On November 15th, 2024, the University of Tsukuba’s BHE Career Support Team recently hosted a “Career Development Gathering” to help international students navigate the Japanese job market.

37 students attended the event, which featured a session on job hunting in Japan led by a career ambassador. Two companies interested in recruiting PhD talent also gave presentations about their work and opportunities. Afterwards, students and company representatives mingled at a networking reception, allowing for more informal discussion and relationship building.　

Students who attended the gathering left with a better understanding of how to launch their careers in Japan.

They learned about timelines for internships and job applications, and gained valuable insights into how research and development drives Japanese industry.

The event also highlighted the collaborative relationships between universities, companies and research institutions. Japanese students in attendance benefited as well, learning about the unique perspectives international students bring to the job hunting process.

Overall, the gathering fostered connections between students from diverse academic backgrounds, with attendees expressing a desire for future events to include representatives from research institutions and other companies.

Keisuke Nomura (Doctoral 2^nd student, Degree program of Life and Agricultural Sciences)