| COUNTRY |
| South Korea |
| EDUCATION |
| Bachelor of International Trade |
| COMPANY |
| One of Japan’s largest regional financial groups, this institution operates across key domestic economic centers such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, and maintains an international presence in cities including New York, Singapore, and Brussels. Guided by a philosophy of enriching communities both economically and culturally, it actively contributes to regional development. |
| SUMMARY |
| Inspired by her father’s career in Japan, a South Korean Economics graduate learned Japanese from scratch and successfully achieved JLPT N1. Through ASIA to JAPAN’s FAST OFFER International Program, she was able to secure a permanent job in Japan in two months. |
일본에서 일하시는 아버지의 경력에 영감을 받아 경제학을 전공한 한국인 여성은 일본어를 처음부터 배워 JLPT N1을 성공적으로 취득했습니다. ASIA to JAPAN의 FAST OFFER 국제 프로그램을 통해 두 달 만에 일본에서 정규직을 구했습니다.
A Korean Girl Who Loves Japanese Culture | 일본 문화를 사랑하는 한국 소녀
Before I ever stepped into Japan, back home in South Korea, I was already surrounded by Japanese culture. I still remember watching Studio Ghibli movies back in elementary school. The stories were so unique, the music was magical, and the characters felt so real with their own incredible journeys. It left a lasting impression on me, and I wished that I could be like the characters in the story — tenacious with a taste for adventure.
Since then, I’ve been completely immersed in everything Japanese — anime to dramas, hit songs, and many more. But what really influenced me to pursue a career in Japan is my father. He had worked in Japan before he retired, and his stories about life there sparked a curiosity in me that grew stronger every day.
I started learning Japanese in high school, then continued with formal university courses. I found that the grammar wasn’t too hard to pick up, especially since it resembled Korean.
Taking The First Step, Failing, And Trying Again | 첫걸음 내딛기, 실패, 그리고 다시 시도하기
I never thought of working in other countries except Japan. From my perspective, Japan is a more popular country for foreigners like me to work in because of its strong economic system and world-renowned services and products.
During my third year of university, I made the decision to follow in my father’s footsteps and pursue a career in Japan. Eager to take the first step, I attended an interview with a Japanese company. Unfortunately, nerves got the best of me, and my limited Japanese skills didn’t help. Ultimately, I didn’t pass the interview. Still undeterred, I didn’t give up on my dream that easily.
I took time to improve my Japanese. Countless hours were dedicated to making sure that my grammar, writing, and comprehension skills were on point. Eventually, I passed JLPT N1! After earning my JLPT certificate and graduating, I spent a year in Japan. While on this working holiday, my speaking skills improved further because I made friends with native speakers every day. This has helped me gain experience and confidence in myself!
일본어 실력 향상에 시간을 투자했습니다. 문법, 작문, 독해 실력을 완벽하게 다듬기 위해 수많은 시간을 투자했습니다. 마침내 JLPT N1에 합격했습니다! JLPT 자격증을 취득하고 졸업한 후, 일본에서 1년을 보냈습니다. 이번 워킹 홀리데이 동안 매일 원어민 친구들과 친분을 쌓으면서 말하기 실력이 더욱 향상되었습니다. 덕분에 경험을 쌓고 자신감도 키울 수 있었습니다!
How To Pass JLPT N1? Diverse Japanese Learning Methods | JLPT N1 합격 비법, 다양한 일본어 학습법
Passing the JLPT N1 was a long journey that required tremendous effort. While traditional advice like studying hard and practicing speaking is essential, one method that worked for me was diversifying my learning approach. Whenever I started to feel bored with a particular method, I switched it up. This kept me motivated and made the learning process more enjoyable. Here are some ways I made studying Japanese fun and helped me to pass JLPT N1:
- I listened to Japanese audio regularly, which helped me improve my listening skills. I tuned into Japanese news broadcasts, and soon, I became genuinely interested in the stories and what was happening in Japan.
- I highly recommend you watch the role-play videos about interviews with Japanese companies. You can find a lot of them on YouTube. Gain the experience from the videos and practice it until you get used to it.
