Name: Jia Wo

Nationality: China

Degree Conferred by: Graduate School of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

Major: Applied Linguistics, Graduate School of Global Studies

Residency in Japan: 2003 to present

Company: ALC Press Inc.

Japanese Proficiency: Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 1

 

 

 

Why did you want to work in Japan?

By working in Japan I want to encounter various fields I don’t know about and raise my perceptiveness to develop myself.

 

Why did you choose your current job?

A trusting relationship was born from an internship with my company

When I was a student, I was initially uneasy about my first trial run as a working adult. However, everyone in the editorial department was very considerate and helped me whenever I made mistakes. I was able to experience both indoor and outdoor work. After that, my proposals for blogs and magazines were used, so that deepened the trust between us. It was around that time that I felt I had grown up beyond who I was before and I thought I wanted the company to keep looking after me.

 

Please tell us about your company’s business and what kind of work you’re doing now.

 My company’s business is in education activities for students of foreign languages. I’m in the overseas marketing department, where I’m in charge of assistants who edit informational magazines for non-Japanese readers, administer our website and more.

 

How did you sell yourself to companies?

When selling myself, I was always reflecting on my successes and failures and thinking, “What did I do and what did I get out of it?” and “How can I overcome this? How can I make use of this?”

 

Around when did you start your job search?

 I started looking for work in May of my first year at the graduate school when I attended a lecture sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry called Career Development Program for Foreign Students in Japan: Regional Internship Program for Career Development of Foreign Students in Japan.

 

Around how many companies did you apply to?

About ten companies.

 

How exactly did you conduct your job search? (Attending seminars, using websites, etc.)

I used Nikkei Navi, Riku Navi, Bun Navi and the International Foreign Students Association’s job placement support and information services a lot. I also used sites providing knowhow concerning job-hunting like Minna no Shushokukatsudo Nikki, internship information sites and others.

 

What sources did you check during your advance preparation and company research?

I borrowed books like quarterly publications and job-hunting journals from the school’s job placement office, attended seminars at school and watched TV programs such as Cambria Kyuden and Gaia no Yoake.

 

What was difficult about your advance preparation and company research?

Preparing for the SPI and written tests. International students and Japanese applicants have to take the same test, so I struggled to get good scores.

 

What were you careful about when writing applications or work history forms?

Mainly these two things:

1. Writing objectively and in detail about myself.

2. Showing how I have used my experience when discussing why I wanted the job.

 

What were you particularly careful about during interviews?

Mainly these two things:

1. Smiling and speaking clearly to make a good impression.

2. I think an interview involves two-way communication, so I tried not to talk too much.

 

What questions were you asked in interviews?

I was asked about things like what I devoted myself to while at university, my reasons for wanting to work in Japan, why I applied for the job and why I chose this line of work.

 

What other difficulties or confusing situations during your job search made a lasting impression on you?

Managing my schedule was tough. Also, what sticks out in my memory the most is recording answers to common interview questions and listening to them over and over on the train during my commute.

 

What do you think has been good about working in Japan?

Overcoming the different norms in Japanese and Chinese society. It was difficult at first with so many things I wasn’t used to, but through my work I came to value the process more than the result. At some point that become an asset for me. I think what is incredibly appealing about my current company is that it’s a place where I can contribute to Japanese and Chinese society.

 

Please tell us your aspirations and plans for the future.

I have a dream of becoming a Japanese language instructor in the future. After building up job experience by engaging in my work for international students at my current company, I think I’ll connect it with my future career.

 

Please say something to everyone who is thinking about working in Japan soon.

Even if you end up failing, it is better to have the courage take on the challenge rather than regret not doing anything.

Finding a job is a journey of many failures. However, I believe it is up to you to decide whether you will simply discard your failures as worthless regrets or use them as a chance to learn many things. A failure is not the polar opposite of success…it is the first step towards success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Name: Shenhua Huang

Nationality: China

University in Japan: Aoyama Gakuin University

Major Fields of Study: The Department of Business Administration

Priod of stay in Japan: 2003 to present

Name of Company: Global Trust Networks, Inc.

The Level of Japanese-Language: JLPT 1st level

 

 

Why did you want to work in Japan?

