In Japan, it is customary for university students to find a job before they graduate from university.
Therefore, international students who desire to find a job in Japan need to carry out active job hunting. Sojo University provides its international students with job search guidance, private consultation, and other support tailored for job hunting in Japan.
We also provide consultation not only on job hunting, but also regarding advancement to higher education. There are many international students who advance to Sojo University Graduate School and other national and private university graduate schools.
Employment Support with a goal of “Absolute Satisfaction”
We provide more generous and sincere employment support than other universities do in order to satisfy our students. The employment support by Sojo University is totally unique.
Since 2013, Sojo University has maintained a high graduate employment rate of over 98%.
In addition, the quality as indicated by the number of students employed by major companies throughout Japan and the high level of students’ satisfaction is also worthy of note.
What makes this possible is our extraordinarily generous employment support system that starts immediately after students enter the university.
Main support provided by the Employment Section
Employment guidance is provided effectively throughout the year.
Through guidance provided in a step-by-step manner, awareness about employment is developed and maintained. Beginning with a lecture about basic career information, our guidance offers assistance on various matters ranging from the flow of job hunting and reception/business manners to industry analysis and work experience. We offer an environment where students become conscious of job hunting at an early stage.
Employment guidance for international students
For international students in our university, we periodically provide employment guidance including employment status of international students, important aspects to consider, and procedures for changing status of residence for job hunting.
Career counselors conduct interviews with all students several times a year.
Two career counselors, several external counselors, and the career adviser in each department provide multilateral support. As exemplified by 1834 total student interviews in a year by Career Support Division, we thoroughly help each student find a job that suits him or her. The enthusiasm of teachers is another reason why our employment rate is high.
We let students participate in in-house joint company information sessions to increase their motivation.
We hold a joint company information session at the university. In the 2018 academic year, 312 companies gathered from all over Japan. We distributed materials on the session in advance to students so that they could efficiently visit the booths of the companies they wanted to visit. In February, we held an industry-based information session. We also hold personal interviews so that students can participate in the information session with an increased sense of motivation to get an unofficial offer for employment at an early stage.
Holding of human resources development workshop
The staff of Career Support Division and teachers of departments who instruct students also conduct research on job hunting. They proactively interact with companies by inviting personnel from companies to seek their point of view on personnel affairs and, conversely, by briefing them on the details of the faculties and departments of the university, all in an effort to broaden their view for smoother guidance on job hunting.
Professional hair/make-up artist and photographer assist with resume
The impression provided by the photograph on a resume is also an important factor for job hunting. At Sojo University, we hire a professional photographer and, in combination with a hair/make-up artist, have them shoot ID photographs for students’ resumes. They also give advice on hair and make-up for job hunting. As the university support group provides a subsidy for these activities, it is possible to get a resume picture at a reasonable price.
Bus tour for finding and analyzing attractive local companies
Career Support Division organizes a bus tour two or more times a year. Students join the bus tour to find attractive companies in Kumamoto Prefecture or Kyushu and learn about their attractive features. The tour is very useful for knowing the true strengths of companies that cannot be found only in information sessions as well as for studying about corresponding industries.
Specific lectures on know-how for success
We provide guidance mainly consisting of lectures on specific ways to achieve employment and distribute a “PLACEMENT GUIDE” (handbook for job hunting) when students advance to the third year.
Course for obtaining employment as a public employee with support for acquisition of a qualification/license
Each department offers a course for acquiring qualifications/licenses and proactively gives support for such qualification acquisition, enabling students to acquire a variety of qualifications. For example, we hold a police officer employment examination course and a patent officer course every year.
Implementation of internships
Internships allows job training in desired companies, and the number of participants in them are increasing year by year. As the motivation of students increases after job training, it greatly helps students’ activity for employment in desired companies.
We also recommend participating in an internship to international students.
Companies accepting internships
- RSS Co., Ltd.
- Aozora Construction Co., Ltd.
- AXE, Inc.
- Anesis Co., Ltd.
- Iwanaga-gumi Co., Ltd.
- AIRDO Co., Ltd.
- ELK HOMES Ltd.lnc
- Ogata Construction Co., Ltd.
- Kaishin Design Office
- Kaketsuken
- Kaneryo Kaiso Co., Ltd.
- Kamaya Co., Ltd.
- Kumamoto Prefectural Police
- Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc.
- Kumamoto City Hall
- RKK Kumamoto Broadcasting Co., Ltd.
- Kochi City Hall
- Koshin Kensetsu Corporation
- COZY, Ltd.
- Coca-Cola West Company, Limited
- COSMOS Pharmaceutical Corporation
- Saishunkan System Co., Ltd.
- Saishunkan Co., Ltd.
- SAIBUGAS Co.,Ltd.
- CR Nansei Architecture Design Office
- Kyushu Railway Company
- Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd.
