I’m Excited To Be An Indian Professional In Japan 

The First Step Towards Japan 

Since I was in high school, I had already started planning my future career. I dreamed of working abroad. Among them, Japan was my first choice, as I was deeply influenced by my elder brother, who also aspired to work there. 

In my second year at university, I attended the orientation for the FAST OFFER International Program where I met many seniors who were able to secure job offers through the program. I was truly inspired by their experiences! I learned how FAST OFFER had supported them in realizing their dreams of working in Japan. Their stories about job hunting and life in Japan sparked my interest in becoming an Indian professional in Japan.  

Soon after registering for the program, I joined the Hirameki Japanese class at the N5 level along with my friends. It was the beginning of an exciting and meaningful journey toward achieving my dream. 

Why I Chose Japan 

I have several reasons for choosing Japan as the place to pursue my career. One of them is the quality of daily life. For example, Japan uses soft water, which I felt is better for my hair and skin personally. I also really enjoy Japanese food because it’s healthy and balanced.  

Another reason is the seasonal experience. I’m especially excited to experience winter in Japan for the first time! 

From a professional perspective, I admire how Japanese companies value their employees. Overtime work is paid, which shows that workers’ efforts are recognized and appreciated. I also learned that companies in Japan provide thorough training for each assigned task. They ensure that employees clearly understand their job responsibilities, which I think is a very good practice. 

How I Improved My Japanese  

Once I decided that I wanted to be an Indian professional in Japan, I gave my all to this goal. One of the most significant things that I had to do was learn Japanese. After my formal Japanese lessons, I use ChatGPT’s voice function to simulate conversations and further improve my conversation skills. It gives me corrections and alternative ways to express the same ideas, which helps me sound more natural in Japanese. 

I also enjoy anime and manga that reflect Japanese life and strong moral values, such as Demon Slayer, Dr. Stone, Naruto, and Spy x Family. To improve my listening skills, I watch them without subtitles, which helps me get used to natural Japanese conversation. In my free time, I watch YouTube videos by YuYu-sensei and Miku-sensei to enhance my listening skills and deepen my understanding of Japanese culture.  

I’m also a big fan of Fujii Kaze’s music. I love listening to his songs to both relax and understand their meanings. 

I’m also part of a study group with friends who share the same ambition. We treat each other as friendly competitors, which keeps us motivated and pushes us to keep improving. Together, we practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking. 

My Interview Journey: Not Smooth, but Full of Blessings 

My interview path was not smooth, but I consider myself lucky in many ways.  

After completing FAST OFFER’s N3 class, I received job interview invitations. However, circumstances weren’t aligned at the time, and I couldn’t fly to Japan. Fortunately, my luck turned around. I later received interview offers from three different companies, and even better, my flight to Tokyo was fully sponsored. That opportunity gave me a new sense of hope and motivation to keep going. 

My First Time in Japan 

I was both excited and nervous to attend the interview, as it was my first time visiting Japan. The experience exceeded all my expectations. The country is incredibly clean and well-organized, and the people are polite, kind, and remarkably self-disciplined. 

During the transit to Japan, I met three other students who were also attending interviews. At one point, we got lost in a train station, unsure of where to go. Thankfully, some kind Japanese people offered their help, and we were able to find our way. It was a small but memorable moment that showed me the warmth and helpfulness of the Japanese people. 

Attending Job Interviews In Tokyo 

Before flying to Japan, I researched the three companies I was going to interview with and received valuable guidance from my FAST OFFER mentor. Although I had a preferred company in mind, I still gave my best effort in all the interviews. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t pass the first round with two of the companies, even though the interviews went smoothly. However, I later found out that one company didn’t select anyone during that event, and the other preferred candidates who were already residing in Japan. 

I wasn’t discouraged, because I passed the first round with my favorite company. That night, I reviewed the feedback, revised my responses, and prepared even more thoroughly for the second round. I was especially drawn to this company because my skill set and internship experience aligned well with their field and job requirements. I was genuinely excited about the possibility of learning and growing with them. 