- I watched my favorite anime, movies, and dramas. This not only made learning more enjoyable but also helped me immerse myself in natural Japanese language use.
- I listened to Japanese music. Aimyon is one of my favorite Japanese singers, and I often translated her songs into Korean. This added a fun twist to my learning and made the process feel less like studying.
- I made friends in my university Japanese course, and we formed a study group. We constantly practiced speaking with each other, which was incredibly helpful for improvement.
- One of the most effective ways I learned formal Japanese was by reading company annual reports. I know it sounds intimidating, but it’s actually helpful for levelling up your Japanese and passing JLPT N1. I’d search for them on company websites, highlight key phrases and important points, and memorize them. This not only helped me understand the business language but also gave me insight into the company’s services and future plans. I believe this strategy played a big role in my success during interviews. While reading the reports was challenging and time-consuming (the content is often formal and difficult), pushing through helped me gain valuable information, which I applied directly in conversations.
Receiving Email From FAST OFFER International | FAST OFFER International에서 이메일 수신
One day, while going through my emails and clearing out my spam inbox, I came across an email from FAST OFFER International. At first, I hesitated to sign up, thinking it might be a scam, especially since I couldn’t find much information about the program on Korean websites.
Despite my doubts, I decided to create an account and applied for the interview. To my surprise, FAST OFFER International’s staff quickly got in touch with me to assess my Japanese language level. The process was smooth and efficient. They provided valuable guidance on how to prepare my resume in Japanese and even did mock interviews with me before the real job interviews.
의구심에도 불구하고 계정을 만들고 면접에 지원했습니다. 놀랍게도 FAST OFFER International 직원이 신속하게 연락을 주셔서 제 일본어 실력을 평가해 주셨습니다. 절차는 순조롭고 효율적이었습니다. 일본어 이력서 작성법에 대한 귀중한 조언을 해 주셨고, 실제 면접 전에 모의 면접까지 진행해 주셨습니다.
The biggest advantage of the FAST OFFER International program is how quickly you can secure a job. It took me just about two months from registering with them to landing a job in Japan.
Based on my positive experience, I’ve recommended this program to my friends who know Japanese and are eager to work in Japan. I’m looking forward to meeting them in Japan soon!
Giving My Dream Another Shot | 내 꿈에 다시 한번 도전하다
When I first interviewed at a Japanese company, I was extremely nervous and struggled to speak Japanese. After reflecting, dedicating time to improving my language skills, I felt much better prepared. By the time my latest interview came around, I was much more relaxed and able to express myself clearly. There was one question I didn’t answer well, though. When they asked about my strengths and weaknesses, I was caught off guard since I hadn’t prepared for that one. Luckily, my performance on the other questions was strong enough to make up for it. I was so relieved when I succeeded!
일본 회사에서 처음 면접을 봤을 때, 너무 긴장해서 일본어를 하는 데 어려움을 겪었습니다. 하지만 다시 생각해 보고 언어 능력 향상에 시간을 쏟은 후, 훨씬 더 잘 준비된 것 같았습니다. 마지막 면접이 다가왔을 때는 훨씬 더 편안하고 명확하게 자신을 표현할 수 있었습니다.
Here’s the thing: My parents didn’t find know that I was in the process of securing a job in Japan until I had already done it. Luckily, they were thrilled for me. At the same time, they also started to feel a bit lonely, even though I hadn’t moved to Japan yet. Still, they’re planning to visit me in Japan as soon as they can.
Excited to Move to Japan! | 일본으로 이사하게 되어 기쁘다
I am looking forward to moving to Japan! I often cooked niku-jaga in the hostel during my working holiday because it was so tasty. Niku-jaya is a Japanese meal where you stew beef with potatoes and serve it with rice.
It’s also a bonus that living expenses in Japan are generally lower than in Korea (except in major cities like Tokyo). After living in Japan for a year, I’m no longer nervous and am excited to explore more of the country’s beautiful regions.
