How a University of Delhi Graduate Manifested Her Dream Job in Japan
For a long time, I didn’t know what to do with my life. I just knew one thing: I wanted to do something special. What was that special thing? I didn’t have a clue. My day-to-day experience studying accountancy at the University of Delhi, swimming in Math, was giving me this nagging feeling that this was not it.
I told my brother all this, and he had this great idea: how about languages? He saw that I really enjoyed watching international dramas, whether it was from Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan—or whatever country. That got me thinking and asking, “What if?” I thought about all the dramas I watched and imagined myself in those countries. Japan stood out for me.
I got into a Japanese class after my graduation. I remember I was bubbling with excitement. Our teacher was native Japanese, and they went beyond just teaching the language, they also helped immerse us into the culture. They even fed us onigiris! They got a lightbulb moment in that class: THIS IS IT! This is what I wanted to do. I wanted to dive into Japan full throttle. Even after that class, I signed up for more lessons at an institute. I wanted to work in Japan!
I fell in love not just with the Japanese language, but also with Japan. I reached a point where whenever my family and I went out, I’d be looking for sushi on the menu and using chopsticks like a pro. My parents would ask me, “Are you really Indian?”
Since then, I’ve wanted nothing more than to go to Japan, melt into their culture, and speak the language as fluently as a native.
Immersing in Japanese Culture from India: Beyond the Classroom
My dream to work in Japan began when I was a student in University of Delhi, but I remained steadfast for years after graduating. I kept my eye on the prize.
To get a job in Japan, step one is learning Japanese. But that wasn’t my mindset which would have bored me eventually. Instead, I fully deep-dived into the culture, and the language bit was just one part of it. The more I learned about Japan, the more language I absorbed, and the more I also fell for the country and that kept me motivated.
I approached learning the language as beyond a system of characters and syllables, but as a way of life, a different worldview to sink in. Interacting with Japanese people showed me how shy they were, and that affected how they expressed themselves and used the language.
To fully understand the Japanese language, you need to be in touch with the natives how they think and feel, and what they’re saying beyond their words. To learn the Japanese language, you need to understand the Japanese.
This formed my overarching goal for the past five years when I began single-mindedly manifesting going to Japan: to melt into Japanese culture. This thought guided me and led me to opportunities. The more I thought about my goal, the more ways I found to immerse myself in Japanese culture, and eventually find my path to Japan.
How I Immersed in Japan from India Beyond Language Classes
I befriended Japanese tourists in India
Sometimes I would find Japanese tourists in India—on a bus or train. I’d approach them, asking “Nihonjin desu ka?” (Trans. Are you Japanese?) That always led to wonderful conversations, plus I gotta practice my Japanese.
I met Japanese friends through the HelloTalk App.
Learning Japanese from a textbook isn’t enough and it’s important to really get your practice in every day. HelloTalk App lets me post something about Japan and connect with Japanese people. Casually making friends on the app has been helpful. I even made this one friend who visited India!
The plan was for me to show him around my culture for a day. It was the only free time he could get in for his short trip. When we met, I was so surprised that he gave me books, chocolate, and Nori sheets. I then showed him around places like Chandni Chowk and Connaught Place, we ate street food like parathas and drank lassi. It was such an enjoyable experience that we met again. I was busy that day, so he volunteered to meet me at my office after work. We had one last meal at Haldiram. I’m glad that I’ll see him again once I’m in Japan.
I met Japanese mentors through the Sail App.
Through the Sail App, you can meet Japanese mentors who are about 50-60 years old and are simply eager to share about their language and culture. It was through this app that I got to join a Japanese Speech contest and talk to mentors who told me about life in Japan.
I worked for a company that let me work with Japanese clients.
After college, I was able to work for a company that made me their liaison between their developers and Japanese clients. This exposed me to Japanese work culture. I loved how strict and disciplined they were about their timelines. These are some Japanese values I, too, strive to emulate.
I signed up with FAST OFFER International for job hunting.
I got a message on LinkedIn from FAST OFFER International inviting me to their program. When I read about the opportunity, the possible free trip to Japan, and how they mostly worked with IT Engineers, I was puzzled why they approached me, a Humanities graduate from the University of Delhi. Were they a scam? There are a lot of scams out there and this opportunity sounded too good to be true.
I asked my Japanese language mentors, and they knew all about FAST OFFER International. They also assured me that I was being approached because my profile was strong and not to let my self-doubt get in the way.
I also realized that the program sounded familiar. I later remembered that my best friend, who lives in Japan, knows someone working there through the same program. When I asked her about it, she said, “I told you to sign up with them!”
With my doubts alleviated, I signed up on the website and sent the necessary documents. Soon, I got to know that there was a company interested in my profile. They began helping me get ready for the interview through an intense mentoring session, with feedback about my messaging, down to my grammar.
Getting a Job Offer Lightning Fast
After manifesting this dream for five years, things were suddenly lightning fast. I got the job on my very first interview! I video-called my best friend who lived in Japan and screamed in excitement for a long time. We were so hyped about meeting in Japan and seeing my dream come true.
I didn’t expect it to be this fast. If you look at FAST OFFER International’s website, they often deal with new graduate IT Engineers with very technical skills. These are the more in-demand jobs in Japan. I’m a mid-career applicant who is in no way an IT Engineer but graduated from University of Delhi with an Accounting degree. But, with more Indians finding themselves in Japan, the company I found needed someone fluent in Japanese and Hindi. So, if you dream of going to Japan but are not an IT Engineer, there’s still hope if you focus on your Japanese language skills!
Getting Ready for a New Life in Japan: Preparation Tips and Insights
FAST OFFER International even today is still incredibly hands-on with helping me. Even now, as I prepare to live and work in Japan, if I have a question, I know I can text them and I’ll get a reply. It’s great to know they have my back as my life changes.
Learning goes way beyond graduating from University of Delhi. It’s important to keep learning during these few months I have before I fly to Japan. During this time, I’m learning more about the Japanese healthcare industry which my new company is in. I continue to brush up my Japanese and am targeting to get my N-1 JLPT certificate. I’m also consulting Japanese mentors who have been telling me about Japanese work culture. It’s exciting to think about I’ll be able to use everything I’ve worked hard on learning once I get there.
I can’t wait for the life waiting for me in Japan!
