Working in Japan as a Sri Lankan Engineer: My Journey from International Student to Job Offer

Why I Chose to Work in Japan as a Sri Lankan Engineer 

It’s been almost three years since I came to Japan as an international student. So much has happened during that time. Since then, I had so many experiences that took me to places and rooms I never imagined I could be in. These days, I feel a mix of disbelief and gratitude: I’ve secured a job offer and will be working in Japan as a Sri Lankan engineer. 

Looking back, it all began when I realized that advancing in the field of robotics required postgraduate education. I considered several countries for my Master’s degree, but ultimately chose Japan. The country’s cutting-edge robotics technology, proximity to home compared to Western nations, and reputation as a safe place for foreigners made it the perfect choice for me. To start my journey, I enrolled as an international student at Ritsumeikan University. 

Highlights of My Experience as an International Student in Japan from Sri Lanka 

Arriving with zero knowledge of Japanese  

Except for arigatou and sumimasen, I came to Japan with basically zero knowledge of Japanese. Since my courses at Ritsumeikan University are all in English, there was no pressing need for me to learn the local language. 

At that time, my only intention was to complete my postgraduate studies in robotics so I could advance my career. I wasn’t planning to live or work in Japan long-term. But during my first year at university, international students were offered elective courses — including a basic Japanese class. I decided to take the class so I can navigate living in Japan as an international student better. It was a very basic course that was intended to help international students with day-to-day conversations and be familiarized with common phrases. I had no intention of learning Japanese more deeply than that. 

Learning that my Robotics R&D goal can be best pursued in Japan

That was until I became interested in robotics research and development. As I was finishing my degree, I realized that many of the globally respected companies that utilize robotics, including industry leaders producing high-quality products, were actually in Japan.  

I really want to try getting into one of these companies and working in Japan as a Sri Lankan engineer. The problem is that my Japanese level was nowhere near enough. At that point, I could understand only a few words and manage basic things like shopping — that was all. And so, to reach my goal, I began to learn Japanese. 

On Studying Japanese Through Immersion 

My Japanese learning journey has been mostly self-driven, practical, and immersive. It hasn’t been a conventional path, but it’s the one that worked best for me. Here are some engaging ways I learned Japanese. 

1. Watching Japanese Dramas. Instead of watching anime to learn Japanese, I went with a different route and got into Japanese dramas instead. I felt anime dialogue and delivery tend to be exaggerated. Whereas I found the banter in Japanese dramas closer to real-life conversations. 
2. Speaking Japanese at university. In my lab classes, almost everyone spoke Japanese. Only one or two people, besides my professor, could speak English. So, I pushed myself to communicate in Japanese as much as possible. All our meetings and seminars were conducted in Japanese. Sometimes, even though I didn’t understand everything, I just kept listening.  
3. Attending city hall meetings. I joined weekly community language meetups at the City Hall. It’s a meeting where foreign residents and local community members talk about culture and daily life. We even visited temples together! 
4. Listening to Podcasts. While commuting by train, I listened to simple Japanese podcasts to improve my listening skills. 

Having a part-time job as an international student  

Because my Japanese wasn’t very strong, I got part-time jobs where English was the main language. I found companies that organized international exchange programs for students in Japan. These programs were designed to expose Japanese students to different cultures and help them improve their English skills.  

For example, sometimes we would walk around Kyoto, exploring traditional landmarks while speaking entirely in English. Other times, the programs were classroom-based, where we helped students prepare presentations, practice discussions, and build confidence communicating in English. All the activities were conducted fully in English, which made them a perfect fit for me at that time.  

Meeting people and making friends in Japan 

Meeting other foreigners in Japan is quite easy. The international community is relatively small in the area where I was, so people are generally open and eager to connect. Because of that, building friendships within the foreign community happens naturally.  

It takes time to make deep friendships

Making connections with Japanese people, however, feels a bit different. It’s not that Japanese people are unfriendly. They are very polite, kind, and welcoming. They will talk to you warmly, and conversations can feel very comfortable. On the surface, it seems easy to make friends. But culturally, I would say forming deep friendships takes time. Even though I have many Japanese friends, I would say only three or four are truly close to me. The process of becoming close is gradual. Back home, you might meet a stranger and become very close friends within a day. Here, it doesn’t work that way. Trust and closeness develop more slowly. 

