| COUNTRY |
| India |
| EDUCATION |
| Bachelor in Computer Engineering, Savitribai Phule Pune University |
| COMPANY |
| Japanese telecom company that designs and develops mobile network platforms and services, working on cloud‑native systems, 5G infrastructure, and large‑scale software to deliver reliable and cost‑efficient telecommunications services. |
| SUMMARY |
| This Indian software engineer faithfully studied Japanese and worked hard on their dream! Now, they’re all set up to enter the world of the J-Dramas that once inspired them as they join a giant Japanese telecom company. |
Developing an Interest in Computer Engineering
When I was in the 8th or 9th Standard, I used computers for the first time. We would play games and draw pictures there. I became interested in how these applications were created in the first place. This interest made me pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering.
During my time in university, I learned a lot of programming languages and gained real-world skills through working on my own projects. Beyond the classroom, my passion for computer engineering granted me many opportunities – I participated in various Hackathons, helped arrange similar events, and even talked at seminars! Who knew that this passion would also allow me the opportunity to accomplish my goal of living in Japan?
Anime as My Introduction to Japanese Culture
The anime I watched in my childhood introduced me to Japanese culture. Since then, I felt that I wanted to experience it for myself. This desire grew as I got older and consumed more Japanese media, such as J-Drama. The slice-of-life (nichijou seikatsu ~ 日常 生活) series I watched gave me a glimpse of what daily life looked like in Japan.
Japanese media not only introduced me to Japan’s culture, but also its language. The J-Drama I watched helped me get used to real-world Japanese speaking. Because I had always liked the culture, I started to learn Japanese. This was when I realized that I could actually work in Japan!
However, it wasn’t enough to just work there for a few years. I wanted to actually live there. Its environment, culture, and people seemed nice, and I wanted to experience it myself. I felt that I could grow there – not just professionally as a software developer, but also personally. Staying in India would be most comfortable for me, but living in a new place would be a test of whether I could survive and thrive in a new country. So, I began learning japanese to work in japan as an engineer one day.
Not Just Computer Languages – Learning the Japanese Language
I started formally learning Japanese in 2024, my final year of college. When I graduated, I was already at the N5 level. I achieved the N4 and N3 shortly after. I am currently preparing for the N2 exam this July. In total, it took me 18 months to clear three levels.
Before I made such progress, I self-studied the bare minimum. At that point, I knew basic expressions and the characters. However, I did not know what to study from there. The AtoJ Hirameki Language classes would help me pick up where I left off. It provided the structure I needed to continue learning.
Right now, I have completed the AtoJ Hirameki classes, but I continue to study consistently. On one hand, I have group study sessions with my friends who have also been placed in other companies. We usually read on our own, and then revise with each other when we get together. On the other hand, I use Hello Talk to practice Japanese with even more people.
When I lack the time to study with others, I study on my own. When I don’t have time for that either, I immerse myself in Japanese through JDrama and podcasts.
Learning About FAST OFFER International Through a Friend
My friend, who was already enrolled in the program, introduced me to FAST OFFER. In my final year, she shared a pamphlet with me. Addressed to final year candidates, it offered free Japanese language classes. Since I was studying bare minimum Japanese at the time, I gave it a try. I haven’t looked back since.
I eventually learned that FAST OFFER also helped students get into Japanese companies. I applied, and after an internal round of interviews, got a mentor assigned to me.
Fourth Time’s A Charm in My Interview Journey
After preparing with my mentor, I eventually landed my first interview in the middle of 2025. I was really excited, but also nervous, as I was just at the N4 level. I could barely hold a conversation. In fact, I could not even understand some interview questions. I did my best, but it was not enough. I had the technical skills, but I did not have the confidence.
From then on, I trained for the N3 level. During this period, I participated in a Japanese Presentation Competition and won third place! This experience helped improve my Japanese speaking skills. More importantly, though, it helped me gain the confidence to actually talk in front of people.
