| COUNTRY |
| Myanmar |
| EDUCATION |
| Bachelor in Marine Mechanical Engineering, Myanmar Maritime University |
| COMPANY |
| Company creating infrastructure to support industrial, social development through the construction of social infrastructure facilities such as power plants, power receiving and transforming facilities,etc. |
| SUMMARY |
| A Burmese engineer fulfilled his dream of working in Japan through his passion for language learning and engineering. Inspired by Japanese culture and technology from a young age, he pursued marine mechanical engineering at Myanmar Maritime University. He mastered Japanese quickly, confident because of his experience learning English and German. At AJMMC in partnership with FAST OFFER International, he attended intensive language training and prepared thoroughly for interviews with Japanese companies. His dedication paid off when he secured a position at his first-choice Japanese company that in the past was key to rebuilding disaster-stricken areas. Now, he looks forward to contributing to society through his engineering work and exploring Japan’s rich culture and cuisine. |
Working in Japan as an Engineer has always been my dream.
Working in Japan has been a big dream of mine since I was a little girl. Dragon Ball and One Piece led me to become interested in various aspects of Japan, ranging from Japanese food to Japan’s convenient and advanced technology. While eating scrumptious Takoyaki at a Japanese restaurant in Myanmar and watching anime, I thought about how much better Japanese food in Japan would be and thought that one day I would like to live and work in Japan.
However, I did not know how I could work as an engineer in Japan. It was then that I saw an advertisement for an event organized by non-profit Association of Japan Myanmar Mutual Cooperation (AJMMC) and ASIA to JAPAN. It was about the FAST OFFER International program which helps foreigners to work as full-time employees in Japan. I at once decided to attend the event.
At the FAST OFFER International event, I learned how Myanmar students like me are finding engineering jobs in Japan and what kind of companies are hiring foreign engineers. Some of them were well-known Japanese companies, such as a major Japanese automobile manufacturer and a video game console company. I saw the FAST OFFER International program as an opportunity to make my childhood dream come true.
I at once enrolled in FAST OFFER International and began studying Japanese.
Learning a new language is my specialty: applying the tips from my experience mastering German and English.
Learning languages has always been my forte and previous experiences gave me courage to take on Japanese. My native language is Burmese, but now I can speak English, German, and Japanese. I learned to speak English and German through attending classes and self-study.
When I started learning English at university, I could not speak the language at all. During COVID, with more time on my plate, I also took on learning German. My determination and hard work brought me far. I joined a foreign language club and often visited the offices of my foreign language education professors. Through practicing presentations and conversations in these languages, I learned to speak in them. This way, I knew how to master a language, so I did not have that much difficulty when I started learning Japanese.
Advice on learning the Japanese language as an aspiring engineer
Create flashcards to memorize words.
I wrote words and word meanings on flashcards and often did that in my free time in my daily life. Nowadays, there are not only paper flashcards, but also flashcard apps for cell phones, which are very convenient!
Increase opportunities to listen to the language.
It is often said that podcasts help you learn a language. I didn’t like podcasts very much, so I listened to live streams of my favorite games. By watching videos of Japanese people playing games live, I gradually learned Japanese words. Find a method that suits your interests and is easy to continue.
Don’t skip the basics and get the proper study routine.
When I learn a language, I first attend language classes without missing a class and learn grammar, conversation practice, and vocabulary. Interacting with my classmates also helped me to improve my conversational skills. After class, I would study for two hours with the textbook as a self-study and then relax by listening to live game streams or Japanese movies and music to create opportunities to experience the language. In this way, you should not forget to lay the foundation with textbooks and classes. I think it is also important to have a solid routine.
Japanese Learning Experience at AJMMC: Japanese Language Curriculum for Working in Japan
I was lucky that I was able to have intensive Japanese language training at AJMMC in partnership with FAST OFFER International program. Not only did I learn Japanese, but the curriculum was designed to prepare me for interviews with Japanese companies.
For example, in addition to textbook study and conversation practice, students had to find a topic to present in Japanese every week. By giving presentations on topics related to Japan that I was interested in, I was able to practice verbalizing my thoughts in Japanese.
Also, if someone in the class had an interview through FAST OFFER International, they would report about it and their experience. By listening to the experiences of others and asking questions, I understood the interview process better at Japanese companies.
