I’m a current college sophomore in the U.S., and I’m majoring in Industrial and Systems Engineering. I’m not completely sure what I want to be in the future, but I’m looking towards management/manufacturing within the healthcare field or pharma industry. I’m aware engineers are in high demand for Japan, but I wanted to ask if anyone is aware of the demand for IE grads specifically in manufacturing or healthcare. I have a few questions:
1) What level of degree should I go for? Are there more benefits in getting hired if I get a master’s vs just a bachelors?
2) Should I start by gaining experience and working a couple of years in the U.S. before moving to Japan?
3) How difficult is it to get a job with little Japanese speaking skills? I used to speak as a kid and forgot it as I got older, so I’m in no way fluent now.
4) How is the work culture for engineers in Japan?
5) What is the demand for IEs in Japan? and what sector or industries have highest demand for IEs?
FYI I currently have both U.S. and japan citizenship and was born to japanese parents. not sure if that changes a lot of things
by mixychuuu
4 comments
Demand exists if you speak the language natively. And can demonstrate why not going with a native and choosing you is a more viable option.
A better approach; get your degree, get experience, find out what Japanese companies have US based subsidiaries, or US companies have branches in Japan, and work your way into those and potential transfer.
Japan has a labor shortage period. It’s possible.
The problem you’ve got is that Japan runs the so called *apprentice* scheme and that attracts industrial engineers from developing / poorer countries such as Sri Lanka and the Philippines etc. who are willing to accept lower pay and terrible conditions.
You need to set yourself apart from these folks if you want to earn a decent salary. The only way you’ll be able to do that is by mastering the language to a higher level.
I assume you mean something near plant engineering or production engineering. If you want to work as a engineer for Pharma or healthcare industry make sure you have experienced FDA standard GMP practices in the US. Your experience with FDA makes the difference from you and the local Japanese hiring if you want to get the local companies who wants to get/already into US market here hire you. *Pharma/Healthcare companies dun do internal transfer from country to country unless it involves high position executives.
1. Master: Higher Basic Pay, more qualified for high value projects
2. In the US and get experience with FDA related stuffs. Thats your value if you have that exp.
3. All documents and all papers, meetings are all in Japanese unless it involves foreign CDMO issues. You might need to attend local study groups to update yourself time to time on regulations and latest tech. Not a word of English involved. Or sometimes your info in English is required and your superiors will need you to inform all your colleagues in Japanese (Thats why you’re hired…). So please study and get N1 now,
4. Depends on the company. Basically improving overall better than last time where I will see their cars parked outside the production plant on Sundays…
5. That… you will need to check by yourself.
Good luck.
1. “Just bachelors” should answer your question. Get a masters
2. Yeah but apply in Japan too
3. You’re going nowhere if you don’t speak Japanese unless you get sent abroad by an American company.
4. IDK
5. IDK