Hello, I’m writing this as a Japanese citizen fluent in English. I recently passed Sophia FLA and considered applying to Waseda SILS ( I have already written and checked my Statement of Purpose and have other paperwork ready to go). But since I have already passed a prestigious (in Japan) university, I’ve been thinking if it’s even worth applying (since I failed the first time). The most significant factor in my decision will be career prospects WITHIN Japan. I want to join a Tokyo branch of an American company, then move to their US branch and live in the States (mostly for higher earnings/cheap yen). I am very much aware (from reading comments and other posts) that a degree from a Japanese University in the US won’t do shit, no matter how “prestigious,” so it’s why I’m only focusing on jobs within Japan. I know I sound like a prestige whore now, but sadly school name matters a lot here. Could anybody give insights into the career prospects of a Japanese person? Specifically 帰国子女 (returnee) from Sophia FLA compared to Waseda SILS? I know it’s a really specific question, so I appreciate it if anyone could give their opinions on this.
by Parking_Attitude_519
7 comments
Hi, Waseda masters student here. I’ve heard that if you can speak English well, you should have little problem finding a job, might not be the job you want, but you should be employed after graduation (likely at a random domestic company though). I’ve also heard that job searching can be tough unless you belong to the Law, Econ, or Engineering department. Foreign company jobs are always competitive, and it’s going to be tough to get into a US company Tokyo branch, mostly because you’re competing against people who know law, math, or both. But anyways, if you dont mind domestic companies, you wont be unemployed for sure if you go to Waseda SILS.
>then move to their US branch and live in the States (mostly for higher earnings/cheap yen)
Dont you have it the other way around? Get into a US company in Japan so you get paid in USD, live in Tokyo and get to enjoy the cheap yen here in Japan.
In my department I have a couple of Waseda grads though and they seem to be doing fine. No Sophia grads to my knowledge. I am in the industrials and manufacturing sector working at a Fortune 50 American multinational. In my opinion the university doesn’t matter so much as we get hundreds of applicants per season all from top universities. What would help is if your 4th year professors have connections into industry/companies that are gaishikei.
To your ambition of moving to US payroll, payroll transfers are a rare and difficult thing and only done if it helps the company financially. Not just to help the employee. Think about it this way: A Japanese speaking employee even if they’re excellent only adds extra value in Japan and nowhere else. Stateside, your language skill is just a curiosity and you will be competing against a much larger talent pool. You’d really need to be adding a lot of value before the company considers it at all and this will usually be seen 7-10 years after joining. This is my experience as a divisional director and needing to make personnel development recommendations.
Granted, my experience is limited to my industry. Banking or financial services may differ.
Good luck regardless.
Wages are generally higher in the US but so is the cost of living. So much of your paycheck will immediately be gone after taxes, rent, bills, etc. Just the stuff you need to survive. I make less money in Tokyo but the cost of living is so much lower that I can actually still enjoy life here.
I’m an American lawyer at a U.S. law firm in Tokyo, but we work with lots of private equity and investment banking people. If you want to go into banking and finance, you need to be in seiji keizai at Waseda, not SILS. (FWIW I studied abroad at Waseda before I went to law school and so have lots of friends from there as well, and nobody thinks that getting into SILS is the same as getting into the more competitive regular departments.) Even then, would say almost all the Japanese people I meet in finance here usually went to Todai or Keio. (And I’ve never met anyone from Sophia in a professional capacity.) The judging people and screening out by college is even more vicious in Japan than it is in the U.S.
Also, I don’t think it is true that a U.S. credential wouldn’t be worthwhile – while U.S. schools are not as well known here, there are large hiring fairs in the U.S. for jobs in Japan for people from top schools. (Also strange perspective to have if your goal is to work at a gaishikei where they would know the schools in the first place.) Again, I know a guy that went to Yale and ended up working at Nomura. But the credential that wouldn’t be worth anything would be a degree from a mediocre U.S. school (e.g., don’t go to Temple in the U.S. or Japan). And you’d have a hard time finding a job here if you were unable to function in a Japanese language capacity.
A degree in a well-known business school will do shit, but that is mid-career stuff.
I did not come from anything with prestige but I work with people who have come from these top universities including Ivy Leagues. I got interns that are from Ivy. The fact that i work with them tells me it really doesn’t matter where you came from if you got the relevant exp and skill
No meaningful difference whatsoever. Things like your language skills will matter much more.
Waseda is a huge university so you will encounter those alumni more often, but pretty much all employers will consider students from both.
Also: It sounds like you should study at a US university given your goals. If you are smart enough you should be able to secure funding for that as well. P.S. it doesn’t have to be an Ivy League. Don’t be blinded by prestige.
Check out SPSE over SILS. I have friends in both programs and the former seems to be a considerably better option.