LIFE

International Student Roundtable Discussion: Finding a Job in Japan! Current International Students Share Their Experiences [Part 2]

Writer

Kyoto Students

2026.04.01

On Wednesday, December 17, 2025, we held a roundtable discussion with eight members of the Study Kyoto International Student PR Team.

In the second half, they talked about "what criteria they use to choose a job," "what they learned from their internship experience," and the changes they've noticed in themselves through their job search.
From practical matters such as salary, number of holidays, and work-life balance, to their future dreams and passionate feelings about research... their individual values and visions for the future became clearer.

This should also provide hints for those of you who are thinking about your future career paths to find your own direction.

Roundtable 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.

Key points when choosing a job

Q) What criteria do you use to decide which companies you want to work for?

Shoki: I prioritize salary. I’m also concerned about the number of holidays per year. Ideally, I’d like at least 120 days, and ideally around 125 days.
Maya: I have too many requirements for a company, which narrows down my options considerably, but salary is important, and so is having minimal overtime. I worked hard to get my master’s degree, so I want a job where I can feel that all my studies weren’t in vain. Also, I’d like to live in the Kansai region.
Yeoun: For me, work-life balance is very important. One of the reasons I wanted to become a Korean language teacher was because I felt it offered a relatively good work-life balance. International students often face challenges such as visa issues, making it difficult to change jobs once they’ve started working. That’s why I think it’s important to carefully consider what kind of job suits you before starting your job search.
Shu: What concerns me most is the workplace atmosphere. I also feel that the location of the workplace is important.
Minkwan: I want to work for a company related to what I want to do in the future. If it’s in a field I’m interested in, the work itself will be a learning experience, and I think I’ll be able to save money as well. I also think that if I gain experience, I might be able to start my own business when I’m in my 30s or 40s.
Haku: I want to become a researcher, so I expect my salary to be low. Even so, the most important thing is being able to continue the research I want to do.
Dini: I am currently enrolled in a doctoral program and plan to pursue postdoctoral research. In the future, I hope to return to my home country and become a teacher. What I look for in a job is an environment where I can conduct research freely.

What I learned about work and companies during my internship

Q) For those who have experience with internships, what was your experience like?

Maya: I participated in a one-day internship at a major company. I prepared in advance by asking my Japanese boyfriend about what to wear and what Japanese I should learn. On the day of the internship, I visited in business casual attire instead of a suit, and was able to see what the office was like where the employees actually work. There were about 40 other interns there, and everyone was very kind, and the discussions went smoothly.
Shoki: I participated in a web internship at a major insurance company. I was part of a team of five, and we created materials for a presentation. There was another Chinese international student among the members. The Japanese members were also very kind, and we stayed connected on Zoom even after regular working hours to finish the materials together.
Another internship I did was at a restaurant in Kyoto, where I developed a product plan for pasta. On the last day, we had a discussion at the restaurant, and I enjoyed actually making pasta. As someone who loves talking to people, it was a very enjoyable experience.
Saki: I was required to complete an internship of about six months before graduation, and so far I have interned at JICA and various international organizations. What I learned from these experiences is that you should carefully consider what kind of work you want to do in the future and what kind of person you want to become, and then choose an internship in a field that is close to your aspirations. The content of internships varies greatly from company to company, and you can also get a good understanding of the company culture by participating. If the company you are interested in accepts interns, I think you should definitely take part.

Go to the second page | The future that came…