Advice for Job Hunting Preparation

For international students, it’s important to prepare efficiently in a short amount of time. The skills required differ slightly between the English Career Course and the IT Career Course. Additionally, as university life involves many activities, focusing on “achieving goals” will be the key to success.

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1. Skills Needed for Each Course

① English Career Course

• N1 (Highest Level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test)
  • Smooth communication in Japanese, both in conversations and written documents.
  • Companies trust that you can work effectively in a Japanese environment.
• English Proficiency
  • Being able to handle tasks involving international communication makes you highly valued.
  • Seniors who possess both N1 and strong English skills tend to receive job offers more quickly.

② IT Career Course

• N1 (Highest Level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test)
  • Ability to understand and express technical concepts in Japanese.
• IT Passport
  • Proof of basic IT knowledge, which is valued in IT-related fields and general companies.

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2. About the Entry Sheet (ES)

• What is the Entry Sheet?: A document required when applying to companies. It’s a chance to communicate your strengths and experiences.
• Common Questions in the ES:
  • Why do you want to join the company? (Your motivation)
  • Self-promotion: How your strengths and skills can contribute to the company.
  • Overcoming challenges: How you dealt with and solved difficult situations.
  • Strengths and weaknesses: Demonstrating self-awareness by sharing both.
• Interview Preparation: Be ready to talk about your ES in more detail during interviews.

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3. Preparing for Written Tests (SPI and General Knowledge)

• SPI: Tests involving basic math, reading comprehension, and personality assessments.
• General Knowledge: Questions about Japanese culture, society, and current events.
• Preparation Tips:
  • Use practice books and apps to study a little each day.
  • Even if you feel short on time, start immediately. Small progress matters.

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4. Importance of Internships

• What is an Internship?: An opportunity to gain real work experience at a company.
• Benefits of Internships:
  • Understand the nature of work and the company environment.
  • Discover whether the industry or company suits you.
  • Use your experience to answer interview questions, which will boost your evaluation.

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5. Industry and Company Research

• Industry Research: Learn about different industries.
  • Examples: IT, manufacturing, food, etc.
  • Understand the characteristics and future prospects of each industry.
• Company Research: Investigate the companies you want to apply to.
  • Check their website, products, services, and news updates.
  • Understand what makes them different from competitors.

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6. Efficient Preparation with Limited Time

Balancing studies, part-time jobs, job preparation, and extracurricular activities (clubs, university events like Hishosai, and volunteer work) is not easy. That’s why setting goals and focusing on achieving them is critical.

• Set Clear Goals: Focus on what you will achieve, not just what you will do.
  • Example: “On Monday, I will complete one ES; on Tuesday, I will solve 20 SPI questions; on Wednesday, I will learn a new task at my part-time job and try a new approach.”
    • Learning a new task: Understand and master the tasks assigned to you.
    • Trying a new approach:
      • Think of small improvements or more efficient ways to work.
      • Ask your manager or supervisor: “Can I try this method to improve the task?”
      • Test it and reflect on what worked well and what didn’t.
• Focus on Achievement: Every action should lead to a “small achievement” to build confidence.
  • Example: “By the end of the week, I will answer interview questions smoothly, finish three chapters of IT Passport study, and test a new method at my part-time job.”
• Prioritize Tasks: Decide what must be done first based on deadlines, such as ES submissions or SPI test dates.
• Use Spare Time Wisely:
  • Study SPI questions or review your goals during breaks at part-time jobs or while commuting.
• Build Small Successes: Achieve at least one goal every day to gain confidence and keep moving forward.

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Summary

1. For the English Career Course, “N1 and English proficiency” will be your strengths.
2. For the IT Career Course, “N1 and IT Passport” will help prove your IT knowledge.
3. Prepare for SPI and general knowledge tests, and practice improving your interview skills.
4. With so many responsibilities, such as university studies, part-time jobs, and extracurricular activities, focus on achieving small goals every day.
5. Even at part-time jobs, try to learn new tasks and test new approaches to build confidence and show growth.

Key Point: Time is limited, so act quickly, focus on results, and build small achievements every day. Each step forward will bring you closer to success!