People plan their personal lives

Another difference is how social plans are made. In my home country, you could simply call a friend and ask, “Are you free now? Want to join?” It’s very spontaneous. In Japan, things are more scheduled. Even to meet friends casually, you usually check availability in advance and arrange a time that works for everyone. It’s a different rhythm of social life. 

Joining different communities and using apps helped me expand my circle

As a foreigner in Japan, I was very intentional in making connections. Most of my connections came from my university. But I also met people outside the campus. I used apps like Meetup to join activities such as hiking and badminton. Through those events, I was able to connect with people beyond the university environment and expand my social circle. 

Navigating cultural difference 

Japanese punctuality permeates professional and personal lives

As I expanded my circles, the more I learned about our cultural differences. One cultural difference that stood out to me the most was punctuality. In my home country, if you ask someone to come at a certain time, it’s normal for them to be late. In fact, if someone arrives exactly on time, it feels like something special. That was something I personally found frustrating.  

In Japan, it’s completely different. People respect each other’s time. Meetings start on time. Appointments are kept. Deadlines are taken seriously. Being in an environment where punctuality and time management are the norm made me really happy. It created a sense of mutual respect and professionalism that I truly appreciated. 

Japanese society takes rules very seriously

In the same way, Japanese society respects the rules of time; they also respect all the other rules.

People in Japan follow rules very strictly — almost to the letter. Even when something feels unnecessary or overly detailed, the system is still followed carefully. At first, this surprised me. There are processes and formalities for many things, and they are taken seriously. However, I also observed something I deeply respect, and it’s that people honor their promises. If someone commits to something, they follow through. There is a strong sense of responsibility and accountability. 

Finding Work in Japan as a Sri Lankan Engineer 

I observed these cultural facets more in my internship experience in Japan.

My internship experience

I did a two-week internship at a well-known Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer, where I was placed in the Production Engineering Department. During those two weeks, everyone was extremely friendly and supportive. It was a very welcoming environment.  

A major challenge I faced being an intern in Japan as a foreign talent

But here’s one major challenge: everything was in Japanese. All communication inside the factory was in Japanese. Meetings, instructions, documentation — everything. It made me realize how important language proficiency is in a Japanese corporate environment. If I had been selected for the full-time position, they were prepared to provide six months of Japanese language training before I officially joined the company. That showed how serious they were about investing in candidates.

Staying true to my career goals

By the end of my internship, I received very positive reviews from my team. They genuinely wanted to hire me. Even the HR department encouraged me, saying that if I passed the final interviews, I could join the following year. Overall, I did a very good internship and even made it to the final stage of interviews at a company. But during the interview, I made it clear that even within a factory, I wanted to work on new technologies and products. I don’t want an easy job. I want a role that challenges me — something that pushes me to grow every single day. Especially in engineering today, many simple and repetitive tasks are being automated. I believe that to stay relevant, you need to keep learning, sharpening your skills, and taking on meaningful challenges.  

They responded honestly in a rejection letter. They explained that the company’s work was focused on using existing technologies rather than creating new ones. In hindsight, I’m grateful for their honesty. I could have compromised and taken the job, but I knew I wouldn’t enjoy it. I would have felt stressed and unfulfilled. Although it was a great opportunity, the job description isn’t what I’m looking for.

Looking back, I’m glad I stayed true to my goals. That experience reinforced the importance of aligning your work with your passion, even if it means rejecting an opportunity that seems secure or prestigious. And so, I bravely ventured into job hunting on my own. 

Job Hunting Independently 

Initially, I didn’t understand why my Japanese seniors at the university were so stressed about finding jobs. But once I started job hunting on my own, I realized how grueling the process can be. 

There are many stages, including rigorous exams like the SPI (Synthetic Personality Inventory) test, which evaluates your logical skills, personality, arithmetic, reading comprehension, data interpretation, and more.  

On top of that, I had to learn the “Japanese way” of answering certain questions, especially in interviews. For example, when asked, “Why shouldn’t we hire you?” there is a very specific style expected in Japan — you can’t just answer honestly. It’s more important to frame your true answer in a way that is tweaked to their context.

I got rejected a lot early on and would ask friends for feedback. By that point, I had applied to over 30 companies on my own for about 10 months. My confidence had started to waver, and I knew I needed help. Enter the FAST OFFER International program. 

