUCATION |
| Bachelor’s in Electronics and Telecommunication, M. Kumarasamy College of Engineering |
| COMPANY |
| A Japanese company specializing in designing and manufacturing fastening and architectural products. |
| SUMMARY |
| An Indian engineering graduate shares how his passion for Japanese and kanji helped him pursue his dream of working in Japan. After preparing for Japanese job interviews, facing two rejections, and improving his skills, he eventually received job offers from three Japanese companies. He shares his journey, interview experience, Japanese-learning advice, and goals for building an engineering career in Japan. |
How Studying Japanese Can Help You Work in Japan: Discovering Kanji to Landing My Dream Job
As a kid who grew up in India, I watched anime like many other children. But what fascinated me most was not always the story. I was captivated by the strange characters that appeared on the screen. They looked like a form of art to me. Later, I discovered that those characters were kanji. This discovery marked the beginning of my journey with the Japanese language and culture.
There was so much for me to learn. After discovering kanji, I started practicing writing them even though I didn’t understand their meanings at the time. I simply enjoyed writing them as an art form, unaware that this traditional practice was called shodō (Japanese calligraphy).
My fascination with kanji eventually led me to learn more about the Japanese language. I learned the Japanese writing systems, built a decent vocabulary, and gradually became more interested in Japanese culture. Over time, that interest grew into a dream: one day, I wanted to work in Japan.
From Learning Japanese to Dreaming of Working in Japan
Originally, I planned to become either a doctor or an engineer. In the end, I chose electrical engineering because I had always been interested in computer chips, hardware, and automation.
Even through my college years, my passion for Japanese remained just as strong. I started university like any other student, but I continued studying Japanese whenever I had free time. During my second year, I heard that Japanese language classes were being offered at my university. I signed up without hesitation! I became deeply invested in learning Japanese. It grew more than just a hobby or an interest — it became my escape.
Whenever I felt bored or stressed, I would study Japanese. I genuinely enjoyed learning, and with every hour I spent studying, I felt one step closer to achieving my dream of working in Japan.
Looking back, I realize that studying Japanese helped me in ways I hadn’t expected. It wasn’t simply about learning another language. It gave me a stronger connection to Japanese culture, helped me become more comfortable communicating in Japanese, and ultimately prepared me for the opportunity to pursue a career in Japan.
Learning About the FAST OFFER International Program
Fast forward to my final year of university. The institution that offered the Japanese classes introduced me to the FAST OFFER International program, where I was accepted to begin training for Japanese job interviews. The interview preparation classes were taught by a native Japanese instructor who taught us the basics and the proper way to answer interview questions. We practiced how to hold conversations during interviews and how to communicate our thoughts clearly. It was some of the best preparation I could have asked for.
The Start of My Job Hunt Was Challenging
My job-hunting experience was a wild ride. At first, I was accepted by only two companies, but I needed three acceptances to travel to Japan and attend the interviews. Unfortunately, one of the companies decided not to conduct online interviews, leaving me with only one interview opportunity. Even so, I prepared as much as possible. I researched the company thoroughly, and although the interview was conducted online, it went smoothly. Sadly, I was rejected because my skills did not align with what the company was looking for. The following month, I received another interview opportunity with a different company. During the interview, I was told that my graduation project could not realistically be implemented in real-world applications. I was also unable to answer one critical technical question, which led to another rejection. I was disappointed, but I couldn’t let my emotions get the better of me.
After this, I spoke with my mentor, who told me there would be no interviews the following month. Instead of feeling discouraged, I used that time to improve my technical skills and prepare myself as much as possible for the next opportunity.
Flying to Japan for New Job Interview Opportunities
When the next month arrived, my mentor secured three interview opportunities for me, allowing me to travel to Japan and attend the interviews in person.
It was my first time flying, so the entire experience was unforgettable. My dream of working in Japan finally felt within reach. After landing, I treated myself to a quick bowl of ramen before heading to the hotel to prepare for the interviews.
I stayed up late researching each company and preparing for all three interviews. It probably wasn’t the smartest decision, but every time I tried to sleep, memories of my previous interview failures came back to me. Instead of calming myself down, I was motivated to prepare even more.
