Transferring From a Science Major to a Japanese Studies Major
My first major at Chongqing University was Science, but a year in, I realized how practical the studies were. I couldn’t pursue them unless I was truly interested. At that time, I had liked Japanese anime since high school, and my English grades weren’t that bad. So, I thought I could continue learning a language while having fun. Since we can change our major at Chinese universities, I took the plunge and changed my major to Japanese studies.
Before entering the Japanese faculty, I only had a hobby-level Japanese language ability that I had learned by myself. I only studied specialized Japanese after entering university. As I went up through the grades, my specialization increased. There were times when it was difficult, but I enjoyed it because I love learning languages.
Furthering My Japanese Studies Through Half a Year at Chuo University
I spent the fall semester of 2022 as an exchange student at Chuo University in Hachioji, Tokyo. There, I belonged to the Faculty of Letters. It was my first time to go to Japan. Everything about life in Japan was new and fun! The people around me were kind, and I was able to live a fulfilling life. Although it was a short 6-month study abroad period, I was able to explore various places. I got to climb Mt. Fuji, and travel to Kansai and Hokkaido.
The Reality of Tough Job Hunting in China
After finishing my study abroad, I started job hunting. I had some experience in job hunting in China, but it was very tough. The competition was too fierce. My friends and family encouraged me then to look into working in Japan because I majored in Japanese and had studied abroad in Japan.
At that time, a staff member from ASIA to JAPAN came to Chongqing University for an information session about the FAST OFFER International program. That’s when I first learned about FAST OFFER International and spoke with the CEO. I thought it was a good service, so I applied and shifted my focus to job hunting in Japan.
The Importance of Getting Japanese Interview Experiences
I read the FAST OFFER International Success Story of Chinese seniors who got job offers from Japanese companies through FAST OFFER International on WeChat. Their experiences taught me the importance of getting interview experience and improve with every chance. I went into job hunting in Japan with the mindset of not being afraid of failure and to keep trying at every opportunity.
The Difference Between Chinese Job Interviews and Japanese Job Interviews
In addition, the interview time for Chinese companies is very short, about 5 to 10 minutes per person. I’m not exaggerating to say that Chinese companies decide only by self-introduction. The key to interviews with Chinese companies is to convey your appealing points and leave an impression concisely in your self-introduction.
On the other hand, interviews at Japanese companies are much longer. You are asked questions from various angles and many things are tested. It is necessary to prepare more carefully to take interviews with Japanese companies than with Chinese companies.
Practicing with Japanese Interviews with my FAST OFFER International Mentor
The staff at FAST OFFER International were very kind and practiced interviews many times. My mentor also pointed out areas for improvement and told me many things to be careful about. However, even if you practice many times, I think that real experience is still important. Your Japanese studies, and practicing, can only take you so far.
So, I approached the interviews with many companies that offered with a positive attitude. Even if things didn’t go well, I was not depressed because I could gain experience in interviews and use it for the next time. Sure enough, every round, whether I passed or failed taught me something, making my experiences with Japanese job interviews extremely valuable.
Getting a Job as a Construction Manager in Japan
About half a year after I started job hunting, I received an offer for a construction manager position at a commercial home appliance manufacturer. When I received the offer, I was ecstatic and pleasantly surprised with how smoothly my job hunting ended.
The fact that I could live and work in Tokyo at this company was a big attraction. Also, since construction management positions required practical experience and experience after joining the company, I thought that even a liberal arts student like me could do it. At an IT company where I had previously interviewed, I was required to acquire non-specialized knowledge such as programming after joining the company and I was not confident that I could complete the job. The company’s salary was also satisfactory, so I decided to join.
I’m sure that there, I will be able to achieve my goals by doing my best, fulfilling my responsibilities, and being valuable to the team.
Advice for Liberal Arts Students Who Want to Work in Japan: Prioritize Your Japanese Studies!
When liberal arts students are interviewed by a Japanese company, language ability is the most important thing. Even if you have a lot to say, it will be a waste if you cannot express it smoothly in Japanese. This emphasizes why liberal arts students must master their Japanese conversational skills to express the value that they bring to the company effectively. Your success as a liberal arts student hinges on your Japanese studies!
It is generally said that science students have more practical skills and that’s more advantageous in finding a job. However, I do not think that liberal arts students have fewer opportunities. There are bound to be things that liberal arts students can do, such as being better at Japanese than science students, or their English communication skills. So, be confident and do your best. If you are not confident, you will not be able to say what you can say in an interview. You can do it!
