Why Japan’s R&D Industry Became My Dream Career Destination
I chose electronics and communications engineering as my major because I wanted to go into developing advanced technology for the manufacturing industry. Sadly, I couldn’t find enough opportunities in India that fit what I wanted for myself. Although India is famous for its IT industry, the technological development in the manufacturing industry is lagging. So many talents vie for the few openings. I hadn’t found out about electronic engineering jobs in Japan yet.
At that time, my seniors told me about this webinar where I could learn about Japanese corporate culture and technology. From there, I also learned that Japanese manufacturing companies pour a lot into research and development (R&D). This affirmed my personal experience of Japanese technology. Since an early age, I’ve been familiar with the prowess of Japanese consumer electronics. Japanese brands Yamaha Motor, Panasonic, and Honda Motor are renowned in India.
Japanese companies’ approach to technology and their advanced capabilities fed my strong desire to enter Japan’s tech scene. The dream wasn’t just exciting, it was also feasible. I found out there were plenty of electronic engineering jobs in Japan for Indians. There, I could be on the development side of the manufacturing industry. My dream of working in Japan began to take shape.
Soon enough, the path to my dream also showed up. Masato Sanpei, CEO of ASIA to JAPAN, visited SRM University to hold a FAST OFFER International information session. There, I learned that my dream of finding a job in Japan might come true if I participated in Japanese language classes and improved my Japanese language skills. Convinced this was the way to go, I started learning Japanese at my university last November 2023.
My Fast-Track Approach to Learning Japanese
When I first started learning Japanese, I could not understand one word of Japanese spoken by my teacher. However, I remained steadfast and dedicated to attending the rigorous four-hour classes five times a week for six months. I knew that missing a class or giving up would only drag my dream farther away from me. I wanted to take the quickest route, so I faithfully attended each class. On top of those long classes, I also self-studied for an hour daily. It was hard work, but I made it a point to be exposed to the language every day. Learning Japanese was the only way to securing an electronic engineering job in Japan.
Fortunately, native Japanese teachers teach Japanese classes at SRM University. Interacting with a lot helped me improve my conversational skills. I also immersed myself in channels about working Indians in Japan, Japanese commuting conditions, and Japanese work ethos, I was able to expand my image of working in Japan as well as learning Japanese.
What helped me learn Japanese quickly
- 4 hours/5 days a week Japanese classes at my university for 6 months
- Conversing with my Japanese teachers
- Studying Japanese for an hour every day
- Watching Channels on Japanese culture
Absorbing Japanese culture helped me focus on my Japanese studies
There are some cultural similarities between Japan and India. In spring, people in Japan enjoy viewing cherry blossoms. In India, there is a similar festival called Van Bhojan, where the whole community gets together, brings food from their houses, and eats under a big tree with mangoes and other plants.
On the other hand, there are a lot of Japanese values that are not found in India. This made researching Japan an exciting experience.
Concepts in Japanese work culture that as an Indian I’ve adapted:
- “Kaizen” (改善) – Continuous improvement
- “Ikigai” (生き甲斐) – Purpose of life
- “Wabi-sabi” (侘び寂び) – Beauty in imperfection
- “Seishin” (精神) – Spirit or willpower
- “Ganbaru” (頑張る) – Persevere or do your best
- “Shirinryoku” (新緑)– Ability to think
How I Landed My Dream Job in Japan After My First Interview
Six months after participating in Japanese language classes, I had an opportunity to interview with a Japanese company through FAST OFFER International. The company was looking for a position in product development, which matched the kind of work I wanted.
The interview was divided into two rounds. In the first round of interviews for a job in Japan, I had to demonstrate my technical electronic engineering skills and Japanese language ability. There were a few questions that I didn’t understand, but the interviewer asked in-depth questions according to my Japanese level, and I was able to pass the first interview. In the second and final round, I had to interview with the human resources department. For this part, practicing with my mentor from FAST OFFER International, and applying their feedback, was intensely vital.
To my surprise, I succeeded on my first try! My dream of finding an electronic engineering job in Japan as an Indian came true that fast! I had accomplished a lot in my research and studies, but winning a job in Japan was the most wonderful and dreamlike thing that had ever happened to me. It’s a success story that I will never forget!
A Quick Timeline of How I Landed My Job in Japan
- November 2023 – I started learning Japanese at my University. I was taking four-hour classes five times a week, self-studying an hour daily, and conversing with my Japanese professors to improve my conversation skills.
- April 2024 – I signed up with FAST OFFER International.
- June 2024 – I started practicing for Japanese Job Interviews.
- July 2024 – I got a job offer!
- April 2025 –Scheduled to join the Japanese company
Tips for Finding Work in Japan
The most difficult part of interviewing with Japanese companies was effectively explaining my research and projects in Japanese. Especially in my case, my area of expertise and the interviewing company’s area of expertise were slightly different. I had to define technical terms, explain the difference between conventional technology, and the technology used in my research, and answer many follow-up questions from the interviewer.
Despite these difficulties, I was able to get the job offer because of the following reasons.
High-quality research project experiences
I have a patented publication, and my final year project won a gold medal from my university. Because I gave my all to these projects, my experience of writing and defending them sharpened my technical understanding and gave me the necessary in-depth practice that made explaining it to my interviewers go smoothly.
I had the experience of writing a paper that was published under a patent and of winning a gold medal for my thesis research at my university. These experiences have deepened my technical understanding and allowed me to answer enough questions to receive a job offer. My sound experience in university was enough to land my dream electronic engineering job in Japan.
Careful interview preparation to showcase your technical skills and experience
To effectively demonstrate your technical skills in an interview, you need to answer questions in Japanese about your project and graduation research, as well as answer additional questions from the interviewer. I anticipated what questions the interviewer would ask and prepared my answers in Japanese. This allowed my FAST OFFER International mentor to give me valuable and timely feedback. My preparations made the actual interview go smoothly.
Attitude of Honesty in Interviews
One of the main reasons I received the job offer was that I answered honestly and sincerely when I presented myself at the interview.
I transparently shared my weaknesses with the interviewing firm. I told them I still fell short of my time management skills for projects. I also told them, however, that I was working on this by scheduling and learning to properly prioritize. We all have weaknesses, so you should not lie and only appeal to your good points. Just as the Japanese value the spirit of “kaizen,” it is important to convey how you are trying to overcome your weaknesses and the process of your efforts.
Learning Japanese
Of course, your Japanese language skills are vital to your journey. It is necessary for success in interviews, but Japanese language skills are also needed when you work in Japan after receiving a job offer. As I continue my Japanese language studies, I am not worried about life in Japan.
With all this in mind, I hope you’re encouraged! There’s plenty of opportunities for electronic engineers in Japan that foreigners can take advantage of. If you do your best, I truly believe your dream to work in Japan can come true.
