intl Bus/Finance student...help!

[Anonymous]

Mabey you can help me.

Im an 18 year old male living in japan right now. I`m here on a year long foreign exchange program. I start college when I return to the states. I`ll be attending colorado university, double majoring in Japanese and Intl business/Finance.

I know what I want long term, but what kind of job can I expect to land right out of college?

I`ve been under the impression that being fluent in Japanese will some how make me exempt from hardships that beginning financial analysts experience. Is this true?

Also, as I read more an more stories about investment banking hell, I`m starting to think mabey It`s not the best career for me.

What would be a good career that would enable me to work in Japan(preferably for an American firm), utilize a Finance BA, and put me on the path to officer/Exec status?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Japanese will actually help you overcome more hardships than you might think!
Learn it! Also, since it sounds like you're American (duh!), why don't you first try to start a career in the states?? Unemployment is at an all time high over here in Japan, and economy is, well...how should I put it? Well, in the quiet words of sir Eric Cartman:　"it sucks ___!"
American economy is much much better, trust me on this one, my proof: thousands of Japanese nationals, literally flee from the country every year, to go live in north America or Europe, but if you feel like living in a shoe box, with no central heating, at 800 dollars a month, and if xenophobia sounds appealing, well then my friend, I wish you much luck from the bottom of my gaijin heart, cause you sure will need it.
Let me know what you think. I’m all ears!
Take care of yourself, buddy.

[trip_hop]

Aim a little lower for a start, like an entry-level job in an industry that you enjoy. The officer/exec can wait till later. Without experience, you are not much use to anyone in Japan, and do not think a year and part time study will enable fluency in Japanese.

There are bilingual Japanese here with much more than you have and they have difficulties getting a job.

Follow "hey you's" advice and get a couple of years under your belt in the US. If you decide that banking/ finance is not for you, it is much easier to make a career change there than here.

And remember this:
"Aim high - there is plenty of room.
Aim too high - you hit the ceiling."

[Anonymous]

good advice TH, "chapeau" to you!

[Anonymous]

Think that if you want to succeed in any kind of field, you can do it.
It is just a matter of determination.
think that if some people do succeed, well it means that you can also.

Although, i must say, follow our friends previous advises.

Learning japanese is getting very necessary these days. Also, do not target to high at first as you will hit the ceiling like th said.

However, if you are full of ambition and you want to reach the top, well go for it, although, you must carry the right gear, and carry as much as you can as you must know that it will be a long and very hard journey!!

Don't worry too much about your major, you can easly change it, furthermore, you are still very young, you have a lot of time to prepare your-self.

Good luck bro!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the comments. I`ve been living in Japan for six months, and all though I love it, I don`t feel an overwhelming urge to move here. I`d love to live in Tokyo, but like you said, It`s probably better that I stay in the states and get a few years experience.

I definately have the ambition to suceed in which ever career I choose. I cannot just sit back and accept a low salary. I watched my father go to a 9to5 job his whole life, getting his low raise every year. Then a watch my mother(devorced), managing her own company, somtimes getting multimillion dollar deals.

It`s all about attitude.

Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

That's the spirit.

Allways, keep faith!!! and fight hard as it is a wild world out there!!!

We are the next generation.........and it might be sad to say but we heer to kick some ___.

Sorry if it shock some people what i am saying, however, these days you can not accept what we give you.......you gotta stand up and get it your-self!

[Anonymous]

Ibiza
good for you man! i'm glad to know that you're a fighter. that'll sure come in handy later on.
but don't take on adversaries that'll knock you out on the first round.
as our friend "goodluck" said: "you are still very young, you have a lot of time to prepare your-self."
so punch that sand bag as hard as you can, and put on some muscles, the job markets have changed drastically, as the candidates now-a-days are much more qualified as opposed to 5 or 7 years back: computer literacy, language skills, double majors, double certifications, work experience...etc. in other words, they have become so obsessed with trying to impress their interviewers that the latter have a hard time selecting the right candidate, needless to say, you have to distinguish yourself from the others, which isn't a walk in the park.
i wish you much luck my friend.
BTW, which state in the US are you from?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the comments.

Michigan. But, Im going to college in colorado. I should stay in michigan and go to U of M(#3 business school), but I hate michigan and need to get the hell out. Plus, I don`t know if I could get accepted there.

[Anonymous]

when you say you hate Michigan, do you actually mean that Japan is better, if that's the case, then...WOW!
question: how do you cope with xenophobia? do you even feel it??
i do, which makes me miss the US!

[Anonymous]

xenophobia? This is the first time I`ve heard this word. I looked it up on dictionary.com though.

To answer your question, no, I havn`t experienced it. The only negative feelings I`ve experienced in Japan have been embarassment. Mainly because I have to wear a uniform and ride a bike to school. Before I came here, I think I was eight the last time I rode a bike.

Other than that, I am a little self conscience about my Japanese. For example, using "Ne" and "na", and emotional phrases. I know the grammar and vocabulary, but I`m a bit uncomfortable with intonations. This will just take time.

...other than that.... I am 6 feet 4 inches tall. So I really stick out. And I`m living in a Farming town/city, so I get stared at a lot. But its all good. Everyones really friendly.

[Anonymous]

wow! are you sure you're in Japan?
just kidding, man! there are a lot of good people in Japan, but i think it'll take time before you get the big picture. did you know that they don't want foreigners behind the counter here.
many foreigners are victim of racial discrimination daily.
the government does not want foreigners to take a chunk out of the yen, unless it is by doing a job that the citizens aren't qualified to do i.e. no matter how many degrees you get when you go back to the US, if there is a japanese national with the same qualifications as you, you don't stand a chance, no matter how good your japanese is, which brings me to my final and friendly advice to you: know what you're getting yourself into!
you have much better chances of working your way to financial prosperity in the US than in Japan! need i remind you that Japan is smaller than California, and that the japanese population is about 50% the population of the US? have you ever heard of " The Japanese dream", cause i only heard of the american one! you don't have to learn english in your country, that's for sure, on the other hand, it'll take you at least 2 years before you can master the language, and Kanji is even another ball game!
but again, it's all really up to you, and God, for you sure do and will need divine assistance, especially in the land of the rising sun!
good night and God bless!

[Stu]

I was on another thread and someone suggested Mandarin. Yeah, I wish I got that advice 5 years ago. You guys all talk about making yourself distinctive for the employers. I have done that, and I'm running up dry in the job search. I just graduated with a BA in International Business and Japanese from California State U., Fullerton. I learned Japanese for 3 years and went to Waseda U. in Tokyo for another year for study abroad. Came back and just finished up my degree in June. I speak Japanese fairly well. I'm studying for the Nihongo Nouryoku Shiken and I think I can pass up to 2kyu. 1Kyu is just impossible. I have three internships. One is at the World Trade Center Association Long Beach, CA. I've worked my butt off to be distinct. And you know, its all about experience. The only call backs I get is from companies like Northwestern Mutual, Primerica and World Financial Group looking to make me a life insurance pusher.

At the moment I've basically given up on Japan. I'm looking in Singapore and Hong Kong right now. I would be more interested in living here in good old Orange County (my home town), but its so gosh dang expensive, I figure Tokyo is cheaper. And about that xenophobia, heck, I could gripe about Japan all day. I love Japanese stuff like Suzuki Motorcycles, Anime, Food, my fiancee, etc... But hot sweaty salarymen pukin' on the Yamanote got to me after a while.

Anyways, if any of you know anyone who wants to hire a fresh grad into entry-level corporate accounting or finance, let'em know about me! Haha...

Stu!