Mastering Japanese: A Key Step to Be an Indian Engineer in Japan 

I became familiar with Japan because I grew up watching Japanese anime such as Doraemon, and Crayon Shin-chan.   By the time I became a university student at Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, going to Japan had become a big dream of mine. It was such a big dream that I thought it was impossible to ever land a job as an Indian engineer in Japan. I tried to manage this dream by thinking maybe I could go to graduate school in Japan.  

Self-Studying Japanese for My Dream to Work as An Indian Engineer in Japan

In my second year in college, I played online correspondence games where I interacted with many Japanese people. I became used to Japanese conversations through these correspondence games. I began to use Japanese phrases I learned from anime while playing games with them.   

In 2021, one of the Japanese people I played with gave me advice that set me on a path. She told me that if I wanted to work in Japan, I should get JLPT certification. With her support, I began learning Japanese, intending to pass the JLPT. I continued to study Japanese on my own until I obtained JLPT N3.   

Learning more and more Japanese, without realizing it, my way of thinking evolved. I began to think that maybe working in Japan was attainable. I thought to myself, “I should use my Japanese to do something useful for society and for other people. I would rather live and work in Japan than in India!” Suddenly, becoming an Indian engineer in Japan became a real possibility. 

Pursuing My Dream Job from India: Finding Engineering Job in Japan 

After graduating from college, I worked as a mechanical engineer in India. But even while I worked, I still dreamed of working in Japan. I used another employment agency to apply for selection at Japanese companies and started looking for a job in Japan. It was then that a FAST OFFER International staff member scouted me through LinkedIn and I learned about their services. I immediately registered for their service.  

3 Things on My LinkedIn Profile that got FAST OFFER International to Scout me:  

• I had a JLPT N3 certificate  
• I am currently working on my N2 certificate.  
• I was looking for a job in Japan.  
• I had little experience working in India which qualified me as a recent graduate. This was surprisingly a good thing as Japanese companies prioritize new graduates.  

Engineering Job Interviews from India to Japan with FAST OFFER International  

FAST OFFER International gave me intensive support with interviews for mechanical engineering jobs in Japan and mentorship sessions. Last April 2023, my Japanese job interviews began. I put a lot of effort into my college projects, but it was challenging to explain in Japanese. Through practice interviews, I got feedback that helped a great deal.  

I couldn’t secure job offers through the online interviews from April to May because I lacked preparation and interview experience. It all worked out though, as I was selected for the June batch of applicants flying to Japan for interviews with several Japanese companies.  

Fortunately, I got a job offer from a Japanese company in a field similar to my university research. I accepted their offer because my experience and studies fit the nature and field of the work, and because of the good atmosphere I felt during the interview that they capped off with an offer right there and then. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders then, as the year I’d spent looking for work opportunities in Japan finally came to a happy ending. The whole journey of dreaming about Japan and clicking with a company so perfect for me felt like destiny.   

Learning Japanese helped make my dream possible. Today, the learning doesn’t stop. In preparation for working in Japan, I’m taking JLPT N2 Japanese classes.  

Living My Dream: What’s Next After Landing a Job in Japan 

My longtime dream of finding a job in Japan has finally come true but it’s only the beginning. I’m looking forward to the rest of the story, what it’s actually like to work hard and give my best as an Indian engineer in a Japanese company, helping develop products that matter.  

My final year project was about producing distilled water using steam generated from seawater and brackish water. Clean water is an increasingly valuable, essential resource and this technology can help so many people. I hope my research experience from that project will be useful to the Japanese company I am joining. I hope that with them, I can be involved in developing more impactful products that help change people’s lives for the better.  

I also want to develop my time management skills once I work in Japan. Indian companies aren’t strict about rules in comparison which led me to a tough time. I was working until 10 PM every day. Japan’s strictness with rules I feel is a way of taking care of their people. Japanese companies’ rule adherence helps them value and treat their employees well. Their rules enable them to provide insurance, equipment, and training.  

Aside from my professional goals, I’m also excited about my life there. I hope I get the chance to travel all over Japan, climb Mt. Fuji, and buy a Japanese car!  

Tips for Future Indian Engineers: How to Land a Job in Japan 

Study Japanese wholeheartedly   

To find a job in Japan, first, improve your Japanese conversation skills. Working hard on my Japanese is one of the best decisions that has ever enriched my life. It was the vital ingredient in getting me a job in Japan. Japanese companies, through the interviews, place great importance on how smoothly you can communicate. They know how this will affect how you take on company training, working, and living in Japan.  

Mimic an Anime Character You Relate With   

When studying Japanese, find one character in a Japanese anime or drama that is like your own personality. Listen to that character’s lines and repeat the pronunciation exercises. Choose a character who uses normal language. Mirroring the words, phrases, and expressions of an anime character you relate with will help you effectively learn how to speak native Japanese.   

Be mindful of professionalism and time management skills.  

During the interview, you will present your student research in a presentation format. Do not waste time! Communicate your skills and projects in a concise and easy-to-understand manner. Demonstrating your technical and time management skills through the presentation will showcase your working skills.