文系大学院修了 Nさんの就活体験談
Job Hunting Experience of N (Completed a Humanities Master’s Program)
Interview Date: February 2, 2021 (Tuesday)
プロフィール Profile
| Nationality | Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China |
|---|---|
| Graduate School: | Graduate School of Humanities and Public Affairs (Master’s Program Completed) |
| Period of Stay | 5 years |
| Company | Kyodo Kogeisha Co., Ltd. |
| Japanese Language Proficiency Test: | N1 |
経歴 Background
After studying Japanese at a university in China, N lived in Niigata for one year. Then N entered the Graduate School of Humanities and Public Affairs at Chiba University and later joined Kyodo Kogeisha Co., Ltd.
Q.どうして日本で就職することを決めたのですか？ Why did you decide to work in Japan?
Because I wanted to have a job where I could use Japanese.
Q.なぜ今の勤務先を選んだのですか？ Why did you choose your current company?
Because I wanted to live in Chiba City. I also liked the company atmosphere during my internship. I do not like very crowded places like Tokyo, so Chiba felt just right for me. I felt that Kyodo Kogeisha had a kind atmosphere where people can speak openly without hesitation.
(Interviewer) Yes, Chiba City is not too busy and not too rural!
Q.具体的な仕事内容を教えてください。 What kind of work do you do?
I work in customer service. I answer emails and phone calls from customers. I feel happy when customers say thank you.
On the other hand, business Japanese is difficult. My supervisor gave me a book, and I am studying from it.
Q.就職活動では何をアピールしましたか？ What did you promote during job hunting?
I promoted my understanding of different cultures. I am Chinese by nationality, but my ethnic background is Mongolian. So I can speak both Chinese and Mongolian. I also studied Japanese and can speak Japanese. When I worked part-time at airport customs, I talked with many people from Europe and the United States. From that experience, I learned that there are many cultural differences, even in shopping. I talked about these experiences during job hunting.
Q.大変だったことはありますか？ Was there anything difficult?
Studying for the SPI test was difficult. Job hunting in Japan starts earlier than in many other countries. Japanese undergraduate students start in their third year, and graduate students start soon after entering graduate school. During my first year of the master’s program, I felt like a new student and focused on campus life, but my Japanese friends had already started job hunting. So there was a difference in awareness about when to start, and I did not study enough for the SPI.
Also, I could understand the questions, but it was difficult to read many texts and answer them within a limited time.
Q.効果的な就活対策はありましたか？ Were there any effective ways to prepare for job hunting?
I started job hunting late, around March or April, so I did not have any special preparation methods.
At first, I was not sure whether to continue to the doctoral program or start job hunting. Many people from my country who studied similar topics chose to continue to a PhD. However, I felt that it would be difficult for me to write academic papers at that time, so I decided to try job hunting first.
At the beginning, I only looked at large companies and failed many times. Then a friend who had already received a job offer told me, "Why don’t you apply to many different industries and companies, both small and large?” I followed that advice, and after that, things went much more smoothly.
In Japan, many students start preparing for summer internships around June.
Q.どこでいまの会社をみつけたのですか？ How did you find your current company?
Through the Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship program. I had received this scholarship since my second year of the master’s program. The president of Kyodo Kogeisha was a committee member of this scholarship, so I had the chance to talk with him.
※公益財団法人ロータリー米山記念奨学会： http://www.rotary-yoneyama.or.jp/
Q.これからやりたいことはありますか？ Is there anything you want to do in the future?
I want to study more about my job and become independent as soon as possible.
Q.最後に、これから就活をする方々へメッセージをお願いします！ Finally, please give a message to students who will start job hunting.
Please study well for the SPI test.
〈協力してくださった方々の会社〉 About the Company That Cooperated
Kyodo Kogeisha Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1969. The company contributes to society by creating “signboards,” which are part of Japanese culture. They plan, design, produce, and install signboards that represent the face of shops and companies. They have hired many international students in Chiba Prefecture.
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