In the end, I stayed awake until 3:00 a.m. and got only a couple of hours of sleep.
Third Time’s the Charm: Passing All My Interviews and Getting a Job Offer
For me, in-person interviews are much easier than online interviews. I don’t get nearly as nervous, so I felt confident going into my first interview. The first two interviews included a balanced mix of technical and personal questions, while the third interview focused much more heavily on technical topics.
After the interviews were over, I received wonderful news: I had passed the first round with all three companies.
The next day was the second round of interviews. I was well prepared, and most of the questions focused on what I could contribute to the company, how I could add value, and what I hoped to achieve as an engineer. When the second round ended, I felt relieved. I believed I had performed well in all three interviews.
While waiting for the results, my mentor came to me and told me that I had already received an offer from one company while we were still waiting to hear back from the other two.
Just a few minutes later, she returned with even better news. I had received offers from all three companies. I was overwhelmed with happiness and couldn’t hold back my tears. After being rejected twice, I had continued to persevere and fight toward my goal, and it had finally paid off. Of course, I still had to choose one company.
In the end, I selected the company that resonated with me the most. I was especially inspired by the founder’s story and impressed by the quality of the company’s products.
Getting Ready to Work as an Engineer in Japan
Although I had secured a job, I knew there was still more I wanted to accomplish before starting my career in Japan.
One of my biggest goals is to pass the JLPT N2 exam and further improve my Japanese conversation skills so that I can communicate naturally and confidently in the workplace.
For me, this is another reason why studying Japanese is important for anyone who hopes to work in Japan. Learning the language doesn’t end once you receive a job offer. Being able to communicate comfortably can help you build relationships, understand your colleagues, and feel more confident in a Japanese work environment.
Another important goal is learning how to cook for myself since I will be living on my own. I hope to become good enough at cooking that I can eventually experiment with local Japanese ingredients, especially seafood, and create delicious dishes.
My Goals After Joining the Company
Once I begin working, I want to contribute as much as I can to the company. One day, I hope to become a team leader and help the company gain even more recognition for its production technology and manufacturing quality.
I also want to continue improving both my technical skills and Japanese communication skills so that I can grow into an engineer who can make a meaningful contribution to the company.
How Studying Japanese Can Help You Work in Japan
My experience taught me that learning Japanese can be an important part of preparing for a career in Japan. My Japanese teacher once told me, “Failure is the first step to success.” In my case, those words couldn’t have been more true.
I failed twice before finally succeeding on my third attempt. Whenever we fail, we should take time to reflect and identify the skills or areas where we are lacking. Once we recognize our weaknesses, we can focus on improving them. That is how we overcome our shortcomings. The same mindset applies to learning Japanese.
When I first discovered kanji, I didn’t even understand what I was writing. I simply enjoyed practicing the characters. Over time, that curiosity developed into a genuine interest in the Japanese language and culture. Eventually, the Japanese I learned became more than something I studied for fun; it became one of the things that brought me closer to my dream of working in Japan.
My tip: writing is just as important
When it comes to learning Japanese, I recommend spending more time studying kanji and, most importantly, practicing writing them. Nowadays, many learners focus primarily on reading and listening, but writing is just as important. Reading and writing together can help you develop a deeper understanding of the language. Through reading, you naturally learn vocabulary, grammar, and the subtle nuances of words in different contexts. Then, by writing, you immediately reinforce what you’ve learned, making it easier to remember and use. Most importantly, consistency is the key to success.
On improving kaiwa
Many learners aren’t actually lacking vocabulary itself — what they lack is knowing where and when to use it. So by practicing and applying learned vocabulary into studied grammar, again and again, you naturally start to understand which vocabulary and grammar fit which context. I believe this is the first thing to work on to improve kaiwa (conversation).
You don’t have to master Japanese overnight. Even small amounts of progress every day can eventually bring you closer to your goals. For me, it all started with a fascination with a few strange-looking characters on an anime screen. I never imagined that learning to write kanji would eventually lead me to a career in Japan. But sometimes, a small interest can become the beginning of a much bigger dream.
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