I’ve always thought I want to do work that builds bridges between China and Japan. I discovered this as I immersed myself in Japanese culture while studying here. Japan is a country where I had fun studying and made lots of good memories, so that’s why I thought that I want to stay here and find work.

 

Why did you choose your current job?

The work I do now is in an industry I didn’t even consider when I was looking for work. I was interested in this company that I felt was really nice for developing its business with a vision of not just being a real estate agency specializing in helping foreign residents, but also helping them eventually with whatever they need.

 

Please tell us about your company’s business and what kind of work you’re doing now.

Our main business is providing rental guarantor services and acting as a real estate agency for foreign residents. I do sales in the Agency Department.

 

How did you sell yourself to companies?

At first I stressed my strong linguistic skills, but I found that I couldn’t convey my true self to other people with that alone. So I did a new self-analysis in which I noticed abilities I’d never known of before, which I derived from my past efforts and accomplishments. That’s what I mainly used to sell myself.

 

Around when did you start your job search?

Starting in March 2009.

 

Around how many companies did you apply to?

I applied to about 20 companies.

 

How exactly did you conduct your job search? (Attending seminars, using websites, etc.)

I used websites like Mynavi, Recruit and Nikkei Shushoku Navi, met with alumni from my university, attended job-hunting seminars at school and stuff like that.

 

What sources did you check during your advance preparation and company research?

I attended company research seminars and read the Nikkei Shimbun and books on different industries.

 

What was difficult about your advance preparation and company research?

When I analyzed or tried to sell myself, not being able to clearly see what I wanted to do was difficult.

 

What were you careful about when writing applications or work history forms?

First of all I was careful about mistakes and omitted characters, and I wrote with the best handwriting I could.

 

What were you particularly careful about during interviews?

I made absolutely sure to be punctual and I was particularly careful about wearing the most standard attire and putting on a good smile. Then, before an interview I would listen to uplifting music and raise my energy, approaching the situation with a bright and positive attitude.
Other than that, I tried not to use respectful language that I didn’t know.

 

What questions were you asked in interviews?

- What motivated you to apply to our company?
- What can you do for this company?
- What kind of person do you think you’ll be 10 years from now?

 

What other difficulties or confusing situations during your job search made a lasting impression on you?

There were a few times during the company seminars I attended when I couldn’t clearly say what I was thinking in the group discussions. I think it was because even I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to do.
I’ll also never forget when during a second interview I was asked a question in a slightly different way and I couldn’t understand or answer because I was too nervous. But the essence of the question was the same, so if I just hold myself together, then no matter what the question is I won’t get confused answering.
　
What do you think has been good about working in Japan?

I’ve only been working half a year, but when I’ve helped resolve some housing worries or troubles for foreign residents like me who are doing their best in Japan, I have this truly heart-felt joy because I’ve felt the same as they have.

 

Please tell us your aspirations and plans for the future.

Right now I’m doing all I can to get accustomed to this work that I’m inexperienced at, but in the future I hope to work as a professional advisor and become a generalist who can help foreign residents with whatever issues they may have. Then I think it would be nice if I could work not only for people in Japan, but also provide support directly from Japan for people from other countries who want to come here.
　
Please say something to everyone who is thinking about working in Japan soon.

I want you to have some sort of idea and purpose when you search for work in Japan. If you just stick to the basics, then naturally you’ll be able to see what you should do. Then, practice how you can express how you will do that. You can surely realize your dreams if you have a vision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Name: Lingyan Zheng

Nationality: China

University in Japan: Meiji University

Major Fields of Study: Global Business Course, Department of Commerce,

School of Commerce

Priod of stay in Japan: 2004 to present

Name of Company: Clara Online, Inc.

The Level of Japanese-Language: JLPT 1st level

 

 

Why did you want to work in Japan?

Because I wanted to study how business is done in Japan and Japan’s corporate culture, which I couldn’t study at university. I thought that for the future, even if I return to my country, I should get some experience in a Japanese company.

 

Why did you choose your current job?

I was attracted by the people and the company’s culture. The culture at this company was attractive because the employees are young on average, so you can rise up the ranks so long as you have the drive, regardless of nationality, age, gender or education. Also, when I interviewed and met with the senior staff, they were all friendly to me, so I thought I wanted to work with them.

