Study Japanese or take the Job 3

[starfox863]

Dear Engineering Tips:

I graduated from an engineering program in December 2003. So far I have not been able to find employment in the field of engineering. Out of interest I took a Japanese class. My career counselor suggested I put on my resume, so I did. I started to get a ton of calls from companies who wanted Japanese speaking engineers. But they wanted fluent engineers. So I went to University of Hawaii to study more Japanese.

I just got a call from a headhunter for a job in the bay area. For many reasons, I feel I have a high chance of working there.

I still do not speak at an advanced level. However I find Japanese interesting and I feel if I work hard enough I can learn it.

I am 24, single, no kids. I would love to devote some time and study Japanese full time. There are few tech jobs on the island so my engineering skills will atrophy (then again I could pass the EIT and take CNC classes at a community college) If I take the job in the Bay area. I feel I would get caught up in the tech side of things and would never get time to study the language.

I am planning to at least fly in and interview. However I would like to also sign up for classes during the fall semester and the deadline in coming soon.

 

[GregLocock]

Take the job. I don't know of any entry level jobs where you wouldn't have time to continue your Japanese studies, and in a few years time you'll have a very impressive resume.



Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[PSE]

Take the EIT and check out the job to see if it fits with your goals. The employer may want to make use of your developing language skills and be willing to send you to school on their coin.

Regards,

 

[TheBlacksmith]

Take the job! You have no way of exactly planning your entire career - trust me. But as stated above, this is a good oppurtunity and gets you started. When you are older you will regret the things you didn't do, not the things you did.

 

[IRstuff]

Flying off to Hawaii to learn Japanese sounds like a complete diversion. Whatever time you spend there will simply put you further behind the engineering power curve and make it that much more difficult to get yourself hired as an engineer.

I would wonder, seeing your time gap and jaunt to Hawaii, whether you are sure you even want to be an engineer.

TTFN

 

[EngJW]

Your learning of Japanese would probably accelerate once you have an opportunity to use it. Not many people learn a new language by going to a university. I wanted to learn it once but I was close to 50 and my memory was starting to give out (you know, memory is the 2nd thing to go), so I couldn't retain much between lessons. At 24 maybe it would have been easier. You ought to go for the job and continue your studies on the side. You might be able to get a lot of exposure to it on the West coast.

 

[jmw]

Pacific rim industries make Japanese one of the key advantages, in any line up of candidates that can make the difference.
That you have any at all is a plus because of wht it indicates about you.
If it is a skill they really value they will re-inforce it with sponsored part time lessons or send you over there for a while.
If it's just a whim what do you care unless you really want to use Japanese in your career.
My brother in-law works in LA and speaks a several languages sufficiently well to be useful and he is regularly in Japan helping set up processes etc.
Otherwise, I think IRStuff points out well what many an interviewer might think.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[HgTX]

Take the job! In the Bay Area you should have opportunities to continue to study Japanese anyway. Take classes and I bet there are clubs where you could go and get conversational experience. Your job ought to allow you time to pursue one fairly serious hobby.

Hg

Eng-Tips guidelines: faq731-376

 

[IRstuff]

Yup, there's always Japantown, off of Geary.

TTFN

 

[casseopeia]

Starfox, you might do well to peruse Craigslist if you are planning to move to the Bay area. You can check on housing costs in various neighborhoods or areas outside of SF, as well as other topics on jobs, salaries and social events. You might also find parties, clubs or events that require speaking Japanese. I know there are parties for French and German speakers. You can also find great deals on furniture, dishes, etc. on Craigslist. I use it everytime I move..sell off old stuff I don't need and get new stuff.

I cannot stress enough the issue of parking. It is a problem in the city as well as in most of the surrounding areas. If you do not have a designated parking space that comes with your apartment, you will have to fight tooth and nail for one on the street.

oh, here's the link,

http://www.craigslist.org/

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

 

[IRstuff]

I love it:

$369000 - Wow! Affordable Daly City Condominium $0 Down Payment

And this fascinating listing for "the city of S.F.":

$150000 - Cottage in Sweden near University of Lund (SWEDEN)

TTFN

 

[HDS]

Why don't you get a job in Japan?

 

[davidinindy]

Take advantage now, before you have a family tying you down. You're young and mobile. As you said, Hawaii is beutifull, but there aren't many technical jobs there. I have a couple friends there.
Also, a work warning... make sure you get the first "S" in craigslist.com...

David

 

[Beggar]

I'm with HDS... If you're totally serious about learning Japanese, get your butt to Japan. Get a job as an English teacher and start taking online MS tech classes.

You may even find some engineering classes in Japan that are taught in English. You also may find some possibility of doing technical tutoring in English or possibly even teaching an engineering class in English (presuming you've got the skills to do so).

You're never going to learn it very well by *only* taking classes. The best thing is immersion in Japan; second best is regular, sustained contact with a fluent speaker who's willing to let deal with you solely in Japanese.

I think that approach would show a bunch more initiative than the hiatus in Hawaii -- it'd be much more efficient, too.

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Bring back the HP-15

http://www.hp15c.org

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