- SYSKEN Corporation
- Shinkikensetsu Co., Ltd.
- SHINSAN JUTAKU Co., Ltd.
- SUPER WOMAN PROJECT
- Sugi Bee Garden Co., Ltd.
- Space Agency Co., Ltd.
- Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.
- SOHGO Inc.
- Solaseed Air Inc.
- TAKEMATSU Construction Co., Ltd.
- Takeda Design and Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Tateyoshi Co., Ltd.
- Tanaka Architects Office Inc.
- TOMISAKAKENSETSU Co., Ltd.
- TOYOTA PRODUCTION ENGINEERING CORPORATION
- DreamArts Corporation
- Netz Toyota Kumamoto Co., Ltd.
- Howdy Inc. Co., Ltd.
- BAU PLAN KUMAMOTO Co., Ltd.
- Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
- Mitsuya Construction Corporation
- Miyajima Shoyu Co., Ltd.
- Yatsushiro City Hall
- Yamamoto Construction Co., Ltd.
- Yoshida Design Co., Ltd.
- LINE Corporation
Voice of graduates
Savitri Eviyani (Indonesian nationality)
Student with official employment offer
Savitri Eviyani (Indonesian nationality), in 4th year of Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences
Place of employment
IBM ISC-J (IBM affiliated company)
My name is Savitri Eviyani. I'm from Indonesia. I came to Japan on October 2013.
I enrolled in Computer and Information Science at Sojo University after I finished one and a half years of Japanese Language School in Fukuoka. At first, I didn't know what to expect because my Japanese wasn't that good and I'm especially weak at reading and writing Kanji.
I had to catch up a lot considering all of my lessons are held in Japanese so I had to work twice as hard as my peers. But many of the teachers understood my struggle and many of them were willing to teach me outside of class. A few of them even let me use denshi jisho (Japanese - English e-dictionary) on their exams, and others who don't will answer any questions I have about Japanese that I didn't understand even during the exams. So if you're worried that your Japanese isn't that good yet, there's one less thing to worry about.
I will be graduating next year (2019) in March. I already got an offer from a subsidiary company of IBM Japan called IBM ISC-J and so I will be working there right after I graduate. If you have plans to stay and work in Japan after you graduate, Sojo University has a course that will teach you everything you need to know about job interviews in Japan. They taught me all about manners, what you should do or should not do, and any other useful things on the subject of job interviews. They also taught you how to properly dress, how to do your makeup (for women), how to style your hair, all these little things that you didn't realize were important. They could leave a different impression if you do them correctly.
I learned a lot from my time here, but I think the most important thing whether in life or University are friends. I couldn't really join any club in my first or second year because I was so busy, but I joined a club called Global Communication (GC) in my third year, and my university days have never been better. I met a lot of people from many different countries. I made a lot of friends, and even though they have already gone back to their home country we're still keeping in touch with each other. I also made a lot of Japanese friends, and they sure helped me when I have trouble with my lessons or just life in general. And the most important thing is I know I can always rely on them when anything happens.
I believe these things can only happen because Sojo University has so many sister universities around the world, so the opportunity to meet new people is endless. And I'm glad I chose Sojo University for that.
XIN YU (Chinese nationality)
Continuing Education
Sojo University Graduate School
XIN YU (Chinese nationality) in 1st year of Mechanical Engineering Major, Graduate School of Engineering, Sojo University
In college, you can not only learn a lot of professional knowledge, but more importantly, you can learn how to solve problems yourself. Moreover, I also met many new friends. We help each other and often hang out together.
I think that just basic professional knowledge is not enough. So I chose to pursue a graduate degree. In this school, they have the latest research equipment and sufficient research funding, so don't worry about anything. I want to study the latest professional content. I hope my research can contribute to this, and I hope I can find a good job.
Last, Kumamoto city is a very good city for life and learning. The environment is very good and the scenery is very beautiful. I hope to meet you at the Sojo university.
SHEN XIAOFENG in 4th year of Department of Nanoscience, Faculty of Engineering
What I learned in four years of university
As I acquired expertise and had exchanges with people from different backgrounds in the four years of university, I feel I have been enhanced in terms of academic capabilities as well as human qualities.
Reasons I decided to enroll in Graduate School
In the second term of 3rd year, I joined the Hatta Laboratory where scientific research on new organic materials is conducted and became deeply interested in the fun of organic chemistry and chemical experiences. Upon consultation with Dr. Hatta, I thought it would be better for me to enter a graduate school and acquire knowledge more deeply. Due to the advice and support from the professor as well as support from other students in the laboratory, I could enter Kyushu University Graduate School.
Future goals
In the future, I will hopefully advance to the doctoral course. Then, I hope to gain employment with a company in Japan and belong to a technical development department. Once I have accumulated experience there, I hope to establish my own company in Japan.