LIFE

International Student Roundtable Discussion: Finding a Job in Japan! Current International Students Share Their Experiences [Part 1]

Writer

Kyoto Students

2026.04.01

On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, we gathered eight members of the Study Kyoto International Student PR Team for a roundtable discussion on the theme of "employment."
Among the members were those who had just started thinking about working in Japan, and others who were currently in the midst of their job search. Although their circumstances and career paths differed, they shared their honest thoughts about choosing to "work in Japan."

In the first half, they introduced what motivated them to work in Japan, the advantages of working in Japan, and the confusion and difficulties they felt while actually going through the job search process. Furthermore, we asked them about their experiences during their first interviews and the interview preparation methods they each used. The discussion was

filled with "real-life experiences that only those directly involved can share," which are difficult to hear online or at information sessions.

Symposium participants

Saki:
Originally from China. She plans to start job hunting soon.

Shoki:
From China. Currently job hunting.

Haru:
From China. Planning to advance to the later stages of her studies.

Maya:
From the United States. Currently job hunting.

Min Quang:
Originally from Vietnam. Currently interning at a Japanese language school.

Dini:
From Indonesia. Planning to attend Postdoctoral College.

Yeo-un:
From South Korea. Planning to start job hunting soon.

Haku-san:
From Taiwan. Has been in Japan for a month.

The choice to work in Japan

Q) When did you start thinking about looking for a job in Japan?

Shoki: I started thinking about finding a job in Japan around the time I became a second-year university student. This is because China has a large population and the competition is very high. Furthermore, having lived in Japan for five years and become accustomed to the environment here, I’ve started to think that it might be good to continue living in Japan for a while longer.
Maya: I love Japan, so I wanted to work here even before coming to the country. After attending a Japanese language school, I went on to graduate school at Doshisha University, but I didn’t seriously start job hunting until the fall of my second year. I was so busy with my studies during my first year that I didn’t have much time to focus on job hunting, so I regret not starting earlier.
Minkwan: I hope to work at a Japanese language school, and I am currently interning at one. My mother used to work as a Japanese language teacher, so I want to follow in her footsteps.

Q) What do you think are the advantages of working in Japan?

Maya: In America, many people don’t become very close with their colleagues, so when I heard that Japanese office workers invite their colleagues to their weddings, I was surprised and thought it was a wonderful custom. Since we spend more than eight hours a day at work, I would ideally like to build good relationships with my colleagues, and I feel that this is possible in Japanese workplace culture.
Also, because America doesn’t have a system for hiring new graduates, it’s very difficult for recent university graduates to find employment. In that respect, Japan has a system for hiring new graduates, where senior colleagues carefully teach the job and training programs are comprehensive, which I find very fortunate.
Yeoun: In South Korea, especially in the tourism industry, many companies seem to prioritize qualifications, such as requiring a TOEIC score of 900 or higher. On the other hand, I feel that Japanese companies value personality, and I am attracted to their attitude of “building a good company with good people.”

The reality I faced during my job search

Q) When you actually went through the job hunting process, were there any things you found difficult or confusing?

Yeoun: The fact that there’s a set suit required for job interviews is a major source of pressure for international students, especially when it comes to purchasing expensive suits. I wish there were more flexibility in clothing choices for interviews.
Haru: I made it to the fourth interview, but ultimately I didn’t get the job. That interview involved a group discussion, and I was very unsure of my Japanese language skills, so it was very difficult.
Shoki: I completely understand how you feel. In group discussions, talking too much isn’t good, but not saying anything at all won’t get you a good evaluation either. I found that finding the right balance was very difficult.
Maya: There are surprisingly many companies that don’t accept international students. Even if it’s not explicitly stated in the job description, the response at job fairs is often not very positive. I also feel the barriers between different job types. I went on to a master’s program in business studies, so I want to get a decent job, but it’s often not going well.
Shoki: International students like me, who aren’t very proficient in English, have to compete on the same playing field as Japanese students when it comes to job hunting, which I find quite challenging.

Q) What was your impression of your first job interview?

Haru: Since I majored in photography, my first job interview was at a camera store. The interview consisted mostly of sales-related questions, which I found very difficult, given my specialized focus on photography.
Maya: I struggled to use polite Japanese. I usually use casual Japanese, so I almost slipped into that style during my first interview.

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