| COUNTRY |
| Taiwan |
| EDUCATION |
| Master of Artificial Intelligence and Mechatronic Information, National Tsing Hua University Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University |
| COMPANY |
| A Japanese manufacturer specializing in automotive and motorcycle components, particularly carburetors, fuel injectors, air‑intake modules, and other engine‑related systems. |
| SUMMARY |
| The vision of integrating mechanical mastery with artificial intelligence inspired a Taiwanese engineer to bridge the gap between academic theory and a global career. In his success story, he details his journey from Taiwan to Japan. He talks about why he chose Japan to start his career and what he did to prepare for the job interviews in Tokyo. He also offers advice for fellow mechanical engineers who want to follow his path. |
The Synergy of Logic and Machine: Why I Decided to Look for an Engineering Job in Japan
My journey began in Taiwan, where I spent my university years deeply immersed in the fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering. I spent much of my time in the laboratory learning how to design static parts. Even so, my fascination with mechanical engineering isn’t limited to this. I also like researching and discovering other facets of engineering.
While I was doing this, I realized that mechanical engineering as a whole is undergoing a massive evolution. The world’s hardware was becoming increasingly dependent on artificial intelligence.
The potential of artificial intelligence to be autonomous, capable of complex problem-solving, and to make processes more efficient was appealing to me. While many mainly look at artificial intelligence as a specialty for computer scientists, I also saw it as a great tool to help mechanical engineers. I want to build a career that utilizes both my mechanical engineering skills and my growing interest in artificial intelligence.
But where is the best place to do this? I thought to myself, “I needed to be in a country that led the world in robotics.” Enter Japan. Japan, with its legendary commitment to quality and its pioneering spirit in automation, became my ultimate North Star. From then on, my goal of working in Japan became the primary driver for my late-night study sessions.
How My Experience of Job Hunting in Japan as a Taiwanese Engineer Began
With a bachelor’s and master’s engineering degrees from National Tsing Hua University, I’m confident I have the proper training to start my experience of job hunting in Japan as a Taiwanese engineer. But I also know that technical excellence was only half the equation. That’s why I began to make an effort to not just learn the Japanese language but also the country’s culture.
I view cultural adaptation as essential for success. I didn’t just want to speak the language properly, but I also wanted to understand the corporate culture that drives the world’s most advanced factories. In the process of doing this, I came across the FAST OFFER international program.
Unlike other recruitment programs, this seemed more like an engineering-focused agency with a straightforward, transparent process.
My Experience with FAST OFFER as a Taiwanese Engineer Job Hunting in Japan
Once I joined the FAST OFFER international program, my preparation accelerated dramatically. With the FAST OFFER team’s guidance, I enrolled in their specialized Japanese classes that moved far beyond daily conversation. I learned about technical terminologies and honorific Language, which are necessary for survival in a Japanese working environment.
It was quite interesting to learn how to address a senior engineer or how to present a project proposal with just the right amount of politeness.
After attending the Japanese classes, I had an intensive mentorship period. I worked closely with mentors and career advisors who understood the specific nuances of what Japanese technical recruiters look for. Together, we refined my presentation — ensuring my research was clearly and logically articulated. Weeks of mock interviews helped me hone the ability to clearly articulate complex technical information and show my achievements — all while showing deference and modesty that Japanese culture demands.
Through this experience of preparing for a Japanese job interview, I now understand that an interview in Japan is not simply a test of competence. It is also a test of compatibility with the team you’ll be working with.
From Taiwan to Tokyo: What Happened During the Job Interviews
After refining my presentation skills and doing many mock Japanese job interviews, I was ready to fly to Tokyo and do the real thing. It was this moment when theory met practice.
With the aid of a technical portfolio and significant improvement in my Japanese language proficiency, I was able to interact extensively with the recruiters and secure a job offer. It was a defining moment in my career!
The company that I’ll be working for is a forward-thinking company that values both mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence. To me, it wasn’t just a job offer; it was an invitation to join the vanguards of the future. At last, a clear path came into view where my logic-driven background and my new cultural understanding could come together and create something meaningful.
Advice for Taiwanese Engineers Who Want to Follow My Path
For my fellow engineers in Taiwan and beyond, I want to share a few insights from my journey:
- Treat Language Like a System. For an engineer, Japanese grammar can be understood as a logical system of rules. If you view language as “code” for human interaction, it becomes much more approachable.
- Consistency over Intensity. Learning keigo and technical Japanese is a marathon. Spend 30 minutes every day rather than five hours a week.
- Focus on the “Why”. When presenting your projects, don’t just explain the mechanism. Explain the logic behind your choices and how those choices solve a specific problem.
- Trust Your Mentors. The advisors at FAST OFFER have helped so many successful candidates. If they tell you to change your posture or your phrasing, trust that there is a strategic reason for it in the Japanese context.
Reflections on My Journey and Future Horizons
The support I have gotten from the FAST OFFER International team has been way beyond mere recruitment. They ensured that at every step of my journey, I was prepared for maximum success.
