Career Realization for Refugee and Displaced Students (3) “Job Hunting Seminar” to interview with companies

日本語

Pathways Japan is expanding its support for job hunting so that refugee and displaced students admitted to Japan can realize their career goals in Japan. As part of these efforts, we held a Japanese language course and seminar for job hunting in October 2024. We will report on these activities in three articles.

（1）Experiences of Senior Students Who Have Job Hunting
（2）“Japanese for Job Hunting” Course

In this third issue, we introduce a job hunting seminar where students and companies met with each other.

Introducing key points on job hunting that students should know

Mr. Manabu Kubota of the International Students Support Network, a general incorporated association, took the stage to talk about basic information on job hunting in Japan. In his lecture, he introduced data on the employment situation of Japanese companies and explained in detail the skills that companies place importance on and the key points of self-promotion to companies. The students listened attentively and learned important points for job hunting in Japan.

Visiting company booths and practicing for interviews

This was followed by interview practice with the companies. In addition to 10 companies, recruiting companies and organizations also exhibited booths at this event.

The students visited the booths of the companies they had researched in advance, introduced themselves, and had a question and answer session with persons from participating companies. The students had practiced self-introductions and questions in their Japanese language classes, and they were able to demonstrate the results of their practice and engaged in lively exchanges with company representatives.

 Participating companies commented that ”we were surprised by the high level of Japanese language skills of the students” “we were impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and awareness,” “There was the affinity between the participants’ desired job titles and their own open positions.” On the day of the event, people from government and other foundations involved in supporting refugee and displaced students also came to observe the event and learn more about the students and Pathways Japan’s activities.

Students who participated in the seminar also commented, “Through the seminar, I was able to learn how to effectively introduce myself, as well as the job hunting process,” and “I am grateful that I was able to lay the groundwork to create a self-promotion that matches the type of person that companies are looking for.”

After the seminar, the students will reflect on this time through post-program assignments, and will use what they learned in the seminar to engage in full-fledged job hunting activities.

Pathways Japan will continue to support refugee and displaced students in their efforts to find and pursue careers in Japan. We will also continue to create opportunities for exchange between companies and students, and work to increase the acceptance of young people with refugee backgrounds as “human assets” by companies in Japan.