 

Please tell us about your company’s business and what kind of work you’re doing now.

Our company provides Internet infrastructure services. Specifically, we perform server management and operation, obtain internet domains and more for corporate clients. As part of my new employee training I am now working in several departments, and in mid-July I will be assigned to a position.

 

How did you sell yourself to companies?

I matched my traits with the kind of people the company was looking for and its business vision. I focused on showing them how my experience studying abroad and my university studies are compatible with the company’s vision to be “Asian’s No. 1 internet service platform company.”

 

Around when did you start your job search?

I started sometime in November 2008.

 

Around how many companies did you apply to?

About 30 companies.

 

How exactly did you conduct your job search? (Attending seminars, using websites, etc.)

I mostly used Rikunabi. I also joined the Career Development Program for Foreign Students in Japan, which is a joint program between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. It was a big help upon doing my job search.

 

What sources did you check during your advance preparation and company ｒesearch?　

I mainly used the internet to gather information when I was researching companies. In particular, I referenced things like the Jinji Blog (personnel blog) at Rikunabi and Minna no Shushoku Katsudo Nikki（everyone’s job search diaries）. It was a good thing that before the final interview at my company, I looked at the president’s blog and understood what kind of people they were looking for before heading to the interview.

 

What was difficult about your advance preparation and company research?

It was tough to understand each company’s business since each one I applied to do different things. My current company’s business was particularly unfamiliar to me, so the industry jargon and getting a detailed idea of the business was really difficult.

 

What were you careful about when writing applications or work history forms?

I tried to give specific examples when writing about my good points.

 

What were you particularly careful about during interviews?

I tried to enjoy a discussion rather than just having a one-way conversation.

 

What questions were you asked in interviews?

Other than the reasons behind my ambitions and my good points, I was asked what I studied at university and what I learned from my part-time work. I was also asked how I had afterwards used what I learned.

 

What other difficulties or confusing situations during your job search made a lasting impression on you?

I had trouble when I wanted to get a seat at an information session, and I couldn’t because it was booked up. You need to make information session reservations quickly and constantly check the latest info on them. The most confusing thing and the one that made the most lasting impression on me was that my company’s industry was not the one I was hoping to find work in at first. After I got a tentative job offer, I thought to myself, “Is this really what I want?” In the end, I cast aside my preconceptions about the IT industry and decided to work in it. In a sense, I decided to join the company more because the company itself was attractive to me rather than the industry. In fact, when I started to work, I felt that not only the company but the industry itself was more interesting than I’d expected.

 

What do you think has been good about working in Japan?

It has broadened my horizon. I had the opportunity to accompany the company president during my job rotation training period. Standing at his side while observing his work for an entire day and getting to listen in on important conversations broadened my horizons. It was really good motivation upon setting my own career plan.

 

Please tell us your aspirations and plans for the future.

I want to use my background as a non-Japanese and engage in overseas business. I want to help businesses enter overseas markets and become an expert in that field.

 

Please say something to everyone who is thinking about working in Japan soon.

What I want to say most is, “Don’t stop at examining yourself just once.” You’ll definitely run into some confusion when looking for work. When that happens, look at yourself and find out what you should fix. I also think that looking for a job is a way to get good motivation for your future life. Whenever you get motivated, examine yourself and make corrections, and at that time make adjustments to the idea you have about your future. By repeating this process, I believe you’ll put yourself on the right path for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Name: Ming Jeong Kim
Nationality: Republic of Korea
University in Japan: Rikkyo University
Major Field of Study: Education
Period of stay in Japan: Since 2002

Name of Company: Global Power Co., Ltd.
The level of Japanese-Language: JLPT 1st level

 

What was the reason why you wanted to work in Japan?

I decided to work in Japan because I felt that I wanted to use the knowledge from my studies here and find out how well I could communicate in Japan.

 

What was the reason why you chose the company you are now working for?

I thought I could use my experience as an international student in Japan.

At that time I worked really hard just to find a part-time job or a place to work. Since I went through the trouble to study in Japan, I didn’t want to find a part-time job just to earn money to live. I thought I wanted to get a part-time job or internship that would be useful in my future work, but I spent my university years unable to find something like that.

