Hello, I am Maria Thomas from India. I was born in India but lived in Japan for one year when I was 8. I majored in culture, society, and media studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University before graduating in 2022.

Why Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University? Why Japan?

My experience in Japan during my childhood was such a good experience, so I would have to one day come back as an adult. I studied in a Japanese elementary school when I was 8 and I really enjoyed that experience. The host family was really nice to me. I could speak simple Japanese then, maybe at an N4 level. But I forgot most of it after I left. Now I hold a JLPT N2 certificate. After returning to India for seven years, I moved to South Africa and completed my high school education there. I first learned about Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University during a college fair at my high school in South Africa, which eventually led me back to Japan.

Which activities did you put the most effort in?

Photography. I spent a lot of time doing it and built a portfolio for a competition organized by the Foreign Correspondent Club in Japan called the Swadesh Deroy Memorial Scholarship. Remarkably, I won the first prize in the photography category which allowed me to fund my shukatsu journey in Tokyo after I graduated.

I also had the pleasure of working with the APU office to welcome incoming freshmen to APU during my time in FLAG (FeLlow Advisory Group)- an orientation group at APU. As a leader, I loved working with my team members helping new students integrate seamlessly into their new life in Japan.

Outside of campus, I did some volunteer work at LVMH Japan and several paid internships with local media startups. Although some of my internships didn’t pay me, nor did they have the prestige of being a well-known company, I think they were precious experiences. I think working in a team helped my job hunting and converted my intangible skill into tangible skills.

What do you wish you had done during college and why?

I would travel more. As a student, I didn’t realize how precious holidays are. Right now I don’t have much time to travel. I wish I could have traveled more during college with the driver’s license I got only 2 months before graduation. When I get some time off, I want to return to Kyushu and travel to some of the rural areas I couldn't go to before.

How did you start your job hunting?

I started 13 months before my graduation. I wanted to work in a fast-paced, diverse environment. I followed a shukatsu timeline that aligned with the schedule of a foreign company, which is really different from Japanese ones. I would suggest starting at least 8 months *1 before graduation if you intend to join an international company.

*1: Some foreign-affiliated firms could start screening early so please check the company's webpage accordingly.

Did you face any difficulties during job hunting?

The hardest thing during job hunting would be accepting rejections. You may spend 5 weeks for 1 interview and get rejected in the end. Understanding what you want is difficult too. I didn’t want to compromise my unique, carefree, and bold personality for a job. But I didn’t know what kind of company or job would allow me to express my authentic self. It is often hard to find a job environment that matches you 100%, and even harder to learn to compromise sometimes.

What kind of companies were you looking for?

I wanted to work in an international company that respected my personality. I was also looking for a sales role that would equip me with valuable skills needed in commercial settings in the future. AlphaSights fits my needs perfectly, where I can work in a sales role, and my carefree and bold personality could excel.

Japanese

I think Japanese is paramount for shukatsu in Japan. If the company listed it in its requirements, you should take it seriously. Besides having the certificate of JLPT, you need to prove your Japanese ability during interviews.

AlphaSights is the global leader in knowledge on-demand. We connect business leaders seeking knowledge with the experts who possess it. As a Client Service Associate, I clearly focus on client service and revenue generation. I am the connection point between our clients and industry experts. In short, It is a sales job. We directly drive commercial results and are accountable for metrics and results. This job allows you to own commercial results from day one and grow quickly.

This job required both Japanese-English language skills. Half of the projects are in Japanese and the other half in  English. Although I have only been working on English projects, I think with better Japanese skills I can work better.

Why did you choose AlphaSights?

Working as a Client Service Associate in AlphaSights allows me to work with blue-chip clients and industry experts in a multicultural environment, which helps me to be more business-oriented, think fast, and grow quickly.

What kind of person is a good fit for AlphaSights?

Results-oriented, driven, adaptable, humble, and emphatical. These are some qualities we look for in candidates. Also, a person who can take constructive criticism. AlphaSights has a feedback culture. We learn from feedback. Communication skill is also important because you will spend most of your time working with your colleagues and experts from all over the world. You also need to have good time management skills. We work on many projects from all over the world at the same time. You have to be willing to learn Japanese if you currently don’t have such skills. We also offer a competitive starting salary, if you are money motivated, you will feel happy working here.

What were the difficulties you encountered in this job?

Unpredictable working hours

This is a client-facing role. You are critical to your client's success and grow fast by directly working with blue-chip clients. At the same time, your work schedule follows your client's needs. 

Think fast

There are a lot of negotiations with clients during daily jobs. You have to be able to think quickly.

Time management

This is a fast-paced job. You will have 5 to 6 projects at the same time with a tight deadline.