Why did you decide to participate in the JET Internship Programme?

What type of work were you expecting to do before the internship?

I was matched with a company which specialises in manufacturing metal alloys. Being part of the manufacturing industry, I thought I would be touring the factory and doing some related work. I was asked beforehand about my clothes and shoe sizes since I will be wearing safety wear, so I got excited thinking about what I would be wearing and about going to the site.

What type of work did you experience during the internship?

During the internship, I visited all the departments and was able to observe and experience a wide range of business operations, from floor work to sales and operations.

First, I observed the manufacturing process of copper alloys and received detailed explanations about the melting, forging, heat treatment, and processing procedures. Although I was not allowed to experience the actual work because it was too dangerous, I was able to see each process up-close and gained a broad knowledge of copper alloys.
For the second half of the internship, I visited departments which had foreign employees, such as quality control and sales. In the quality control department, I listened to former JETs talk about their work in detail and experienced a type of inspection used in product testing. In the sales department, I joined their meetings and saw how the sales team shared information. On the last day, I had the opportunity to participate in a training programme that the company conducted to improve the skills and knowledge of employees. The training happened to be about the history of the company, and I was able to learn about its establishment and some stories of the former president.

What did you get out of the programme?

This internship was a really good experience, and it was a training program with a lot of insights for me.

Of course, I learned a lot about the business and the niche industry of special copper alloys, but the best part for me personally was being able to talk to different employees. The employees were open and friendly, and the president and upper management were also very kind to me. They helped me understand how the company is run and what kind of spirit they have for their work. Talking with different people made me realise many assumptions I had unconsciously made about working in Japan, and it was a good opportunity for me to rethink my values regarding job searching after JET, such as what aspects of the company I should look for when applying for a job. It was also a good opportunity for former JETs to reflect on their values.

It was also reassuring to see former JETs working and using the skills they acquired during their time on JET, such as international understanding and language skills, and it was also inspiring to see them in action.

After participating in the internship, how do you feel about working in Japan in the future?

After participating in the internship, my desire to work in Japan after my time in the JET Programme has become even stronger. I realised once again that Japan is the place where I can make the most of my experience and skills that I have developed as a JET. I was also relieved to learn that there are small and medium-sized companies that value global human resources.

Message to JET Programme participants who might consider participating in the JET Internship Programme in the future:

Those who wish to work in Japan in the future can learn a lot from this internship, but even for those who don’t, I think there is a lot to be gained by putting yourself in a different environment. I highly recommend this internship as an opportunity to be inspired and think about your future. I think there are a lot of things you can learn by experiencing different workplaces and interacting with different people, and I believe that what I have learned through this internship will be an asset for my future.