Through this curriculum, my Japanese language skills grew to a level where I could interview with Japanese companies in less than a year.
Showing my passion for mechanical engineering at the Japanese Job Interview
As my Japanese improved, I had an opportunity to interview with a Japanese company! As I prepared for the interview, I spent many days thinking about what I wanted to do in Japan and what kind of company I wanted to work for.
I originally chose marine mechanical engineering because of my admiration for my uncle, a mechanical engineer. My uncle was a man who fixed all kinds of broken machines around me, and I had watched him working on them from a young age. This is how my desire to be involved in mechanical engineering grew. I realized that I loved large machinery, so I decided to major in marine mechanical engineering, which also included ship design.
Research Preparation with My Mentor from FAST OFFER International
I worked hard to prepare for my interview with a Japanese company so that I could apply my passion for designing large machinery to a company that I could join.
The mentors at FAST OFFER International helped me prepare greatly. They taught me the importance of researching the company before the interview and how to showcase my skills in the interview. In particular, my mentor made me feel like my background was a good fit for a position even though the job description may not seem to relate to my skill set at all!
My First Choice: A Company in the Business of Rebuilding Lives
I was fortunate enough to get a chance to interview with three different Japanese companies. I researched each company to find the best ways to answer questions according to their goals. It was in my research that it became clear to me that there was one company that particularly stood out.
In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, this Japanese company developed large machineries that helped reconstruct the disaster-stricken areas by clearing away soil and sand. This company not only helped rebuild infrastructure, they helped rebuild lives. It was that thread that helped me connect the company’s business and products with my own interests, skills, and values. This story also enabled me to imagine the active role I can play at the company. My sincere admiration and connection to what this company did helped me prepare and it led me to passionately express myself at the interview itself.
The interview with my first-choice company went so smoothly that I came out of the interviews even more convinced that I wanted to work for them. I fawned over the possibilities of developing large machinery, delighted in their courteous customer service, and admired how their technology was undoubtedly beneficial to society. It was such a great experience for me! Thankfully, my interviewers picked up on my genuine passion, and I was offered a position!
Looking forward to living in Japan: What I want to do in Japan
Now that I have decided to take up my dream job in Japan, I am looking forward to my days working there with purpose. I want to grow as an engineer and develop technologies that will contribute to society.
Aside from my work goals, I’ll also be enjoying the rest of what Japan has to offer. I would like to visit Hokkaido, Okinawa, Osaka, Tokyo, etc., and taste all the Japanese cuisine I longed for since my days in Myanmar. There’s so much ahead of me! I can’t wait to start.
FAST OFFER CAREER GUIDE: How Language Learning For Engineers Can Be A Career Game Changer
You are Only Limited By the Languages You Speak
Engineers are needed everywhere! But the complicated, high-stakes nature of the job requires good communication skills. If you want to go beyond your local job market and be part of a more exciting industry, the first step is learning a new language. FAST OFFER International’s success stories continue to be proof of how so many international talents learned the Japanese language and quickly found the perfect engineering job in Japan.
Impactful Engineering Projects Require Teamwork Where Communication is Key
If you want to be part of Japan’s exciting industries where they get to design projects that truly impact society, then you will have to have the Japanese language skills to work with a team of different nationalities. Your day-to-day will need a lot of Japanese. The more fluent in the local language you are, the more efficient and convincing (if you have a big idea!) you can be in the workplace.
All the Language You Learn Matter When You Want to Be One of Japan’s Global Engineers
Japanese companies are increasingly looking for international talents who speak more than Japanese. They also value your mother tongue which will enable them to connect to your mother country’s market. Globalizing Japanese companies are also expecting better English skills which is used to bridge communication gaps when Japanese isn’t quite enough, or when you’re expected to deal with international clients and teammates. So, as a foreign engineer, you automatically have an edge in the market!
Computer Engineers Already Have a Flair In Learning Languages, So Why Not Add Japanese?
If you’ve learned coding languages for your degree, Japanese is just another language to learn. In the same way, coding languages opened possibilities for you as an engineer, learning the Japanese language will open you up to another opportunity-rich country!
Ready to start learning Japanese and launch your engineering career in Japan? Sign up with FAST OFFER International today.
