Know the worth of Japanese

Selyucus Markus

Language is the most powerful communication tool. The  reason why multinational companies prefer employees who know at least two major languages. Being able to speak a second language means that you stand a better chance at bagging a job, as compared to a monolingual candidate. With Indian companies emerging as global players and Indian market being preferred by multinational companies, it becomes imperative to produce professionals who can overcome language barriers and facilitate smooth communication for business transactions.

Prospects in local market

Japanese is fast becoming a popular language in India and it is because of the direct investments made by Japanese companies. The figure has seen  tremendous growth in the last few years. These firms need individuals with sound knowledge of the language. Since, it is still not a popular choice among Indians, a few who know the language are absorbed quickly at a high salary.

Learning to speak Japanese is imperative for all those aiming at working in Japanese companies. Also, it is becoming one of the most spoken languages around the globe.

A language that connects 

A common query of a student enrolling into any language course is about its career scope. In that case, career prospects post learning Japanese are very bright. Whether you want to build a successful career in Japan or work with a Japanese company, the knowledge of the language will be a value addition to your existing skills, qualifications and education. Japanese is spoken by over 125 million people in Japan and it is also the third most widely used language on the internet, only after English and Chinese.

Job opportunities 

There is a rise in demand for IT engineers in Japan. Domestic shortage of such professionals has worked in favour of engineering graduates in India. An estimate shows that Japan will face a dearth of approximately 6,00,000 IT-related professionals by 2030. As companies in the West and oriental region begin to recruit work force from overseas, skilled IT engineers, especially from Asia, are increasingly garnering attention. 

Japan faces an acute shortage of doctors in several towns. In some areas, shortage of surgeons is alarming. Some medical facilities have a single doctor, which makes it difficult for the professional in charge to take time off. The government is making an effort to produce more doctors by increasing enrolments at medical schools and encouraging recruitment from overseas. Therefore, being proficient in the language will help medical professionals from other countries to practice in Japan.

Demand in all fields 

Japan is one of the world’s biggest economies. It is known its consumer electronic and automobile industries. The opportunity for international jobs will only increase for a job seeker with the ability to speak and write Japanese. There are several Japanese companies operating in software, electronic, automobile, and chemical industry in India. Newer areas like content writing, technical translation and decoding are also coming up in a major way.

Unusual professions one can opt for are diplomatic foreign services, foreign language trainer, translator for MNCs and government organisations and various others. 

Test your ability 

Students who prepare for the JLPT-Japanese Language Proficiency Test can seek internships and placements both in India and Japan. The test is conducted in India by Japan Foundation, New Delhi, as a reliable means of evaluating and certifying Japanese proficiency.

The writer is director operations, Asahi Japanese Language School