At the end of 2025, I had an interview with a second company. I was well-prepared, but they wanted a candidate with a higher level of Japanese. I was heartbroken and started to wonder if I would ever get placed in Japan. Despite this, I continued to push through and prepare for future interviews.
In March of this year, a third company interviewed me. They selected another candidate, but I was happy with how the interview went. I may not have gotten the offer but it was nice to see myself improve. In the same month, a fourth company, a giant Japanese Telecom company, interviewed me and invited me to join their other Indian software engineers!
Learning that I passed was a pleasant moment. I was really happy! I remembered my experiences with other companies, and realized that what happened was for the best. First of all, I liked that it was a well-known company. My skillset was a great match with this company, so I didn’t necessarily have to upskill anymore. The company culture was also a match.
Before Starting a New Life in Japan…
I plan to tackle a few goals here in India before moving to Japan next year for work. I want to learn how to drive, swim, and eat with chopsticks. I also want to learn healthy habits to help me stay fit in Japan. Of course, I plan to improve my Japanese by passing the N2 level. Finally, I plan to find temporary work to maintain my programming skills. I intend to keep updated on the trends in my profession, as well as learn new skills that I could bring to work. I might even join Hackathons if presented with the opportunity.
Once I set foot in Japan, I am looking forward to trying new experiences. When I have the time, I want to travel across Japan and explore its beautiful scenery. I also want to try eating authentic ramen and wearing a kimono. I want to try attending festivals and observing how kintsugi is done.
There are things I worry about, since relocation in general is difficult. Fortunately, the company and FAST OFFER will help take care of the administrative work. On my end, I will have to learn how to adjust to Japanese culture. I will need to learn how to read the atmosphere (空気を読む事), and adapt to its work culture. Still, I believe I can do it!
You can do it, too. Here are some tips I have for interviews and learning Japanese.
Tips for Company Interviews
- Research, research, research – If you are interested in a company, do research about it. Look into the products and services they provide. Check for recent news and activities they participated in. If they are part of a bigger corporation, look into that as well. While you’re at it, research the benefits they provide, and even their competitors. Doing this will help you understand the company’s philosophy, values, and culture. This will also help you determine if you are a good match for the company.
- Practice and Prepare – Studying the job description (JD) will help you know how to respond to questions regarding your interest and suitability for the role. Prepare these answers by yourself – avoid using ChatGPT for this. Get help from your mentors and teachers for more specialized guidance. Once you have prepared responses, practice answering with your friends. Otherwise, you can always practice by yourself! Taking a video for reference, practice how to respond properly, your physical expressions, and eye contact.
- Stay Calm and Smile! – Be prepared for the possibility of the interview flow changing. One time, I had to begin my presentation right away. I wasn’t even asked to introduce myself (自己紹介). Fortunately, I was used to answering random questions thanks to my mentor. Also, make sure to smile – not doing so gives a bad impression. I did not smile in my first interview. This made my interviewers doubt whether I truly wanted to join the company.
Tips for Japanese Language Learners
- Pace Yourself – Learn level-by-level. Start reading vocabulary words from Day 1; you can learn grammar later. Once you have the basics down, you can tackle more advanced words later on.
- Utilize Tools and Resources – You can practice talking and listening through apps like Hello Talk. You can also use AI to prepare kaiwa (会話) using newly learned vocabulary and grammar patterns. If you dislike writing kanji as I do, practice it through flashcards like Anki. For JLPT-specific practice, solve question papers at least a month before the exam. These help identify frequently-used kanji that you can focus on learning for the exam.
- Don’t Forget to Immerse – Using the kaiwa (会話) you prepared earlier, practice with your friends. You are also free to do both roles of the conversation yourself. Also, try shadowing practice to help you understand what natural Japanese sounds like. Finally, use and expose yourself to as much Japanese as you can. Listen to podcasts every day, watch JDrama or anime, listen to music. 15 to 30 minutes a day should suffice.
I have a YouTube channel documenting my language learning progress. Follow along with my journey on my Youtube Channel Nihongo Diary!
