Reasons why new Indian engineers avoid Japanese companies, and how to change it
There is a reason why many excellent Indian new graduate engineers do not choose Japanese companies as their first choice. This article explains the avoidable factors and how to become a 'chosen company' by overturning them.
Contents
Main reasons fresh graduate engineers from India do not aspire to join Japanese companies
Students in India's higher tier (Tier 1, Tier 2 engineering colleges) have abundant global job options.
Among these, Japanese companies face the challenge of 'failing to convey their appeal'.
The main reasons are as follows:
Salary levels are lower than overseas companies (especially US, Europe, China, Singapore)
Perception that technology stack is outdated
Decision-making is perceived as slow, with little discretion
Learning Japanese appears to be a high hurdle
Visa and immigration process seems unclear and concerning
Career paths appear difficult to predict
This is merely an 'impression', and not applicable to all companies.
However, companies that cannot dispel this image at the hiring stage will miss out on top-tier talent.
Weaknesses of Japanese companies compared to global competitors (US, China, Singapore)
The reasons Indian students find it easier to choose countries other than Japan include the recruitment attitudes of competing countries.
・United States (especially Big Tech)
High salary, cutting-edge projects, and a culture of freedom are overwhelmingly attractive.
・Major Chinese tech companies (especially Shenzhen and Beijing)
In addition to high treatment, the growth rate in cutting-edge fields like AI and IoT is exceptional.
・Singapore
Being an English-speaking region, having high salaries, and easy visa acquisition make it extremely popular with Indians.
These countries,
attract students by clarifying the recruitment process, growth scenarios after joining, and technical challenges
are very strong in these points.
Reasons why the misconception that 'Japan = old/traditional' spreads
For students who have never worked in a Japanese company, Japanese information sources are limited.
The common misunderstandings among them are as follows.
Japanese corporate culture = Strong hierarchy with little discretion for young people
Many overtime hours/poor work-life balance
Inability to use English, making it impossible to work globally
Jobs focus more on maintenance than on latest technology
In reality, although there is an increase in companies, especially startups, that overturn these assumptions, opportunities for students to access this information are limited, and many judgments are made based on outdated images.
How to overcome the Japanese language hurdle and 'life and visa anxiety'
Among the reasons why new Indian graduate engineers avoid Japanese companies, the following three points are particularly significant.
Uncertainty in Japanese communication
Anxiety about lifestyle differences due to cultural variances
The process of obtaining a visa and arranging housing seems complex
Companies that overcome this are undertaking the following initiatives.
・Company-sponsored Japanese learning (online available)
Companies that support JLPT before recruitment are highly popular.
・Life start-up support (housing, bank accounts, SIMs, municipal office procedures)
Accompanying during the first week almost completely relieves anxiety.
・Transparency in visa procedures
Companies that provide organized materials on the COE application process, duration, and required documents are easily trusted.
Indian personnel tend to prefer "simple and clear support," which aligns well with the meticulous care that Japanese companies excel at.
Japanese companies' strategy: 6 ways to attract Indian talent
Japanese companies can become the 'chosen side' by compensating for weaknesses and highlighting strengths.
The following are six highly effective measures.
- Clarify career paths before joining
Vague explanations are most disliked.
- Visualize technical challenges
Specifically present what development environments and projects can be participated in.
- Present a 90-day onboarding roadmap
Highly effective as it creates a growth image.
- Communication system using both English and Japanese
A stance of not demanding 'perfect Japanese' creates a sense of security.
- Explain the balance of salary and growth opportunities
Since you can't win with salary alone, you should strongly emphasize growth, experience, and technical areas.
- Company briefings/seminars on Indian campuses
Students have strong trust in companies they 'met in person.'
The effect is extremely large as there are almost no competitors.
Particularly for Indian talents with high growth aspirations, a 'This is how you can grow your career' specific future prediction resonates.
Summary
The background behind Indian new graduate engineers avoiding Japanese companies is greatly influenced not only by salary and technology stack, but also by the opacity of culture, language, and career. However, as shown by successful company cases, Japanese companies can also be chosen by top-tier students by working on transparency of information, clarifying careers, developing onboarding, and providing life support.
At Phinx, we totally support 'creating a company that is chosen by Indian new graduates' through direct collaboration with Indian technical universities, Japanese language learning support, career design support, and planning local briefings. Companies aiming to acquire top-tier talent are encouraged to please consult with us freely.
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