I still had no idea how to look for work when I was doing my job-hunting for after graduation. I made a fumbling start to my job search, so I applied to and had interviews at few companies compared to Japanese people, and I received very few job offers.

I thought that I wanted to talk to international students who are in the same situation I was and help them, even just a little, to put an end to their repeated failures. Then, I thought I wanted to tell Japanese society and companies about the high potential and capabilities of international students (foreign nationals) and offer advice so people can get hired regardless of nationality, so I decided to work at the company I’m at now.

 

Please describe the business of your company and your job

Business: A global human resources service primarily working with high-caliber international students.

Job: Foreign National Hiring Assistance Consulting (Sales)

Although I think companies in Japan today (Japanese society) want to hire high-caliber talent, they tend to hesitate simply if they are foreign nationals. There are also companies that haven’t noticed that there are outstanding non-Japanese citizens. We offer international student (foreign national) hiring assistance consulting and dispatch interns to companies like these.

 

What and how did you appeal to the employer?

I focused on demonstrating my Japanese language proficiency and abundant experience as an international student so they wouldn’t think of me as a foreigner.

 

When did you start your job hunting activities?

From winter vacation in my third year at university.

 

How many companies did you apply to?

About 25 companies.

 

Specifically, what did you do for your job search? (Please describe the seminars you attended, web sites you used, etc.)

I had a misunderstanding that I could not work at the kind of companies that Japanese people apply to, so to speak, so I actively attended seminars for international students.

I also thought it would be easy to get hired by a company with work allowing me to use my strength-and weakness-as a Korean person speaking the Korean language. Because of that I searched online for companies with connections to Korea, such as those with business or branches there, and I asked whether they were recruiting fresh graduates.

 

What did you refer to for your advance preparation and company research?

I mostly researched companies using their web sites. I also read the NIKKEI and collected information on companies I had applied to.

I mainly checked job-hunting guidebooks for how to write applications and to prepare for written examinations. I practiced interview techniques with Japanese friends.

 

What did you find difficult in your advance preparation and company research?

Written examinations (the SPI test) were quite difficult, especially about the Japanese language. I couldn’t answer all the questions in the short time given and I couldn’t even understand some of the questions about Japanese.

 

What were you careful about in making your job entry sheet or curriculum vitae(CV)?

I was careful not to make mistakes with my Japanese. To be specific, I showed applications to international student friends who have experience and got advice, and I also talked with my Japanese friends about them.

 

What did you pay attention to in preparation for your job interview?

I tried to look cheerful and was careful about my appearance.

 

What were you asked in job interviews?

There were two major kinds of questions.

One was only for international students (foreign nationals). I was asked stuff like why I came to study in Japan, why I wanted to work in Japan and differences between Korea and Japan.

The others were regular interview questions. Some gave me a chance to sell myself, like about my strengths and weakness, hobbies and special skills. Others were about what made me want to apply to those companies and there were general conversations about my student life (major, seminars and thesis).

 

What were the experiences that you found confusing, the problems you faced, or the impressive episode in your job searching activities?

Difficulties with Japanese – Particularly Kanji.

I was confident in my Japanese. However, I was continually reminded of my limited vocabulary when I took the SPI test or filled out applications. I have a memory of being really confused when one company suddenly gave me a kanji test.

 

What did you find good things about working in Japan?

I’ve never worked outside of Japan, so I can’t compare. But, there are many things I’ve liked about working at my current company. I can help people who were in the same situation as me, even just a little, and I feel that I want to suggest new ways of thinking to Japan (and Japanese companies) to the best of my ability.

 

Please let us know your hopes, objectives and plans for the future.

I’m thinking that I want to start up a company in Japan in the future.

 

Please give a message to those who are thinking about finding a job in Japan.

Do not forget that you cannot understand the Japanese language and what it’s like to be Japanese as much as a Japanese person does. Then study 10 to 20 times as hard as Japanese people. There is a line in a famous Japanese manga that says, “When you give up, it’s game over.” I think searching for a job is the same thing. Tell yourself, “If I give up, it’s over,” and don’t quit!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Name: Joo Hee Kang
Nationality: Korea
University in Japan: Waseda University
Major Field of Study: School of Law
Period of stay in Japan: Since Oct 2000
Name of Company : Panasonic Corporation
The level of Japanese-Language: JLPT 1st level

What was the reason why you wanted to work in Japan?

