Current Students and Graduates

Land your dream job by leveraging what you love

"I have a passion for both eating and cooking. I believe that at a company with international operations, I can leverage my strengths—my ability to speak both Chinese and Japanese, and my background in intercultural communication research." 

Takeaway

• The mindset of linking what you love and what you’re good at to your professional path. 

"Adaptability" and "analytical thinking" gained in graduate school

"Whether we are of different nationalities or the same, each person is different -- once you realize that, communication becomes much easier." 

Takeaway

• Approaching communication from a sociolinguistic perspective.
• The ability to think deeply about why something is done, rather than just doing what you are told, is a skill that can be applied to the workplace.

"Discover the job that's right for you through the Internship courses for students in Humanities

"In Career studies for students in Humanities class, I was able to talk directly with people from companies and get an overall picture of job hunting and the workplace in Japan." 

"During my two-week internship, I realized that I was better suited to interacting with people than desk work." 

Takeaway

• Deepen your understanding of career development and work through "Career studies for students in Humanities" and "Internship courses for students in Humanities"
• The internship was a great opportunity to discover not only what I am good at, but also what I am not good at. 

Job Hunting in Japan: The Real Experience of an International Student

• Challenge: The job hunting process is different from that in your home country (China). There are many application forms and interviews, so it tends to be a long-term battle. Job hunting for international students is highly competitive.
• Strategy: Submitted applications to around 50 companies, focusing primarily on those with overseas business activities. 
• Mental management: Fail many times → Don't doubt yourself → Try again

Takeaway

"Even if I fail, I believe there’s a company out there that will value me for who I am!"

Message to juniors

• "Act early"  
  • Job hunting is an information war! Use "humanities practical research" and career centers for corporate research 
• "Take care of your mental health"  
  • It’s normal to feel discouraged—stay true to yourself. 
• "Present your strengths sincerely and with confidence"  
  • Choose what you genuinely want to do, not just what everyone sees as the "right" path.

Afterword

The Graduate School of Humanities offers two courses, "Career studies for students in Humanities" and "Internship courses for students in Humanities," and provides an educational program for career development for graduate students. In "Career studies for students in Humanities," students learn how to apply knowledge and ideas from the humanities to their work, and in "Internship courses for students in Humanities," students deepen their self-understanding and understanding of their work.
The Internship Team will continue to promote education through "Career studies for students in Humanities" and "Internship courses for students in Humanities" to help students better envision their futures. (Internship Team Teacher)

Through my research, I gained a broader perspective on the theatre I love.

"By studying not only the practice of theatre, but also its history, theory, and research in emerging interdisciplinary fields, I’ve learned to view theatrical works from a more multifaceted perspective." 

Takeaway

• From an arts-focused high school, I went on to study acting practice at Kyoto University of Art and Design (now Kyoto University of the Arts). In graduate school, I shifted my focus to research in theatre history, theory, and analytical methods.
• The process of researching the market and a work or play, presenting ideas, staging the performance, and then analyzing the outcome closely parallels the flow of academic writing and research. 

Use your experience of speaking to people with different specialties in job hunting

"I believe that my experience in classes like Humanities and Dialogue, where I explored complex, open-ended questions together with people from different academic backgrounds, is also valuable in creative work settings." 

Takeaway

• Through Foundations in Humanities subjects (Humanities and Dialogue and Contemporary Liberal Arts), I was able to learn about perspectives and research methods outside my own field, which greatly expanding my academic outlook.. 

Career planning and research activities

"I wanted to work in theater, but I wasn't sure what position to take. Through my research, I discovered the opportunity to work in producing." 

"I began job hunting in June of my first year of graduate school, and fortunately, the process went smoothly. This allowed me to balance job hunting with my research and coursework by staying focused and organized. When I faced mental or emotional challenges, I sought support from an advisor at the university’s career center." 

Takeaway

• There are many paths and roles that allow you to turn what you love into a career.
• Job hunting can be a lonely experience → Make use of the university's career center

Message to juniors

• "I recommend diving into anything that piques your interest even a little."  
• "By participating in study groups on contemporary thought and aesthetics, as well as attending academic conferences and symposiums on visual culture or dance, I was able to develop the ability to articulate and analyze works that I had previously simply enjoyed on a personal level. It was a valuable experience that deepened my appreciation and understanding."  

Afterword

The experience of dialogue and interaction with people with different specialties will likely be useful when they enter society and start working, but it also gives them a perspective on examining their own specialty from multiple angles, which is likely to be useful in their research activities. In our basic humanities courses, we hope to take advantage of the diverse specialties that are a valuable resource of the Graduate School of Humanities, and provide all students with a meaningful experience. (Takahashi)