Hello! My name is Jonathan from Indonesia, my friends call me Jona-san. I graduated from the International College of Liberal Arts (iCLA), Yamanashi Gakuin University. I have a liberal arts background, and I have a powerful interest in music and sound arts. My number one passion is family; it is unquestionable that family is a source of motivation for me. 

Why did I come to Japan? It all started with my family, my parents wanted every child to study abroad as this will give us a better opportunity to see the world from a wider perspective. We ended up choosing Japan as a study abroad destination for some reason. Japan has a long history in Southeast Asia back in the early 20th century, I learned a lot about Japan when I was a teenager. It is undeniable that I am interested in learning the Japanese language and culture.

The most memorable or proudest thing in college

It was an unforgettable moment when me and several of my friends were organizing an event in the college, which later has become a kind of a “culture” in iCLA community. It is called “Acoustic Night”, it is usually held once per semester. This event allows talented students who wish to show their amazing skills to perform, but not limited to singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, and poetry reading. We were encouraged to organize this event; some professors and admin staff did join our student-lead event as well. Unfortunately, there might not be “Acoustic Night” this semester due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, as far as I know, there might be a live Acoustic Night using ZOOM which is likely to be organized by kōhai(s).

What I wish I had done during college

I wish I could make more friends inside and outside the college, and join more music-related events. I had spent most of my free time doing side jobs so that I can support my living expenses without bothering my family. At the time, my network of friends was so limited and I had no idea that there were actually many music-related events in the city where I should have participated and improved my skill. I did not know that and it was indeed well paid than the part-time job I was doing at the time.      

Build a Strong Network

I promise that the network you can build while enjoying your student’s life will significantly enrich your education and help with your future career development. I hope you can learn from my experience as a full-time degree-seeking student. First things first, I strongly believe that a network of friends is critical. The bigger the network we have the more information we get. According to my own experience, if I could build a larger network while studying, I would be able to explore the city more so that I can join more music-related events and get to know more people in the music industry. I am happy with what I have though, just I wish I could have a larger network.

Use Networking to Proceed Your Career to the Next Level

Many students might not know that many people get their jobs because of their network. Let me make it clear, some high potential, but small and medium companies do not post their jobs on the internet as it is a time-consuming process, and somehow costly. Why it is time-consuming and costly? Sometimes, they need just a few people, but it is possible that they will get hundreds of applications if they post it on the internet. As a small or medium-sized company, they do not have enough time and staff to review ALL the applications and conduct the interview one by one. Apparently, the most used method is the recommended method which means they will ask their trustful staff whether they know anyone who is capable and suitable for the new position. If you were recommended, the success rate is really high. I swear many small and medium-sized companies are doing so at this moment, it seems to be more effective while companies can minimize the costs and time. 

Be Open to New Connections and Do NOT Be Afraid to Make the First Move

Building a good strong network is a must, and please always say “YES” to new connections and new opportunities, just be positive. Sometimes, we have no idea what will happen or what new opportunities you will get from just saying “YES”. Let’s say you were invited to do the volunteer works, a fun music event, or even a marathon. Don’t be afraid to say yes as you might experience new things, meet new people, and build an even bigger network or better yet, you might even have a chance to meet your future boss. 

Be a Good Listener

There are many skills that we do need to work in Japan including Japanese language skills, but I presume that “Communication Skills” is one skill that should be prioritized and focused. Communication Skills does not mean only how we can express our opinion effectively, but also to listen to and respect other people’s opinions. We do need to become a good listener because no one wants to talk to people who do not care about their opinion. It is very important to understand what people are trying to tell us so that we can respond appropriately. Sometimes, we need to paraphrase what other people said to make sure that we understand them clearly and to give them a sign that we are caring about what is being said. 

Be Respectful and Stay Focus

Just being a good listener is not enough, we definitely need to respect other people’s opinions. It is possible that people are willing to be more open talking to you if you respect their ideas. Never ever get distracted when having a conversation with anyone, this is a sign that we are not listening or respecting people’s ideas. Stay focus on the topic when having a serious conversation, do not play around. If we want other people to respect our opinion, we absolutely have to respect other people’s opinions too.