As I had taken the time and effort to study in Japan, I wanted to try and see how much of what I studied at university in Japan could actually be used working at a Japanese company.

 

What was the reason why you chose the company you are now working for?

I hoped to be active on the world stage while still valuing my connection with Japan. Panasonic is a company that is actively expanding its operations globally, so I thought that working there could help me realize this dream.

 

Please describe the business of your company and your job

Panasonic is a general manufacturer of electronics that develops, manufactures, sells and services the whole range of electrical appliances, starting from electronic components. I’m currently assigned to a division called the Corporate Recruiting Center. I introduce the company to job seekers at external and school-based employment seminars. The interview process starts from April and we hold internships from the summer; so our division is mainly in charge of recruitment within the whole human resources operations at Panasonic.

 

What and how did you appeal to the employer?

I heard at a seminar that Panasonic was looking for people who can work around the world as a part of its mission to become a top global company. So I really tried to appeal to the interviewers that I was just what they were looking for. I encourage you all to make sure that you check what type of people the industry or company you are interested in are looking for.

 

When did you start your job hunting activities?

Actually, I originally wanted to continue on to graduate school; so I only started looking for a job in September of the final undergraduate year. I think you’d agree it was quite a late start!

 

How many companies did you apply to?

I only applied for the one company, Panasonic. But I think on average liberal arts students have been known to apply for up to about 20-30 companies, and science students, about 4-5 companies.

 

Specifically, what did you do for your job search? (Please describe the seminars you attended, web sites you used, etc.)

As I mentioned above, I started looking for a job quite a while after the usual job hunting period in Japan. So I registered my information on web sites for foreigners and gathered information from there. I came across Panasonic through an organization called IFSA, which provides support for international students looking for work. Things started to happen when I attended a Panasonic Global Recruitment Seminar that I found out about from IFSA.

 

What did you refer to for your advance preparation and company research?

I relied mostly on books on job hunting for how to prepare for the interviews and written tests. Also, I did my own research on the company based on the information provided by them, as I felt it was difficult to get a complete picture of the company from only their explanation at the seminar. I did searches on Internet and read newspaper articles and posts by others to find out more about the company.

 

What did you find difficult in your advance preparation and company research?

As I started my job hunting quite late compared to the usual period, it was difficult for me to find information and to do everything by myself from scratch. Also, compared to other countries, in Japan there is no clear job description given. So for those from a liberal arts background like myself who don’t have clearly-defined skills and specific fields such as science students it was tough trying to think of how to best promote my strengths.

 

What were you careful about in making your job resumé, curriculum vitae (CV) or your work history?

I posted my resume on various web sites, but I tried to keep it as brief and simple as possible. I thought of a layout that would quickly and effectively communicate what I wanted to say. Also, I tried to give specific examples based on my own experiences in order to make my resume more persuasive.

 

What did you pay attention to in preparation for your job interview?

I promoted some general strengths of foreigners, such as having an open mind and good communication skills, while also showing my ability to adapt to Japanese society. I answered frankly and positively by openly admitting things that I didn't know, but also showing that I was willing to keep learning and moving forward.

 

What were you asked in job interviews?

I was asked why I wanted to work in Japan, why I chose this company, what my strengths and weaknesses are, what I wanted to do after joining the company, and what I was most focused on during my time studying at university, among other questions.

 

What were the experiences that you found confusing, the problems you faced, or the impressive episode in your job searching activities?

I think the written tests. There is a time limit for them, so I really struggled trying to finish the Japanese language and descriptive questions. Honestly speaking, after the written tests I half gave up on the idea of finding a job in Japan, thinking it was impossible to do so successfully.

 

What did you find good things about working in Japan?

The training for new employees is really thorough and well conducted.

 

Please let us know your hopes, objectives and plans for the future.