When the second-round interview came, it felt much simpler and more comfortable. And I passed! Later that night, my mentor delivered the good news at the hotel. I was overjoyed! 

The People I’m Grateful For 

My family has always supported me and my brother in our dream of working in Japan. I deeply appreciate their motivation and encouragement, which allowed me to focus on learning Japanese without any obstacles. I’m also proud of myself for staying perseverant and determined to achieve my dream once I made the decision. 

I have always relied on the FAST OFFER International program, especially because of my wonderful mentor. She is friendly, and we treated each other more like friends than just mentor and mentee. I received invaluable professional guidance from her in preparing answers, practicing mock interviews, and refining my approach. For example, she taught me how to communicate effectively with interviewers and how to filter out information that might not be relevant or helpful to share. Her support made a huge difference in my journey! 

My Thoughts on Online vs. Physical Japanese Job Interviews 

In my opinion, online interviews are not as challenging as physical interviews. Since you’re not sitting face-to-face, the environment feels less tense. You just need to prepare well and practice to perform at your best. 

For physical interviews, I practiced both alone and with other candidates at the hotel in the evenings. The atmosphere during in-person interviews is definitely more intense, but at least you don’t have to worry about internet connection issues. Physical interviews also allow for direct conversation with the interviewer, making it easier to receive spontaneous feedback and build rapport. 

My Checklist Before I Move To Japan 

I plan to take the JLPT N3 exam this December, so I enrolled in a paid N3 preparation program to improve further. I especially want to strengthen my vocabulary, which is my weak point. 

Unlike me, my brother’s school does not offer an orientation program or Japanese classes. He wasn’t as fortunate as I was to be introduced to the FAST OFFER International program or to have someone guiding me. I want to become his sensei and guide him to join Japanese classes so he can achieve his dream too! 

My tips to achieving your dream! 

1. Always remember kaizen (the concept of continuous improvement) and try hard to achieve your dream. Do not simply give up and believe in all the improvement you will get if you keep on learning! 
2. Try to study in groups. You can have various interactive methods to help each other improve Japanese. We have fun activities that help us to memorize the kanji and vocabulary. 
3. If you think it is difficult to get friends for group study, your classmate is the best candidate you can look for! 

You can try to use HelloTalk to look for native speakers to improve your speaking if you still do not have a friend.  

FAST OFFER CAREER GUIDE: The Benefits of Being an Indian Professional in Japan

1. Government regulations protect and regulate your work hours. After work hours and weekends, all for yourself – Most companies encourage you to be punctual in clocking in and clocking out.
   • Compensated overtime hours – If you need to work overtime or on holidays, you will be compensated!
   • Work-life balance is attainable!
2. Your salary is computed according to the cost-of-living, which is sure to be enough for your daily expenses and utilities, depending on where you stay in Japan.
   • Companies typically also provide living subsidies such as dorms, transportation allowance, more affordable cafeteria food, and more.
   • You will be able to send money home if you manage your finances well.
3. Japan has a robust Indian community. Japan has Little India in Nishi-Kasai, where you can get most of the Indian goods you may be looking for
   • Major cities have a lot of authentic Indian restaurants.
   • You’ll easily find fellow Indians wherever you work.
4. Job opportunities that fit your education and skills. Finding the right job fit is hard in a saturated market, no matter how good your degree might be. Japan has plenty of opportunities to help you find a job that suits your skills, values, education, and personality.
5. Space, time, and freedom to pursue your passion. There’s so much to see and pursue in Japan. Thanks to your protected free time and spending power, you can pursue new hobbies, travel, and more!
6. Transportation and other public services that work efficiently. From parks, universal healthcare, bullet trains, and more–you’ll surely enjoy how Japanese society works to take care of its people.

 

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