Pursuing a Dream Home Inspired by Japanese Anime
I became interested in Japanese during high school. I loved anime and having classmates who understood Japanese felt very fresh to me. Later, when I had free time during university, I bought a textbook called “Standard Japanese” and started learning on my own. Even during classes, I memorized Japanese vocabulary. It was during my time in graduate school that my desire to go to Japan gradually grew, but when I graduated from college, it was right amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and I had no choice but to give up my dream of studying in Japan. However, even as a master’s student, my admiration for Japan continued because my dream home is there. In “Crayon Shin-chan,” Shin-Chan’s house is a typical stand-alone house, with a private garage and garden. Also, in terms of jobs related to my field, Japanese companies not only pay well but also follow labor laws and have comprehensive welfare systems. Considering all these factors, I started thinking about working in Japan.
Gateway to Working in Japan
After deciding to work in Japan, I searched on the BILIBILI (a popular video site) and learned about the FAST OFFER program. I searched on Chinese social media like Red Book, and quickly accessed FAST OFFER’s official application site, where I registered my information and uploaded my resume. Of course, I was still a little anxious, and worried about being scammed on such online platforms. However, looking at many details, I can confirm that FAST OFFER is an official employment project. For example, all partner companies were well-known major companies, the information registration platform had explanations in Japanese, and I was later able to take part in a free interview session in Japan.
However, my job hunting was not smooth. I failed four interviews before receiving my current job offer. My first online interview was with a Japanese interviewer, and I was so nervous that I failed as expected. The second and third interviews were face-to-face in Tokyo. At that time, I was invited to two companies’ interviews and had the opportunity to go to Tokyo for free to attend the interviews. In the second interview, I unintentionally revealed my weaknesses without organizing my thoughts, and I don’t think I was able to respond to the interviewer’s expectations. In the third interview, I couldn’t appeal my strengths, thus the interviewer’s reaction was lukewarm. And about the last interview, I did not strongly appeal my teamwork and helpfulness, so I failed. I did not pass the interview, but during this journey, I was reassured that choosing FAST OFFER was the right decision. On the first day of travel, as soon as I got off the plane, the staff came to pick me up, and I felt welcomed very warmly; the hotel was also comfortable, and I felt the professionalism and responsibility of FAST OFFER.
Having previously attended interviews in China, I could feel the difference in expectations and demands between Chinese companies and Japanese companies. Chinese companies emphasize personal abilities to the interviewer, while Japanese companies focus on teamwork. Regarding professional skills, Chinese companies specify the use of certain software as a “mandatory” job requirement, but Japanese companies often do not need it, choosing instead to teach it during training after joining the company.
Learning from Interview Failures: Key Lessons for Success
Every time I had an interview, I did mock practices with a Japanese teacher who is former human resource personnel in a Japanese company. The teacher gave me a lot of practical advice from the perspective of the company and interviewer. For example, during a short 30-minute interview, keeping my self-introduction within one minute, emphasizing teamwork in my graduation research, and adding specific examples. Thanks to the teacher’s advice and guidance, I was able to proceed smoothly with interviews. I want to thank my teacher.
And about the fifth interview, based on past interview experiences, I finally passed and received the job offer I wanted. However, FAST OFFER’s support continues. To drop the language barriers as much as possible and adapt quickly to the workplace in Japan, FAST OFFER arranged free Japanese lessons for us. In the classes, we listen to NHK news, explain Japanese expressions used in life and work, and take part in group discussions, training our skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
In fact, before registering with FAST OFFER, I had registered with other Japanese employment platforms. I was once recommended to dispatch company, but I declined considering the stability and high initial costs. For the reasons I ultimately chose FAST OFFER,
- It saved time and effort. Compared to applying on a company’s homepage, I could push the same resume to multiple companies without special preparation.
- Compared to other employment agents, staff follow-up was fast.
- They partner with many major Japanese companies.
- They do not charge students any fees and provide free interview coaching and Japanese lessons.
Choosing a suitable platform for job hunting can help you realize your dreams faster. I have already recommended FAST OFFER to friends around me, and I look forward to meeting them in Japan.
Preparing for a New Life and Career in Aichi
This October, I will go to Aichi Prefecture to start my job. Currently, I am applying for residence status and preparing many things necessary for living in Japan. For example, I have prepared the following items:
- Spare glasses
- Personal seal
- Charging cables and chargers
- If you have a driver’s license in China, you need to obtain a certificate from the Traffic Control Bureau in advance, get a seal after obtaining it, and take a test in Japan to exchange it for a Japanese driver’s license
- Make a JCB card at a Chinese bank in advance
- Prepare several ID photos
Going abroad is a big deal, so preparing in advance is reassuring. I am looking forward to life in Japan. I want to work for a long time at the company where I received the job offer, improve my skills, and work hard to own my own home.