Signing up with the FAST OFFER International Program  

During university, a good friend introduced me to FAST OFFER International. It’s a program that helps foreign talents with job recruitment in Japan. At first, I hesitated. He said Japanese language skills were required, and at the time, speaking Japanese fluently felt like a distant dream for me. But I was struggling, and there was nothing to lose since there was no sign-up fee, so I enrolled in the program. 

After signing up, I had an initial interview. They suggested I polish my Japanese a little, so I joined their Japanese language class, which helped a lot. When I finished the class, I was better at recognizing characters and more confident in my speaking skills. They deemed me ready for job interviews, and preparations began. I feel my dream of working in Japan as a Sri Lankan engineer is within reach. 

My job interview experience with FAST OFFER 

I was fortunate to receive job interview invitations from four companies, and I ended up selecting three to pursue further. On the first day, I faced interviews with three companies. Surprisingly, the process was much different from the formal Japanese-style interviews. Instead of rigid, scripted questioning, the interviews were informal, one-on-one discussions. 

The first-day interviews were mostly in Japanese. By the end of the day, I had gone through all three companies and was selected by two of them. On the second day, both companies offered to conduct the interviews in English. I went through the interviews and received offers from both companies, which was a huge relief and an exciting moment for me. 

Questions asked during job interviews 

During the interviews, most of the basic questions were about me and my motivations. They asked why I came to Japan, why I was interested in the company, and my personal strengths. 

I was also asked some technical questions and tested my knowledge of robotics. They asked what I think about trends in automation, my thoughts on current challenges in the robotics field, and the potential of these future technologies. 

For one company, I gave a full presentation. They went slide by slide, asking about the technologies I used and why I chose them. Another company focused less on the content of my research and more on my problem-solving skills. They asked questions like: what challenges did I face during my projects, how did I solve them, and what strategies did I use? 

Getting a job offer — finally! 

After a long job-hunting journey that spanned almost a year, I ultimately accepted a position as a Diagnostics Engineer. Finally, I found a job that matches my goals.

The company that I’m about to join has a strong culture of diversity. When I checked online, I saw that many foreign employees were already working there. After visiting the company, I learned that half of my team would also be international talents, which meant I could use both English and Japanese in my daily work. 

How FAST OFFER Made Job Hunting Easier 

Being with FAST OFFER made a huge difference in my experience of job hunting as a Sri Lankan engineer. Here are some of the ways FAST OFFER made things smoother for a foreign talent like me: 

1. Streamlined process. When job hunting in Japan, you have to go through multiple steps. This includes exams like the SPI test. That takes a lot of time, especially when your Japanese isn’t fluent enough. FAST OFFER allowed me to skip most of that and go straight to the interview stage. 
2. Connecting with the right opportunities. All the companies in the program are actively looking to hire international employees. Unlike applying independently — where you compete against everyone, including Japanese candidates — here you are competing within a small, selected group of international applicants. 
3. The process is fast and efficient. For me, I went from signing up to attending interviews within just two days. Overall, it was extremely convenient and effective. I highly recommend it to any international student seeking a career in Japan. 
4. Guidance from experts. To prepare for the interviews, I had extensive guidance. And it’s not from my academic advisor, but also from an industry professional who conducted long practice sessions with me. Their help boosted my confidence significantly. 

Advice for those who want to follow your path 

Looking back at my experience, there are a few essential things for robotics international students seeking jobs in Japan: 

1. Polished Japanese skills. You need a sufficient level of Japanese to understand and maintain a conversation. Even if you aren’t fluent, being able to communicate effectively is crucial for interviews and daily work. 
2. Genuine interest in robotics. You don’t need to be an expert in every technology, especially as a new graduate. What matters most is a genuine interest in your field and a broad understanding of industry trends. 
3. Awareness of industry trends. Industries like robotics and automation are evolving very quickly, especially with advances in AI. Companies want candidates who actively follow these changes and show curiosity about emerging technologies. 

Japan is now my second home 

One of the things I love most about living in Japan is the nature and the environment. While I’m working in Japan as a Sri Lankan engineer, my goal is to visit all of Japan’s prefectures. 

I enjoy hiking, cycling, and outdoor activities, and recently I started snowboarding as well. Coming from Sri Lanka, which has a tropical climate year-round, experiencing four distinct seasons here has been incredible. I’m very happy that I could stay and continue experiencing it for many more years!