Inspired by a Senior to Go Find Engineering Jobs in Japan
Since childhood, I have been fascinated by household electrical appliances and machinery. In middle school, I set a goal to study engineering at university. At university, I majored in electronic and communication engineering and participated in projects utilizing advanced technologies like IoT. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the university was closed, I met a senior from the same major who was working as an engineer in Japan after graduation. I was deeply inspired and decided to pursue Japanese engineering jobs in the future. Therefore, I started learning Japanese in 2020.
Overcoming Challenges During the Pandemic with Determination: The Bumpy Road to an Engineering Job in Japan
To secure an engineering job in Japan, in addition to professional skills, proficiency in Japanese is also crucial. The prolonged school closure due to COVID-19 made me feel very depressed, and my dream of working in Japan seemed distant. However, in December 2022, I was able to resume university life with my friends, and I found hope again. During this period, I participated in the MJEP Japanese class and studied online up to the N2 level. In December 2023, I passed the N2 exam, which gave me a great sense of achievement. After that, I took AJMMC classes and started studying for the N1 exam.
Conversation Skills are Crucial if You Want a Japanese Engineering Job!
While learning Japanese, I found kanji difficult, but even more challenging was practicing conversation. Although I passed the N2 exam, my listening and speaking skills were still lacking, which made me anxious. In interviews with Japanese interviewers, listening and speaking skills are crucial to understand questions and respond appropriately. Therefore, I listen to YouTube videos and podcasts daily and practice shadowing. To improve conversation skills, I believe it is very effective to read aloud every day. If you are interested, I recommend making this a habit!
Securing an Engineering Job Offer in Japan Thanks to FAST OFFER International
In September this year, a AJMMC teacher introduced me to a program called FAST OFFER International. With over 200 companies participating, including major corporations, the chances of being hired are high, making it a great opportunity. Although I was not very confident in my Japanese, I decided to seize this valuable opportunity and applied. Subsequently, I received interview invitations from two companies the very next month. Lucky for me, the semiconductor manufacturer company I was interested in gave me a job offer! I was overwhelmed with emotion, feeling that my dream had finally come true.
Gaining Confidence Through Mock Interviews with a Mentor
Initially, I lacked confidence in my Japanese, especially in conversation skills. However, thanks to the guidance of a mentor from FAST OFFER International, I was able to express my thoughts confidently. I was finally able to secure Japanese engineering jobs. Under the mentor’s guidance, I prepared for various interview scenarios, including self-introduction, explaining my research theme with PPT materials, answering expected questions, and asking questions in return. After about three mock interviews, I gained the confidence to calmly express my opinions in Japanese, regardless of the questions asked. As a result, I was able to fully showcase my expertise and passion during the actual interview, which I believe impressed the interviewers.
Continuing to Learn Japanese and Professional Skills for a New Life
I am committed to continuously learning Japanese and enhancing my professional skills to prepare for my new life. I look forward to doing my best in my engineering job in Japan by contributing my skills wholeheartedly.