Before moving to Japan, I’m continuing to work hard to improve my Japanese, even though I’ve already achieved JLPT N1. Consistent learning is key to advancing in the language.
My Advice To Those Who Want To Follow In My Footsteps | 내 발자취를 따르고 싶어하는 사람들에게 드리는 조언
I also have a few words I’d like to share with the readers. No matter which country you choose to work in, take the time to reflect on what you truly want to do for yourself and society, and then give it your all to achieve it. I believe that one day, you’ll make your dreams a reality on a global scale. Remember that life is short, but the world is vast and it’s yours to explore.
독자 여러분께 전하고 싶은 말씀이 몇 가지 있습니다. 어느 나라에서 일하든, 자신과 사회를 위해 진정으로 하고 싶은 일이 무엇인지 생각해 보고, 그 목표를 이루기 위해 최선을 다하세요. 언젠가는 여러분의 꿈을 전 세계적으로 실현할 수 있을 거라고 믿습니다. 인생은 짧지만 세상은 광활하고, 여러분이 탐험할 수 있는 곳이라는 것을 기억하세요.
FAST OFFER CAREER GUIDE: Things You Need To Know About JLPT N1
If you’re a budding engineer or computer scientist thinking of working in Japan, and applying as a final year student up to a recent graduate (maximum 3 years work experience), then having conversational Japanese at around JLPT N3 level is usually enough. Japanese companies won’t emphasize the need for the certification, passing the Japanese job interview would be enough proof of your communication skills. However, there are cases that require a higher level of Japanese.
When JLPT N1 is Necessary
For professional fields of business, education, or research, having strong Japanese language skills will significantly boost your chances. One of the best ways to prove your proficiency is by passing the higher levels of JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test), which is a certification test for non-native speakers. JLPT levels range from N5 (beginner) to N1 (most advanced). For foreign professionals looking to work in areas like humanities, economics, or academia, as well as mid-career applicants, JLPT N1 is often a must to prove your ability to handle complex language used in professional settings.
Planning to take JLPT N1? Here are things you should know about:
Taking the JLPT N1 Test: What To Expect
JLPT N1 is the most challenging level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test as it evaluates a deeper understanding of Japanese. To pass, you must prove your ability to be understand complex pieces of media and literature such as abstract concepts, editorials, newspapers, and more.
The JLPT N1 is divided into two main sections:
- Language Knowledge – this part of the test takes 110 minutes and includes questions on kanji reading, vocabulary (such as paraphrasing and correct word usage), grammar (accurate sentence composition), and reading comprehension of both short and long passages.
- Listening – this part lasts for 55 minutes and includes a variety of spoken Japanese comprehension tests includes items evaluating appropriateness and speed of response to the audio clips.
How To Prepare For JLPT N1
When preparing for JLPT N1, take advantage of practice questionaires provided by The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services. Question samples for both Language Knowledge and Listening sections are available. Going through these samples questionaires will also help you gauge your readiness for JLPT N1. Don’t forget to time yourself to see if you’ll be able to finish during the alloted time (110 minutes for Language Knowledge and 55 minutes for Listening).
If you’re finding the N1 level too difficult, practice tests and sample questions from other JLPT levels are also available. They’re a great way to help you estimate your current Japanese proficiency and figure out if you need to do more studying and preparation.
Where To Take The JLPT N1 Test
The JLPT N1 test is conducted at the same time as the rest of JLPT levels. It’s held twice a year in July and December both in Japan and at various international test sites. The cost of the JLPT N1 test can be more expensive than the lower levels and varies across test sites, but it’s typically around JPY7500 (~USD52).
How To Get The Results
Everyone who takes the JLPT N1 will receive a Score Report and Certificate of Proficiency (if you passed). If you’re taking the JLPT N1 in Japan, expect to get your results for the July test in early September, and for the December test in early February.
For those taking the test outside Japan, your Score Report will be sent through your local host institution. You can expect to receive it around early October for the July exam and early March for the December exam. It might take a little time, but that moment when you finally hold your results in your hands is worth the wait!
