How I Passed An Electrical Engineer Japanese Job Interview On My First Try 

Choosing Electrical Engineering as a Major 

My grandfather is a foreman. He does electrical-related work and manages a team of people. During summer vacations as an early teenager, I would go with him to visit his workplace. Taking in the environment, I gradually found myself growing more interested in that type of work. This, coupled with the realization of how important electricity is in our daily lives, made me pursue a degree in electrical engineering. 

Why I Wanted to Work in Japan as an Electrical Engineer 

What drew me to Japan was its people-first mindset. One example of this manifests in how they use power lines. Unlike a lot of places that use overhead power lines, Japan uses underhead power lines. This ensures that the supply of electricity is constant, not just in daily life, but even during disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. By choosing technology that prioritizes safety, they put their people first. I want to gain knowledge in this type of environment. 

Another example of their people-first mindset manifests in how they use their trains. You can see how they value their passengers’ time. I have heard stories of train staff apologizing to passengers for departing even a minute earlier than usual! Another story I heard was about that one train station remaining functional just to service one schoolgirl from a remote village. When I came across these stories as I scrolled through social media, I felt attracted to the country. I admired their culture that values people and time. I want to work in this type of environment. 

I used to think about Japan only as a place with advanced technology. What puts Japan ahead, in my opinion, is not just this. It is also the way they keep their people and safety in mind.   

Studying Japanese Was Easier than I Thought 

It has been three years since I started learning Japanese. I began learning the language in college, and have achieved JLPT N3 so far. The grammar was not an issue for me, as it is similar to the Tamil language, which I already speak. The grammar patterns are similar, so it was easy for me to understand how to make sentences properly. 

I am currently preparing for the JLPT N2, so I am continuing to take classes. After each session, I make sure to dedicate at least one more hour to self-study, especially because we have weekly tests.  

Meeting FAST OFFER International Through My Japanese Classes 

My sensei introduced me to FAST OFFER International. Sensei mentioned that FAST OFFER trains applicants to pass interviews and offers support for travel to those interviews. Because I enrolled in the classes already interested in working in Japan, I tried it out. It also helped that I had friends who had already found jobs through FAST OFFER. With the help of my seniors, I applied. Little did I know that I would get an interview soon after, and pass on my first try! 

Preparing for the Interview 

To prepare for the interview, I visited all of the company’s websites. I studied their company values, motto, and the types of technology they use. After gathering information, I formulated answers, which I used to practice for the interviews. 

I practiced for the interviews with my career advisor. He told me about what I could improve, and gave general guidance along the way. Admittedly, I did not know whether my preparation was enough because I had not attended any interview at the time, so I had no baseline. 

Passing The Interview on my First Try 

Fortunately, the interview itself was a good experience for me. The interviewers were very kind as they asked questions and listened to my responses. Their questions were easy to understand.  

The interviews were conducted in two rounds, entirely online. I supposedly would receive the results after the second round. 

A few hours after the second interview, I remember scrolling through social media to calm myself down. Then, my friend told me to check my email for the results. He also participated in the second round of interviews. He opened my mail for me and checked my results. This was when we found out that I had passed!  

I wondered if it was a dream or not, because I could not believe I passed my first-ever interview. When I told my parents about it, and that I would be going to Japan next year, they could not believe it either! 

Unfortunately, my friend was not selected. But he gets to travel to Japan this month for interviews! He helped me a lot with preparation, so I wish him the best. 

Plans Before and After Moving To Japan 

I will be moving to Japan next year. Before this, I want to pass the N2 level of the JLPT. I also want to learn more about cooking. Instead of always buying food outside, I want to cook for myself and increase the variety of my meals! 

Next year, I look forward to hopping on my first flight – yes, that  flight to Japan will be my first. I also look forward to visiting an onsen. I heard that they are created naturally. I want to experience how good it can be for the body. Lastly, I look forward to visiting Shibuya Crossing. 

In general, I want to learn to adapt to the environment so that I can become a good employee and citizen. However, since I already have experience living alone, and because I’ve wanted this for a long time, I think adjustment will be easy! 

Tips for Aspiring Language Learners 

To learn Japanese effectively, it is very important to practice often. If there are any gaps in your study, you might forget many words. So, it is best to study regularly. Self-study is important even if you already take classes!  

For kanji, which a lot of people find particularly difficult, I recommend writing a new character at least 10 times to remember it. 

Tips for Aspiring Workers 

For interview preparation, whenever you are reviewing the company, make sure to check out their technology. Compare them to what your local companies use. Find out why they use them. This can help you form answers your interviewers can appreciate and lead you to passing an electrical engineer job interview in Japan.

During interviews, don’t be nervous! When I took the interviews, I was calm. Because it was my first, I did not feel much pressure. I believed in my process and thought that if it did not work out now, there would always be a next time. Trust your own process, and reap the results! 

FAST OFFER CAREER GUIDE: How to Pass Electrical Engineer Job Interview in Japan

If you’re dreaming to be an electrical engineer in Japan one day, then it’s important you understand how to pass the job interview in Japan! Here are some things to give you the best shot at landing that dream job!

Every Interview is Specific to the Company!