Human Resocia Co., Ltd. held a free online seminar on the theme of "SYUKATSU" (i.e job hunting) to help Asian students currently studying at Japanese universities, graduate schools to find employment in Japan. The seminar is aimed at international students in the field of science and engineering including participants of Innovative Asia program by Japan International Cooperation Agency (hereinafter "JICA"). The event was co-sponsored by reaple Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, President: Takahiro Sasaki), which is engaged in human resource exchange between the Philippines and Japan.

Note: JICA is engaged in advanced foreign human resource development and recycling in Asia. JICA takes active part in Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). The organization provides outsiding human resources from top-level Asian universities with opportunities to continue studying in science and engineering fields at Japanese graduate schools,research institutes, and internships opportunities and job placemenets at Japanese companies. The organization aims to enhance innovation in Japan and other Asian countries.

■Seminar Outline

◇Date and time: Wednesday, August 5, 2020 18:30-20:00

◇Target audience: JICA Innovative Asia Project international science students, currently studying in Japan and would like to find a job in Japan

◇Topics covered: Job hunting in Japan, advice from people working for Japanese companies, further related topics

In the seminar, based on the know-how gained through GIT (Global IT Talent) Service, employing more than 800 talents from 40 countries, we explained job hunting in Japan and by an international student founding a placement as an engineer at our company shared his experience. Afterwards, Mr. Takahiro Sasaki, representative of reaple, addressed a motivational message to international students aiming to find a job in Japan.

In the questionnaire after the seminar, as a reason to willing to work in Japan, half of the respondents answered that "Japanese technology is attractive". As for the concerns about working in Japan, 60% answered "Japanese language ability", and many voiced their worry about the employment process, such as interviews and aptitude tests and the Japanese ability required at work. Therefore, it is needed to support of continious improvement of Japanese language skills.

■Participant Questionnaire Insights

No. 1. reason to work in Japan: Japanese technology is attractive

When participants were asked why they wanted to work in Japan, about half named Japanese technology as a reason. In addition, salary and welfare and Japanese culture were in the top reasons for to work in Japan.

For international students, job hunting in Japan is difficult

When asking the participants’ opinion about job hunting in Japan, many respondendts answered that it was difficult for international students.

In particular, the concerns are about the small number of job listings open for international students and the high demand for Japanese.

◇Comments from participants (partial excerpt)

• Japanese is the largest problem in job hunting because daily conversation level is not enough.
• International students are selected via the same hiring process as Japanese,therefore it is difficult to find a job in Japan. It would be nice to be able to respond flexibly to international students.
• Japanese ability is a major issue. It would be helpful if companies considered hiring with basic Japanese ability and if the aptitude test and CV submission were in English.

■Seminar contents

Section 1: About "SYUKATSU" in Japan

Explaining the key points that make Japanese job hunting unique and different from practices overseas. Also some information were shared on what nonnative Japanese speakers should do for succesful job hunting, as well as explanation was given some customs unfamiliar to international students, such as Japanese-style interviewing and Japanese resume writing.

At the end of the first section, an IT engineer who studied in Japan, and now works at our company, talked about his experience of job hunting.

The attendants have asked many questions, mainly about difficulties, problems and questions such as "How many times did you participate in seminars?" "How many companies did you apply before receiving a job offer?" and "How many months did it take to find a job?".

Section 2: Human Resocia's GIT (Global IT Talent) service

The GIT service employs more than 800 engineers from over 40 countries to dispatch to projects of domestic companies.

In Section 2, we introduced GIT service and how GIT engineers are participating.

Section 3: Message to International Students

Finally, Mr. Sasaki, who after 35 years of supporting JICA to exchange human resources between Japan and Asian countries, now as the founder and representative of reaple Co., Ltd., which is engaging in the exchange project between the Philippines and Japan addressed an encouraging message to the students regarding their future.。

Message extract:
“I have had the opportunity to interact and cooperate with many people from various Asian countries during my years at JICA. Now, in return, I have launched reaple.

What I would like to convey to you is that talented people with diverse experience and abilities can change Japan. However, getting a job in Japan is a big challenge, your experience will lead to the development of your home country and will be a great hope for your younger fellows. Please enjoy the experience.”

■About Human Resocia's Global IT Talent Service

A global project to employ outstanding IT engineers from all over the world to dispatch them to domestic companies. We employ more than 800 people from over 40 countries around the world and provide them opportunities to participate in projects of Japananesw companies. Utilizing the know-how of the group company which has more than 30 years experience in Japanese language education, we develop the necessary Japanese language skills as an IT engineer before the dispatchment to an IT project at our partner organizations. GIT engineers contribute to Japanese companies armed with overseas IT skills, development methods, unique ideas and way of thinking.

Website: https://git.resocia.jp/en/

Note: The article is based on the content collected in August 2020.