Hi, I am Dhungana Anoj from Nepal. I graduated from Tokyo International University (TIU)  in 2018 and am currently working at SAKAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.. Before coming to TIU, I first enrolled in a language school in Kyushu, getting myself a head start. As of right now, I have been living in Japan for 8 years. 

Many people are attracted to Japan’s culture and society. For me, however, as a part of my family has already been in the country, I was seeking more of a sense of security here. Along with that, I feel like there are more opportunities available before and after graduation here in Japan compared to other countries. With that being said, Japan was undoubtedly a good option for me at the time.

The most memorable or proudest activity during college

I actually did not participate in any club activities during college but instead,  I worked for various jobs on campus which definitely brought me tons of memorable experiences as well as the chances to expand my horizon.  I used to work as a student staff and peer assistant, or PA as they referred to it here at TIU. Since we lived on an international campus, my role was to help international students communicate in Japanese and vice versa. Along with that, I also took part in preparing the university opening campus events, introducing TIU to prospective students. Those working experiences helped me to develop both social and communication skills which allowed me to connect with both Japanese and international students around campus.

What you wish you had done during college and why?

If I had the chance to go back, I would invest more time into learning about business cultures in Japan. It is pretty well-known that the Japanese have a particular working environment that could be considered different from a lot of other countries. You go to work with a black suit, a tie, and a black bag. Even exchanging your business card has certain rules.  Those are just the basic things. In extreme cases, not understanding these cultural practices could set us apart from other Japanese candidates and even result in losing job and business opportunities. Therefore, it is important for international students to learn about these business culture practices. 

For me, I was really lucky because I had the time to learn in my first job. During the first 9 months, I had no direct communication with my Japanese clients. The company gave me this time to observe and learn about the culture. However, I did feel a little left behind compared to other friends, but coming up to this stage of my career I feel that I have got a better place to be hired and trained. Therefore, if I had a chance to go back, I would definitely invest my time in learning these kinds of detailed aspects.

Research in Details about the company, not Just the Job Description

Before establishing a career in Japan, it would be helpful to spend time researching products of certain companies or industries. You should be aware of the specific area you want to work in,  Not just getting the job will help to be successful in your career For me, it is mechanical devices like trucks or Heavy equipment and so on. Instead of thinking about a certain company or the brand you want to be in, choosing a specific industry will be better in guiding your way here in Japan. 

Along with that, in the field of sales, many times people want to bring a product to their own country to expand the market. In that case, it is necessary to look into specific companies: are they completely domestic or are they seeking to expand overseas. As companies always look for specific characteristics to be hired in their company, it is important that you understand yourself, your market, and your dream company. Also, try to make a LinkedIn account and connect with your university Alumni to gather information.

Communication Skills and Digital Knowledge

Definitely the language. Being able to effectively communicate in Japanese will help to understand your work schedule and interaction much easier within your group or in the company. The second thing would be the consciousness of knowing about yourself and your surroundings. Additionally, as the world is digitizing, it would be helpful to gain some computer or IT related knowledge such as data science and statistics software skills. Along with that,  a third language or driver’s license could be a plus point. Lastly, do invest your time in just learning basic business manners in Japan such as writing emails. It might seem simple but the process is always a little different compared to other countries. Japanese people are very detailed when it comes to client-consumer interaction and also it will be beneficial within the company as well.