I’d like to build up my range of experiences in not only domestic recruitment but also in global recruitment, so that I can broaden my perspective and develop the skills to appropriately place talented human resources in the right positions. My short-term plan is to work in human resources for the next three years, and then once I have acquired the necessary skills and knowledge, in the next five years I hope to work as an overseas trainee in the U.S. or China. My dream is to travel the world in the course of my work.

 

Please give a message to those who are thinking about finding a job in Japan.

When you look for a job in Japan, you will most likely be annoyed at times when you cannot get effectively get your message across, or have an unfortunate result that will discourage you. But I hope that you continue to have the confidence to do your best, and also praise yourself for doing so well in a country with a language and culture completely different to your own.
Remember, the path to success will open up with perseverance and determination!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Name: Cheng Qi
Nationality: China
University in Japan: Ferris University Graduate School
Major Field of Study: Global and Inter- cultural Studies
Period of stay in Japan: Since Apr 2001
Name of Company : Sumisho Computer Systems Corporation
The level of Japanese-Language: JLPT 1st level

What was the reason why you wanted to work in Japan?

I liked Japan. And because I liked Japan, I wanted to study the country’s business culture and have the country’s society acknowledge my skills as a foreigner. Also, I had come to the conclusion that the place I could bring what skills I had into full play was Japan.

 

What was the reason why you chose the company you are now working for?

I felt that I could acquire IT expertise and domestic and overseas marketing knowledge, and that the office environment seemed comfortable to work in.

 

Please describe the business of your company and your job

The company offers IT-related services. I am an accounting software consultant.

 

What and how did you appeal to the employer?

I appealed how I have developed through my past experiences, what I want to do, and how I could contribute to the company – all through the perspective of a win-win relationship.

 

When did you start your job hunting activities?

I started in mid-March during the first year of my master’s course.

 

How many companies did you apply to?

I applied to three companies.

 

Specifically, what did you do for your job search? (Please describe the seminars you attended, web sites you used, etc.)

I registered on Rikunabi, where I singled out “Shanghai” as the keyword to search for companies.

 

What did you refer to for your advance preparation and company research?

For advance preparation, I perused company websites, all the while thinking about my career design, that is, what kind of person I want to be in the future and what kind of work I should do now to become that person. For company research, I mainly used Rikunabi and individual company websites. I also looked into news articles and what competitors were saying about the companies I wanted to apply to.

 

What did you find difficult in your advance preparation and company research?

I had no particular difficulty.

 

What were you careful about in making your job resumé, curriculum vitae (CV) or your work history?

I made sure my documents were logical and easy to read. For instance, whatever I wanted to convey, I wrote the conclusion first and summarized my thoughts using simple words. I itemized the evidence to support my conclusion.

 

What did you pay attention to in preparation for your job interview?

I made it a point to smile and present my true self.

 

What were you asked in job interviews?

I was asked about my reasons for applying to the company, what I had done as a student, my future career vision, and my ideas.

 

What were the experiences that you found confusing, the problems you faced, or the impressive episode in your job searching activities?

Juggling time was the most impressive aspect. Around March of the first year of my master’s course, I was occupied with a thesis, a part-time job and an internship program, so I didn’t have sufficient time left for job-hunting activities. To save time, I analyzed companies on my own, narrowed down my conditions and, as a result, applied to only three companies. Often I took advantage of time on the train to type out on my mobile phone a rough draft of entry sheet contents.

 

What did you find good things about working in Japan?

I am lucky and very satisfied that the company offers a wide range of new employee development training programs. Also, even in a small way, I’m happy to be contributing to building friendly relationships between China and Japan.

 

Please let us know your hopes, objectives and plans for the future.

- Three years into my career, I hope to handle the installation of a small software system either single-handedly or as the leader of a team.
- Six years into my career, I would like to obtain an MBA at a graduate school in Japan, with career development aid from the company.
- Ten years into my career, I aspire to transfer to an overseas branch and be an IT consultant strong in global marketing.

 

Please give a message to those who are thinking about finding a job in Japan.

Now is the perfect chance to appeal yourselves, as companies are looking for even better human resources amid the recession. Before you get discouraged, remember the passion and conviction you felt when you first decided to study abroad. Keep a hold on yourself; don’t get sidetracked by your surroundings. I hope you keep trying until you achieve your goals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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