Voice of SenpaiWorking for a Japanese company directly from an overseas university as a new graduate

Company: Tomato.Co.,LTD.

Name: Muhammad Aljundi, Oh Serunghwan

Country / Region: Indonesia, South Korea

Industry

Information Technology

Left: Muhammad Aljundi (System Developers team), Right: Oh Serunghwan (Manager of System Developers team)

About Myself

My name is Jundi, and I am from Jakarta, Indonesia. I studied IT related subjects at University of Indonesia, where I also took a course to study Japanese culture. Upon graduation I attended a job fair held at my university and decided to join this company in November 2023. I officially became a member of the company in February 2024, and seven months have already passed. Since I was offered the job, I have been studying Japanese in earnest. I still study it in addition to using it at work. I am now working on the same team as Oh-san.

My name is Oh and I am from South Korea. I always wanted to work abroad and was looking for a job overseas. I have experience studying in the U.S. and once thought about working in a country where I could use English. However, I chose Japan because of its high level of IT industry and its proximity to Korea. When I was a university student in Korea, I attended a course to prepare for employment in Japan. I studied Japanese at that time and came to Japan with N2-JLPT. It has been thirteen years since I graduated and started working at Tomato Co., Ltd, which I currently work for. I am now the manager of the security system web development team.

My experience with Japan

Mr. Jundi: Influenced by Japanese anime, I have been interested in Japan since I was a small child. I also love Japanese anime-songs and Vocaloid. Most universities in Indonesia have a Japanese culture club, and my university has one as well. I took a program to learn about Japan there. I found my current company by attending a job fair held by the university. I also applied to work for an Indonesian company, but finally decided to work in Japan because I wanted to gain a variety of experience. One of the reasons I decided to work for my current company is because it has a system to accept foreign nationals. All I had to do to apply for the visa (status of residence) was to submit my passport while the company did other complicated things. I decided to join the company in November and studied Japanese hard before I joined it in February. I made a special effort to study Kanji characters. It was the first time for me to get a passport and board an airplane. Although it was my first time abroad, it did not take me long to get used to Japan because it was the very image I had seen in anime and movies.

My Company

Mr. Jundi: Tomato Co., Ltd, is a company which develops IT systems. Our company has many teams dealing with long- and short-term projects. Besides system development, we also prepare documents to be submitted to our clients. My current job divides into 70% documentation and 30% coding. I sometimes feel difficult to use business Japanese language. However, my seniors are always supportive and so I can work with confidence.
Mr. Oh: I am relieved to hear that. Jundi-san is growing professionally from these experiences.

My Role

Mr. Jundi: I am working on the same team as Oh-san and doing web development for security systems. During my initial three months at work, I studied Japanese manners and system development skills. In this training period, I had to commute in a train. Now I work remotely at home, and so I can start working in a good, healthy mood. However, remote working reduces opportunities for communication with others. I am still not fluent in Japanese, and so I sometimes cannot make myself understood in Japanese even if I want to do so. I would like to continue working in Japan to gain more experience.
Mr. Oh: I have been working as a manager for four to five years. This is a tough job that manages the work of other members. I also must be addressed immediately if some problems happen. I always try to think of the next step of the work process and clearly tell my team members what I want to do. I find great value in working together as one team to get the job done.
As a team leader, I frequently communicate with other members. I try to minimize the communication gap among us. I also hold meetings with a motto of “when necessary, by necessary people, and with necessary information.” In addition, I plan a dinner with team members, since we have few opportunities to see each other in remote-work conditions. On the other day, I asked Jundi-san if there was anything he could not eat. Our company has employees of various religions and cultures which we respect for. Our company pays for the cost of our social meetings. The largest number of all employees are Korean, but the company is flexible enough to accommodate other nationalities with different values. Social activities and seasonal events are also held to prompt internal communication at work.

Where I live & Work

Mr. Jundi: I lived in company accommodation right after I came to Japan. The room was fully furnished (including appliances), and so I did not feel difficult even from the very beginning of my life here. My company fully supports foreign employees to settle in Japan, so I did not worry about coming to Japan. Now I live on my own. I am Muslim and must be careful about ingredient of food, but this is not such a problem because I cook by myself. I love Japanese four seasons. In Jakarta, it is hot throughout the year. I was so surprised when I saw snow here. It was so cold!! I have been watching Japanese animation(anime) since I was a little child, and now the actual Japan is just as I imagined! Compared to Jakarta, Japan is clean and easy to move around. However, I was scared when I experienced an earthquake in Japan for the first time.
When I thought of working in Japan, I used to imagine commuting on crowded trains and working late into the night. I sometimes find it tough, but at the same time I am very encouraged by support from the company. Our company offers a flexible working environment suitable for our multinational workforce. For example, as a Muslim, I can take time for prayer during working hours in exchange for a shorter lunch break.
Mr. Oh: I have been in Japan for many years, and so whenever I go back to Korea, I feel it somehow new! Although some of my colleagues have returned to their home countries for several reasons, I want to continue working here and aim high to build my career in Japan. The IT industry may have a tough image, but once you get used to the job, you can have a good work-life balance. I enjoy my private life by doing some exercise and going out with friends.

Tips For Newcomers

Mr.Jundi: You can gather information about working in Japan at job fairs which various Japanese companies participate in. Tomato does not ask about Japanese language level at job interviews, but it becomes essential when working in Japan. If you want to work in Japan for a long time, you need to study Japanese hard after receiving a job offer or joining a company. Recent university graduates who have little social experience may find it difficult to decide to work in Japan. However, if you study not only Japanese language but also its culture, you will be able to work here with confidence. Preparation is the key to work in Japan.

Companies interested in Highly-skilled Foreign Professionals (OFP List)

JETRO publishes a corporate database (the “List of Japanese Companies Interested in Highly-Skilled Foreign Professionals” [OFP List]) for those who are interested in working in Japan.
See various companies from traditional corporations to dynamic startups, that want to grow their business together with highly-skilled foreign professionals.

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