I must say that I will always look back on the memories of this week in Tokyo — from the high-pressure environment of interviews to the light, joyful mood with celebratory drinks with others.
I look forward to seeing how my mechanical knowledge and AI skills will grow as I build my career in Japan.
中文快问快答版
| 国家 |
| 中国 |
| 大学 |
| 立教大学国际商务工商管理硕士 匹兹堡大学金融工商管理学士学位 |
公司 |
| 一家专门从事建筑产品和机械的日本工业分销公司。 |
这是一个匹兹堡大学毕业生的故事，他上学期间在天津开了一家中式小吃摊。毕业后，他开始关注海外发展机会，最终选择了日本，因为日本的安全和高品质生活吸引了他。在“快速录取”国际项目的帮助下，他获得了工作机会，现在希望在日本开启新的生活。
1. 您为什么选择在日本发展事业？
从我在中国、美国和日本的生活经历来看，我觉得日本提供了完美的平衡。它既拥有与中国相似的丰富的东亚文化，又对外国人保持着开放的心态。我入读了立教大学的国际商务硕士课程，到目前为止，在这里学习生活就像呼吸了一口清新的空气。我感到安全、受欢迎，并且可以自由地表达自己。
2. 是如何了解到 FAST OFFER 的？
我第一次看到这个项目是在浏览小红书的时候。我好奇地访问了官方网站，注册并提交了我的信息。完成初步面试筛选后，我等待了大约三周。最终，一位FAST OFFER导师联系了我，告诉我有几家公司对我的简历感兴趣。
其中有一家公司，我和面试官一拍即合。我们讨论了我的潜在职位以及这份工作的具体内容。在40分钟的面试结束后，我们感觉就像成了好朋友一样。
3. 您是如何學習日文的？
刚到日本时，我的日语水平很低。我只懂片假名、平假名和汉字。虽然日常基本能用日语应付，但我觉得学习日语对于加深与当地人的联系至关重要。因此，我通过观看大量日剧学习日语。我总共看了大约150部日剧，这对我的日语会话能力提升非常有帮助。
我还参加了一些正式的日语课程，学习商务日语。此外，我在一所预科学校兼职担任日本游客热线接线员和托福老师，这帮助我学习了适合职场的日语。
所有这些努力都得到了回报，现在我已经能够轻松地用日语进行对话了。去年7月，我参加了日本语能力考试（JLPT），并通过了N1级别，这增强了我在日本生活和工作的信心。
中国人学习日语的秘诀
充分利用你的中文知识
作为中国人，我的日语学习优势非常明显，尤其是在阅读汉字方面。由于中文和日语之间有很多汉字是共用的，所以我已经能认出很多了。说实话，我认为这也是我成功通过日语能力测试N1的主要原因之一。如果你是中国人，这可是个很大的优势！
拥抱学习应用程序
应用程序可以改变学习方式，尤其是在听力等技能方面。我使用Pimsleur来提高我的听力理解能力。
多看日剧
看日剧不仅仅是一种放松的方式，它还成了我学习语言的秘密武器之一。你可以学习日常用语、俚语，甚至文化差异。我最喜欢的日剧是什么？ 《行骗天王JP》（コンフィデンスマンJP），由我最喜欢的女演员长泽雅美主演。这部电影将喜剧和悬疑元素完美融合，我敢发誓，它让我的日语水平在不知不觉中得到了提升。
结交朋友，与当地人练习
只有练习说一门语言，才能真正学会它。我做到这一点的最佳方法之一就是结识新朋友，进行真正的对话。我加入了一个徒步旅行俱乐部，这是在享受乐趣的同时与当地人聊天的绝佳方式。
4. 对于想要在日本生活和工作的人，您有什么建议？
如果我能告诉你一件事，那就是：学习日语是关键。不学习日语，你会遇到很多障碍。我想说，如果你真的想在这里生活和工作，至少在来之前一年就开始学习日语。相信我，这会带来巨大的改变。
一旦你掌握了这门语言，其他一切都会水到渠成。剩下的呢？你自己去解决吧。说实话，如果你能沟通，很多其他挑战都会容易得多。事情可能不会完全按照你的预期发展，但如果你会日语，事情就会顺利得多。
哦，对了，别指望每个人都会说英语。我刚来的时候就犯过这个错误。如果你想建立人际关系并进行有意义的对话，学习当地语言是你的责任。
5. 您对参加日本工作面试有什么建议？
做一个善于交谈的人。
在日本，求职面试通常需要大量的来回沟通，因此保持对话流畅至关重要。你需要提出一些富有洞察力的“反向问题”，以表明你已经彻底了解了公司并理解其目标。这表明你真心实意地想要为他们的使命做出贡献。为了做好准备，我每天花了大约4-5个小时进行研究和练习。
做你自己。
这听起来可能有些陈词滥调，但却是一个实用的建议：保持真诚。你需要对自己充满信心。如果面试氛围不对，不要惊慌，继续寻找下一个机会。记住，面试反映了公司的文化。如果你的心态与面试官不一致，那么公司文化和你的价值观很可能也不一致。
