Interview with Vishal Sharma of NEC, Japan

This is the 17th interview in the “Interviews with Foreign Information Technology Engineers in Japan” series. “ EJable.com’s Ryoko Nagai talks to Vishal Sharma of NEC, Japan.

Video Interview with Vishal

Transcript of Vishal’s Interview

Ryoko: Thank you, Vishal, for joining us today at EJable.

I’m excited to hear your story working at NEC and your experience working in Japan as such. Not just working but also your social life here with you. I heard your family is also here, so I’m interested to hear about that. If you could please begin by giving us your introduction, I’d be very happy.

Vishal: Hi Ryoko-San, good afternoon. My name is Vishal Sharma, and I am a telecom professional with 17 years of experience in the telecom domain.

I have worked with major organizations, including MNCs, on telecom billing. I have been in Japan for the last two years.

Ryoko: Mm-hmm.

Vishal: I’ve been in the same telecom domain for over two years in Japan.

I’m enjoying my stay in Japan, and I’m now adaptable to the Japanese work culture. So, I’m enjoying my stay, learning about upcoming technologies, and working in the same domain to enhance my career in the same field.

Ryoko: Great. OK, amazing. If I’m correct, I think you are from India, right?

Vishal: Yeah. Yes, I am from India.

Ryoko: Yes. So, I was wondering about your first encounter with Japan or what made you come to Japan.

Vishal: When I joined my organization, working on-site in Japan was a project requirement. So, I was very excited to learn about Japan, when I got this opportunity. I learned a lot from Indian and Japanese professionals.

Ryoko: Mm-hmm.

Vishal: And I’m enjoying the work.

Ryoko: OK, great. You’ve been here for maybe 2 1/2 years. Do you speak any Japanese, or do you feel a need to speak Japanese in your working environment and outside?

Vishal: Until now, it has been primarily an English-only environment. However, for anyone who wants to begin their career in Japan, learning Japanese is quite important.

Right now, I only know how to greet someone or how to say a few words, like when you meet someone for the first time or when it is time to say goodbye, those kinds of greetings only.

Ryoko: Mm-hmm. OK. Then I’m curious. A lot of people that I’ve had the chance to interview were coming to Japan, only by themselves. But I heard that you have a wife and a kid. So, how was the process of moving to Japan with the family?

Vishal: Initially, I moved alone. Then, I applied for the COE for my family and moved to Japan to get a dependent visa.

Ryoko: Mm-hmm. OK, I see. So, it was not a hard process and was quite smooth?

Vishal: Yeah. It takes two months at least to get the COE, visa, and then the resident card.

Ryoko: OK, great. Then, talking more about your position at NEC, what do you like about your current job?

Vishal: Yeah, I am learning new things on a day-to-day basis. That is my main aim: to learn something new. Every single day, you learn something new about the upcoming technologies and work on them. For career growth, it is crucial to learn the new technologies and enhance your skills

Ryoko: Yeah, of course. Yes, yeah.

Great. Then, in the beginning, you mentioned a little about Japanese working culture. What were some things you had to learn, change, or adapt from working in India to coming to Japan?

Vishal: Well, you cannot delay coming to the office, even by 5-10 minutes. You have to be very punctual. That is the one thing I learned, and I adapted to that. It is very good to come to the office on time and leave the office on time.

If you face any challenges, you can tell your boss about them and possible delays. Japanese people listen to and accept that which is a very nice thing about Japanese culture and people.

Ryoko: OK, I see. And, Uh, how is your working environment? I know that it’s a Japanese company, but is it primarily Japanese people? Or is it a mix of diverse people?

Vishal: Yeah, it’s a mix, as I said, of English-speaking guys and Japanese,

Ryoko: So everything is mostly done in English.

Vishal: Yes, mostly.

Ryoko: OK. Amazing. Then, do you see any specific differences in project execution compared to when you worked back home and here in Japan?

Vishal: No, no. For project management and execution, you have to segregate your tasks into different levels and work accordingly.

That should be the focus. You segregate each task and subtask and work accordingly.

And that should be how the project should work. There should be deadlines that you should always meet, too.

Ryoko: Mm-hmm. OK, so you are happy with the way your company does things, I mean execute projects?

Vishal: Yes, very much.

Ryoko: Amazing.

OK. Then, we move on to maybe one of the final questions about work. Do you have any tips or advice that you could give to those who are looking to work in Japan? Or for the interviews to get an opportunity to work in a Japanese company?

Vishal: Yeah. First, you have to build some specific skills according to your work experience, and second, you have to brush up your skills constantly. Moreover, try to learn some Japanese, as it would be helpful for you to stay here in Japan.

Ryoko: I see. Do you have any goals or wishes for your career here in Japan or in general?

Vishal: I always look for short-term goals. For example, in one year, I will learn this and brush up on my screen on that platform. That is how I work.

My goal is to enhance my skills and gain a deep understanding of every aspect of the technology I’m working on now.

Ryoko: OK, I see. Do you think being in Japan helps you see the new technologies and different things that you may not see so easily in other countries?

Vishal: Yeah, I mean, the working is different in each country, as in Japan. You have to adapt to the changes, and you have to work accordingly.

Ryoko: Yeah, I see.

Then, moving on to the social life or the social aspect of living here in Japan, do you have any ideas about how Japan or Japanese people are, and any changes over the time you spent here?

Vishal: Yes, people are very friendly and try to help you in every situation. I mean, even if you ask a stranger something, they try their best to help you. That is what I have seen in Japan.

Ryoko: Hm-hmm. OK.

Vishal: And uh. Also, even if they cannot speak English well, they try to explain things to you in a way that you can understand them.

Ryoko: OK, nice.

Vishal: It is a beautiful country to stay in and visit different places with beautiful nature. The environment is very good and clean, and you can stay healthy.

Ryoko: I see. Then, do you have any places that you really liked when visiting Japan and that you might recommend to people?

Vishal: I would say the countryside is very beautiful. So apart from that, Kyoto is very nice. It’s a very beautiful place. Same with Hokkaido and Hakone. You should visit these places when you come to Japan.

Ryoko: Oh, yeah, those are very nice. I agree. People should definitely visit these places.

Then, how do you feel about raising your child here in Japan? Is it a good environment? Are you happy with it?  I’m not sure how old your child is.

Vishal: Yeah, I have a daughter. She has learned more about arts and crafts here in Japan and has been very active.

Ryoko: Mm-hmm.

Vishal: And she’s good at music and fond of playing sports.

Ryoko: OK, nice. That’s very cool. Then what do you like to do in your free time? If I am correct, maybe you live in Tokyo or close to Tokyo!

Vishal: I wish to go outside to spend time with family and friends and visit new places.

Ryoko: I see. And have you had any difficulty with the busyness of Tokyo? I mean, the trains are very crowded; you know, so many people are around you. Do you have any feelings about it?

Vishal: Earlier, it looked like everybody was so busy here doing their things, but I have grown accustomed to it.

Ryoko: OK, amazing. Then maybe my last question from me. Do you have any tips or advice? Yeah, people who are looking to work, maybe in Japan in technology companies. Do you have any advice for those people?

Vishal: Well, as I said, there are two things you have to work on. You have to brush up your skills and enhance them every day. To enhance your skills, you should learn something new. Moreover, try to learn some Japanese, which is also helpful.

Ryoko: OK. I see. Great. That’s it from me. If you like to share anything else, I’m happy to hear.

Vishal: Thank you. Thank you very much. It was nice talking to you.

Ryoko: Yes, thank you so much for your time today. I wish you the best of luck in Tokyo.

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