| COUNTRY |
| India |
| EDUCATION |
| Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering, M. Kumarasamy College of Engineering |
| COMPANY |
| Japanese company that mainly specializes in cranes and heavy lifting equipment |
| SUMMARY |
| He developed a childhood fascination with heavy machinery, inspired by Japanese engineering excellence. He began learning Japanese in university, eventually passing JLPT N4 and joining programs that fueled his dream. Persisting after overcoming job interview rejection, he improved his skills, and tried again. His determination paid off when he finally secured a long awaited mechanical engineering position in Japan. |
Since I was a child, I have always been fascinated by heavy machinery and how it works. I used to wonder how giant cranes, trucks, and industrial machines could operate with such precision and power. I was especially interested in understanding the mechanisms behind them and how they were designed.
As I learned more about these machines, I noticed that many of the world’s most reliable and advanced machines were manufactured in Japan. Japanese products were widely known for their exceptional quality and durability, and that inspired me even more. I began dreaming of one day becoming someone who could design and manufacture machines like those myself. From that point on, my interest in Japan started to grow.
The Beginning of My Japanese Learning Journey
Before entering university, I regularly watched anime and read manga, but I never seriously considered learning Japanese. That changed during my second year of university when my university started offering Japanese language courses. I immediately took the opportunity and began studying Japanese.
At first, we learned the Japanese alphabet Hiragana and Katakana, before moving on to Kanji and grammar. The course was also designed to prepare us for the JLPT exams.
Alongside the course, I used many different tools and apps to improve my Japanese, such as Anki and other Kanji-learning applications. Whenever I heard a word in anime that I did not recognize, I would immediately search for its meaning. During classes, we also practiced speaking by choosing topics and having conversations in Japanese with classmates. Through consistent effort and practice, I successfully passed the JLPT N4 exam.
My First Experience in Japan
During my third year at university, I had the opportunity to apply for the Sakura Science Exchange Program. After passing the interview process, I was selected to travel to Japan for one week.
During that week, we visited many places, including the Nippon Institute of Technology. It was probably one of the best weeks of my life. I experienced my first international flight while traveling to my dream country, met Japanese students and exchanged conversations with them, and tried authentic Japanese food for the very first time.
That experience made my dream feel real.
After returning from Japan, I knew I had to continue improving myself. Together with several friends, I joined the SSJLTC institute and started preparing for the JLPT N3 exam. During that time, SSJLTC also guided me to join FAST OFFER International.
The Start of My Job-Hunting Journey
When the time came to begin job hunting, I was honestly very nervous. However, I was fortunate to have a great mentor who helped me overcome my fears and prepare for interviews.
Eventually, I received my first job interview opportunity. Since it was my only offer at the time, I had to take the interview very seriously. The first interview was conducted online, and thankfully, I passed. However, I was informed that the second interview would need to be conducted in person in Japan. Thankfully, I later received two more job opportunities, which gave me the chance to travel to Japan again and attend multiple interviews there.
Although it was my second time visiting Japan, I was still extremely excited. I spent a great deal of time preparing for the interviews and doing everything I could to improve myself.
While waiting for the results, I kept imagining how my life would change if I could finally work as a mechanical engineer in my dream country. I was so hopeful until my mentor called. They broke the bad news that I had failed all of the interviews.
Hearing that news was extremely difficult. Returning home after coming so close to achieving my dream was painful. However, giving up was never an option for me. I knew I had to stand up again and keep moving forward.
Picking Myself Up To Try Again: Overcoming Job Interview Rejection
I continued studying Japanese, practicing technical knowledge, and participating in even more mock interviews with my mentor. Eventually, I was matched with another company for a new job opportunity.
This time, I could not allow myself to fail again.
I researched the company thoroughly and prepared as much as possible. I practiced countless mock interviews to improve my communication skills and confidence.
When the first interview round finally came around, I entered with confidence and successfully passed. However, I was extremely nervous again for the second round. Deep down, I was afraid of experiencing another failure and losing my chance to achieve my dream of working in Japan. After the interview ended, I was overwhelmed by the same anxious feelings I had experienced after being rejected by the previous companies.
My mentor messaged me. I was almost ready for disappointment. Instead, I got the long-awaited good news! As of next year, I will finally begin working in Japan as a mechanical engineer! All the failures, challenges, and hard work had finally paid off.
Preparing to Become a Mechanical Engineer in Japan
Improving My Japanese
Firstly, I want to improve my Japanese conversation skills, especially for professional scenarios in the workplace. After that, I am going to expand my Kanji knowledge, and finally, I plan on taking the JLPT N2 exam in December.
Honing My Skills for the Role
At the moment, I only know how to use 3D design software, but my company requires knowledge of 2D design software as well. Because of that, I will spend my time learning how to use it professionally.
Spending More Time with Loved Ones
One of my main focuses before moving to Japan is spending more time with my family. I also plan on going on multiple trips with my friends before starting this new chapter of my life.
My Goals for Working in Japan
First, I want to contribute as much as I can to my company and learn from my coworkers and seniors so I can perform to the best of my ability.
I have also received a lot of support from seniors at my university who are now working in Japan, so meeting up and celebrating with them is definitely on my bucket list.
Speaking of bucket lists, I am a huge fan of roller coasters, so I plan to enjoy as many amusement parks in Japan as possible, starting with Fuji-Q Highland in Yamanashi Prefecture.
My Advice for Anyone Dreaming of Working in Japan
When studying Japanese, you will have to learn and memorize a huge amount of vocabulary. However, it is not enough to memorize words alone. I strongly recommend memorizing vocabulary within sentences as well, so you can understand how words are used in context.
When it comes to Kanji, try to review the Kanji you learn every day and constantly revise older Kanji so you do not forget them.
Also, watch anime. Watching anime helped me a lot with my listening comprehension, and you will definitely find a series that you enjoy.
As for interviews, do not be scared. You have to attend interviews with confidence because fear can affect both your answers and your facial expressions. Try your best to stay calm and composed during interviews.
It goes without saying that you should research the company thoroughly. Also, be careful not to say more or less than what the interviewer is asking for. If they want a brief answer, they will ask briefly, and if they want more details, they will ask you to elaborate further.
FAST OFFER CAREER GUIDE: How to Overcome Job Interview Rejection
For a lot of us, failure is simply part but not the end of the journey. Here’s a few tips to help you overcome a job interview rejection until you succeed!
- Lean on your community for comfort. The sadness that bad news brings makes it tempting to isolate. But going back to your community of classmates, teachers, career advisors, and upper classmen, you’ll quickly find that you’re not alone!
- Find out how you can improve. Try to be as objective with yourself as possible. Could you have prepared better in any way? What were the particularly challenging parts of the interview? Instead of letting rejections get us down, we can use it as a stepping stone!
- Accept that sometimes, it’s not personal and boils down to luck. There are a lot of variables that come into job matching that might not be in your control. Some companies prefer certain personalities and de don’t advise you to change your personality as this would be unsustainable in the practical long run. Sometimes, you might compete with another candidate whose final year project simply fits the company exactly. There are times when you just have to wait for the right company to come along.
- Don’t be afraid of failure as long as you keep doing your best! These hurdles are meant to make your future success story more exciting!
- Read other successful stories who understand what you went through:
