Nguyen Thi Ngoc Nhung | Interview with JET Internship Participants

Why did you decide to participate in the internship programme?

I decided to join the internship program to determine if I will be able to work in Japan after I finish my time as a CIR. I also wanted to see what skills and abilities are necessary to work at a Japanese company and whether I will be able to use the skills I have learned so far.

What type of work did you experience on the programme?

First, I learned how to write a proposal. After that, I was given the opportunity to create my own proposal for a pharmaceutical company. Under the guidance of my internship supervisor, I used my English and Vietnamese skills to research information, compiling what I found into a PowerPoint. I then presented the proposal in Japanese to the International Planning Division. I was also able to observe several company meetings.

What did you get out of the programme?

Thanks to the internship program, I was able to learn a little about the differences between working in a government office and working in the private sector.
I was also able to learn a lot about the company I was placed, such as the type of work they do and the company philosophy. It was the first time I had heard about a marketing agency that specializes in pharmaceuticals. I am sure now that there are many other interesting industries that I have yet to discover.
I overcame the insecurities that I had before participating in the program, and even though it was a very short amount of time, I was given valuable training, advice and feedback that I feel will be of use in my future career.

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

Participating in the internship program has strengthened my desire to work in Japan after JET. I also feel more confident about working in Japan.
It could be said that finding a job in Japan is a trend of today’s global world. I want to use my language ability and find a job where I can work on the world stage. I hope that I can use my qualities and abilities to help deepen the bonds of friendship between Japan, my home country, and the world.
In order to find a job in Japan, I believe it is necessary for me to acquire new knowledge and skills. While continuing my work as a CIR, I want to work towards acquiring qualifications that will be beneficial to my future career.