The Career Center 's Student Career Advisors (SCAs) listen to students' concerns about their job hunting and support them in finding a job that suits them best. They are a volunteer group made up of students who have already received job offers and provide job-hunting advice to their juniors. This time, we asked seven members of the SCA to reflect on their own job-hunting experiences. They come from a variety of faculties, approached job hunting uniquely, and have received offers from a number of
different industries.
INDEX
Introducing the job-hunting report!
SCA is holding a job hunting consultation session!
Introducing the job-hunting report!
SCAs will look back on their job-hunting experiences and share how they overcame difficult times, what they did well, and other messages.
1. Job offers in the human resources and consulting industries
HK from the School of Social Sciences
My study abroad and job-hunting periods overlapped, which meant I missed the winter internship (hereinafter referred to as the internship) during my third year, which was a big blow to me, and I was unable to participate in the priority selection process after the internship.
Instead, I attended Tomonkai for local expatriates while studying abroad, and worked to gather information and build connections. I'm also glad that I visited alumni in a wide range of industries and participated in an internship after returning to Japan. Until then, I often had trouble imagining what the actual work would be like or how difficult it would be. However, by asking straightforward questions during the alumni visits and experiencing work through a casual internship, I was able to broaden my image.
2. Job offer in distribution/retail
SS from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences
The hardest thing was not being able to know when the job hunt will end, as the timing is not uniform. Since the interview times do not change, I think it is important to set a period of time and take a break from job hunting in order to perform well in the actual interview.
Getting overwhelmed by the amount of information and schedules involved in job hunting will only make things more difficult. Ultimately, you are the one in charge, and it's important that you choose where you want to work, so please keep that in mind as you plan your life after graduation.
3. Job offers in the financial industry
HA from the School of Political Science and Economics
When I failed a document screening or interview, I looked back on areas I could improve on, but I also accepted it as just not being my luck this time, which helped me feel better. I think it's also important to consciously reset your mind by hanging out with friends or going on a trip on your days off!
At SCA, we not only help you with selection process, but also listen to any anxieties or worries you may have during your job search and provide support that can only be provided from a student's perspective, helping you make the right choice!
4. Job offer from a foreign consulting company
NK from the School of International Liberal Studies
Looking back on my job-hunting experience, I'm glad that I made an effort to speak logically. The consulting industry requires a high level of logical thinking, so by being conscious of how to communicate things in an easy-to-understand manner and putting the "conclusion first," I was able to receive praise in interviews for being able to "organize my thoughts."
As time passes and more and more people receive job offers, I'm sure there are many who are having trouble with their job hunting. However, don't be too nervous or lose confidence, just keep working hard and do the things that you need to do right now!
5. National civil servant position
MM from the School of Culture, Media and Society
My friends were a great support to me when I was going through a tough time during my job search. During the interview period for the civil service exam, I felt more at ease knowing that I had friends around me that I could easily talk to. My friends from the seminar and I would talk about our worries over meals after each seminar.
If the selection process doesn't go as planned, you may feel self-loathing or depressed. However, just because it didn't go well doesn't mean that your appeal was denied; it may simply mean that you weren't a good match. I hope you can make a satisfactory choice without rushing and, relying on SCA from time to time, make it happen!
6. National civil servant position
AM from the School of Law
Even though I was looking for a job, I didn't know what to do at first, and I was really worried about whether I should study for exams or prepare for interviews. At times like that, I was able to get through the job hunt by simply talking to someone.
It's also important to ask the Career Center for help with self-analysis, interviews, and corrections to your application form, and to consult with friends. I struggled at first because I'm not good at relying on others, but listening to the opinions of many people made me feel more at ease and broadened my options. Also, there's a lot to do during job hunting, so it's important to decide what tasks you need to do and their priorities, and work hard to the best of your ability.
7. Employment offer at an auditing firm
KN from the School of Education
The good thing about taking action proactively and not predicting too much is that the amount of action you take directly leads to more experience and a wider range of options. Also, rather than quickly deciding that "this industry is not for me" or "I'm not interested" and not taking action until I had a perfect plan, I gave it a try and cherished the chance encounters I had, and I gained a lot from that.
I struggled because I didn't know what I wanted to do in the future. That's why I want all my juniors to cherish the "chance encounters" they encounter at Waseda. While enjoying your university life, keep your ears open and be exposed to different ways of life, values, and opportunities as you think about your future.
SCA is holding a job-hunting consultation session!
The Career Center has been holding "Job Hunting Advice Sessions" since December, so that students can easily ask about employment and career paths. "I'd like someone to show me how to write an application form," "Where should I start researching the industry?" These are just some of the concerns you might have. Senior students who have actually gone through the job hunt will offer advice as SCAs.
Students who participated in the 2024 Job Hunting Consultation Session shared the following feedback:
- It gave me the motivation to work harder at my job search.
- Even vague questions were answered kindly, which eased my worries considerably.
- Since we were speaking in a small group, I was able to easily ask about any concerns I had about my job search.
- The specific stories and advice from seniors who had passed the selection process were very helpful.
There is no "right" way to go about job hunting. You don't have to worry about it alone. If you ever feel like you're stuck, rely on the seniors at SCA. They'll surely give you a gentle nudge as you head towards the future.
◆Job hunting consultation session by senior successful applicants (SCAs)
Consultation sessions for 2025 will be held until March. Please feel free to apply and come to the SCAs for advice! Click here for details.
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