| COUNTRY |
| Malaysia |
| EDUCATION |
| Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia |
| COMPANY |
| Chemical manufacturing company |
| SUMMARY |
| After completing a 3-month internship in Saitama, Japan, this aspiring engineer was inspired to pursue a long-term career in Japan. With guidance from ASIA to JAPAN’s FAST OFFER International program, they navigated the Japanese job-hunting process, from submitting applications and interview training to flying to Japan for in-person interviews. Despite early setbacks, the candidate secured a job offer, gained invaluable cultural and professional experience, and now encourages others to explore engineering careers in Japan through similar pathways. |
My 3-Month Internship in Japan Inspired My Aspiration to Work in Japan in the Long Term
I learned about ASIA to JAPAN’s FAST OFFER International Program (formerly Study Go Work JAPAN Program) through my classmate who participated in a 2018 interview. Even though he failed in his first try, he strongly recommended ASIA to JAPAN. Despite failing, he told me his accommodation and transportation during his trip to Japan were 100% free. At that time, I was coming from a 3-month internship in Saitama, Japan. That experience made me so interested in working in Japan for the long term. So, I gave the program a try.
My Step-By-Step Journey Job Hunting with FAST OFFER International
1. Filling out the Application Form
The application process was easy. Through their home page, I just filled out an online application form and uploaded my resume. Soon after, I received an email from the CEO requesting an online interview through Skype.
2. Clearing My Online Interview with FAST OFFER International
The Skype interview was short and simple, but you need to have some Japanese language knowledge for you to understand the questions and elaborate more, especially on your research study. I needed to be proficient enough to explain why my engineering internship inspired me to go for a full-time job in Japan.
3. Submitting Additional Documents for my Job Hunting Profile
Once I passed the interview, I made a PR video and submitted paperwork that described my final year project, internship, projects I was involved in, and my reason for wanting to work in Japan.
4. Training with my FAST OFFER International mentor
After uploading those materials, I was assigned a mentor who guided me on the Japanese way of interviewing. My extremely friendly and always readily helpful mentor used to work as an engineer. At first, he read through the materials that I uploaded and pointed out my mistakes or points that I can improve.
Once I received an interview invitation from Japanese companies, he then explained in detail the questions the interviewer might ask and how to prepare myself for the interviews and tests. He also explained to me the flow of the interview.
In most cases, there will be 2 interviews per company, and if you pass both, you will receive a job offer from the company. After getting the job offer, you get a chance to visit the company. You can then decide whether to accept the offer.
5. Getting Invited By Interested Japanese Companies
I received a total of 6 interview invitations! I was then asked to rank the companies according to my interest. The ranking was used in arranging the interview session.
ASIA to JAPAN’s FAST OFFER International’s approach, I felt, was incredibly thoughtful, always helping me unleash my full potential.
6. Flying to Japan for the Interviews
For the interview session in Japan, FAST OFFER International meticulously arranged everything for me. From a flight ticket to a bus ticket in Japan, to my accommodations–all of it was free and organized.
7. Interviewing With Japanese Companies
First Round of Interviews with Japanese Companies
On the interview day, ASIA to JAPAN will try their best to let you prepare for the questions that they tend to ask by those companies. It really helped me up since I was too nervous, and I eventually forgot the script that I had prepared. I went through five interviews on the first day. Even if I failed to pass the first interviews, I was notified by ASIA to JAPAN about the reasons. The feedback from companies helped me to prepare myself better for the future.
My Final Round Interview
I ended up passing for only one company. The second interview happened right the next day. Soon after, I received a job offer from them! I was very glad and happy that I got an offer. On that same day, another company also let me know I passed with them.
Visiting My Potential Japanese Company
On the 3rd day, I travelled about 500 km on the Shinkansen for roughly three hours from Tokyo to Kobe. I thought I would be visiting the branch office in Tokyo, so I was totally surprised when I realized that I would travel to Kobe.
Accepting the Job Offer for a Full-Time Engineering Job
I was given a week to consider the offer. At last, I accepted the job offer and declined the 2nd interview from the other company.
My Exciting Future in Japan as a Full-Time Engineering Employee
This Japan interview trip is not just a job-seeking trip to me. Even if I failed most of the interviews, I still gained lots of interview knowledge that I couldn’t get from any other source. Success was made even sweeter because of the hurdles I triumphed over to turn my engineering internship into a full-time job in Japan.
I’m supposed to start working in April 2020, but it was delayed due to COVID-19. I hope Covid-19 settles down as soon as possible so that we can resume our daily life, and of course, for more people to join FAST OFFER International’s job hunting activity!
