My story - Working(Job hunting) in Japan

This video came out, my friends messaged me and it brought back all memories of the time I started in Japan.. so thought of writing it down!

I came to Japan in 2008, was a fresh MBA grad, who had no plans to come to Japan, so knew nothing about the language and the culture. But here I was... so initially enjoyed 2 months of break and then started thinking of getting a job. Got a new formal suit as per the Japanese standards for the job hunting, was excited and nervous, but in the very 1st job fair I attended, I got my reality punch. I met the HR of a very reputed Japanese Maker and they told me we like your resume but if you want to work in HR/Recruitment in Japan, you need N2 level Japanese and if you want to work with us, get N1 and come back to talk.

After that I attended no job fairs, there was no point! I focused on Japanese, got admission in a Japanese language school for 3 months short term course, that again was a story. The school owner made me sit in the Advance class for trial even though I was not willing to, as I was not even the beginner level, but he wouldn't listen. I had no option so attended the class for 15 mins, when I came out, he asked, how was it... 'it was good, I didn't understand a word'  was my reply. He smiled and said, you will do it... I don't know if I was shocked/surprised/frustrated, but it didn't bother him at all. He said he believed in me and got me extra lessons and enrolled me simultaneously in beginner class, that too all for free(very unusual). I used to be in Japanese school from 9 to 5. Took JLPT after 3 months, and I cleared N3, did only 1 question wrong which was a mistake as I knew the right answer but circled the wrong option... and missed correcting it. He was right, I could do it!

I can't sit idle so did a lot of things, certificated courses, part-time English teaching, etc, etc... but yes, Japanese learnign was on, though more self study! And then one of my MBA college alumni introduced me to an IIT professor, who was in Japan for a research, so did some research with him, and after the research was over, he introduced me to NHK job posting! As someone says, investing in people never goes wasted!

In 2009 I got a part time job at NHK world, Radio, it was a my childhood dream come true, and it paid really well, better than full time actually! I enjoyed it, but my husband knew that it wasn't what I really wanted to do, so he pushed me to concentrate on my career path, I can't thank him more. He has always given preference to the right direction when I start leaning towards the easier options, and cash inflow!

I joined Pasona Global, a Japanese multinational HR company, in 2011 and since then there has been no looking back. Got to learn more of the Japanese working ways which included, how to exchange business cards, how to write business emails, and so on!

Joined Rakuten in 2015, as thought I had learnt recruiting and was ready to take on more responsibilities as an internal recruiter.

I am doing what I love, investing in people;-) and working with people who are awesome!

I don't believe in luck so much, but have been lucky in meeting the right people who believed in me, showed me the right path, made me do things which I also thought I couldn't do.. and here I am today - enjoying my work, my family - always feeling thankful to all the support, especially from my better half, and from my little daughter... and obviously from my family and everyone who have always believed in me !

My learning - Believing in others faith in you is very important! and as one of my clients once said, 'Shit happens, its only how we deal with it' and my all time favorite:'what you don't want done to yourself, don't do to others'.