My name is Benoît Chapurlat, I am from France and I have been living in Japan for 14 years. In the last 3 years, I have been working for Amazon Japan, currently as Senior Program Manager in Amazon Flex.

Back when I was in graduate school in France, I studied the Japanese language out of curiosity, as I just wanted to learn something different. Then, my university signed a new partnership with Tohoku University and asked for volunteers willing to study in Japan and I decided to apply. I already spoke English and wanted to discover a new country. Japan with its rich culture and the developed economy was a great place to go.

I barely spoke Japanese when I first came to Japan, but I had the opportunity to start with 6 months of intensive Japanese language class. This was part of the exchange program and prepared me for my master’s course as most of the lectures were in Japanese, even though I could write my report in English.

The most memorable or proudest thing during college (Activity, club, competition etc) 

I mostly participated in international events or international student activities. I also did arubaito/part-time job teaching French and English, and once a week I worked as a teaching assistant of French language and culture, sharing a lot about France with Tohoku University’s students.

What you wish you had did during college and why?

When in college, I did not prepare much for my next step. I just studied and enjoyed university life and I started job-hunting very late. I planned to join a foreign company and skipped shūshoku katsudō, just contacting directly foreign/multi-national companies. If I had to change one thing, I would probably get more career guidance and start networking with companies much earlier.

Do something you love

For your first career move, do not choose a company only for its status or because of the entry salary. It is very important to find a challenge you will be excited about, something that you love to do. I believe if you do something that you love, you will learn a lot and become great at it quickly. Try to find a place where you can have fun and work with great people. After 3-4 years, you will get many exciting opportunities as recruiters start contacting you.

The Japanese Language Is a Must

In my experience, recruiters in Japan expect you to be able to speak Japanese, as most companies will require JLPT N2. There are also few exceptions such as a programmer for example, for which no knowledge of the Japanese language would be necessary. Also, no need to say that strong English would be very helpful.

Be patient, understand the cultural difference but still be yourself

I think it helps a lot to be patient, to try to understand why one thinks differently from you, and thus it is important to listen more. When you come from a different culture, Japanese business culture can be very surprising. The only way to face this is to understand and acknowledge the benefits of Japanese culture. Still, it does not necessarily mean you have to imitate local ways. Be yourself, be authentic, while fitting in the company environment.

Understand how careers work in Japan

One big difference between French and Japanese business cultures that I experienced is that new graduates in Japan usually follow and learn from their seniors, in a strong mentoring system. In French companies, you would receive an assignment and have to figure it out on your own, with limited guidance. Because of that, in Japan, you tend to have fewer responsibilities early in your career.