For many years, the Technical Intern Training Programme has been one of the common routes for Vietnamese workers to work in Japan, gain practical experience and improve their income. However, the way workers view their time in Japan has been gradually changing.

Rather than simply setting the goal of “going to Japan to work for a few years”, some workers are increasingly interested in choosing the right occupation, improving their Japanese language skills, developing professional expertise and building a career path that can continue beyond the initial training period.

This issue should also be considered in the context of changes to Japan’s system for accepting foreign workers.

1. “Technical Intern” Can Be the Starting Point of a Career Path

For many people, the Technical Intern Training Programme is regarded as a time-limited programme. Workers go to Japan, work for a certain period, gain experience and eventually return to Vietnam.

This approach remains suitable for those whose objectives are to save money, acquire practical skills or prepare for employment after returning home.

For those who wish to develop their careers over a longer period, however, the internship period can be viewed differently: it is an opportunity to build professional experience, Japanese language ability and an understanding of the Japanese working environment.

From there, workers can consider different options that match their circumstances and the regulations in force at the relevant time.

2. From the Goal of “Going to Japan” to Building a Career in Japan

In the past, when choosing a job offer, many workers tended to focus on easily identifiable factors such as salary, location or initial costs.

These factors remain important, but if the objective is to work for a longer period, the way a job offer is assessed should also become more comprehensive.

Workers should consider questions such as:

• What skills can I develop through this job?

• Can the experience I gain be used in my next position?

• Is this occupation suitable for my career direction?

• Will I have opportunities to improve my Japanese while working?

• Are the working conditions suitable for maintaining this job over the longer term?

In this way, a job offer is evaluated not only according to immediate income but also according to the professional value and experience that the worker can build over time.

3. Specified Skilled Worker Can Be Part of a Longer-Term Career Path

For those who wish to continue working in Japan after completing their internship, Specified Skilled Worker (Tokutei Ginou) is one of the options worth understanding.

The Specified Skilled Worker status was established to accept foreign workers with skills in designated fields. Depending on the individual circumstances, workers may be able to change to an appropriate status of residence if they meet the relevant requirements.

This makes the choice of occupation at the initial stage increasingly important.

If a worker is considering continuing employment in Japan, it is advisable to learn about the relevant occupational field, skill requirements, Japanese language requirements and conditions for future options from an early stage.

However, participation in the Technical Intern Training Programme does not automatically mean that a worker can move to Specified Skilled Worker status. Eligibility depends on the individual circumstances and the regulations applicable at the time of application.

4. The Choice of Occupation Can Influence Future Career Options

This is one aspect that workers sometimes pay less attention to when choosing a job.

For example, someone may choose a position because of its attractive salary, but if the work does not suit their abilities or career direction, maintaining the job over a longer period may become difficult.

By contrast, choosing work that matches one's abilities, allows professional skills to be developed and provides opportunities for further growth can make the experience in Japan more valuable from a career perspective.

Therefore, before applying for a position, workers should consider both the work they will do now and the professional development it may support in the future.

5. Japanese Is More Than a Requirement for Going to Japan

At the initial stage, Japanese is often regarded as a requirement for workers to study, work and communicate in everyday situations.

Once a worker intends to build a longer-term career, however, the role of Japanese becomes broader.

In the workplace, stronger Japanese language skills can help workers to:

• Understand work instructions more accurately.

• Communicate more effectively with colleagues and supervisors.

• Access professional documents and procedures.

• Participate in relevant training programmes and qualification examinations.

• Have more options when looking for their next job.

For this reason, learning Japanese should not be viewed simply as preparation before departure. It is a skill that needs to be developed throughout the employment period.

6. Professional Skills Determine the Value of Working Experience in Japan

Several years of working in Japan can provide substantial practical experience, but the value of that period depends considerably on what the worker actually learns and develops.

In addition to professional skills, workers may develop:

• The ability to work according to established procedures.

• Occupational safety awareness.

• Quality control skills.

• Working practices within Japanese companies.

• Teamwork and coordination skills.

• Industry-specific Japanese language skills.

When workers actively learn and develop themselves, the internship period can become a foundation for the next stage of their career rather than simply a period measured by the amount of money saved.

7. A Long-Term Career in Japan Is Not the Right Choice for Everyone

Working in Japan for the long term is not necessarily the most suitable option for every worker.

Some people go to Japan with the aim of saving money and returning to Vietnam. Others want to acquire professional skills and experience that they can use after returning home. There are also workers who wish to continue working in Japan and develop their careers there over a longer period.

Therefore, the important point is not simply to extend the amount of time spent in Japan, but to identify personal goals from the beginning.

Once those goals are clear, choosing a programme, occupation and job offer can be approached more deliberately.

8. Those Considering a Longer-Term Career Should Prepare Early

A long-term career path is not something that is decided only after completing the internship period.

It is developed through several factors throughout the employment process:

Japanese Language → Professional Skills → Practical Experience → Relevant Qualifications → Understanding of Residence Statuses

The earlier workers establish a clear direction, the more time they have to prepare.

For example, if a worker intends to continue in the same occupational field, maintaining their Japanese ability and improving professional skills from the early stages can be more beneficial than waiting until the end of the programme to begin exploring future options.

9. Career Development Should Be Considered When Choosing a Job Offer

The choice of a job offer is normally made well before departure for Japan. It is therefore also an appropriate time to consider possible career development.

A suitable job offer does not necessarily have to offer the highest salary. What matters is the balance between:

Job duties – Income – Living conditions – Working environment – Skills development – Future career direction.

For those who already intend to work in Japan for a longer period, the initial choice of occupation deserves particular consideration because the experience gained during the early years may become a foundation for future career opportunities.

10. The Role of Recruitment and Training Organisations Is Also Changing

As workers increasingly consider career development rather than simply finding a job that enables them to go to Japan, recruitment and training services also need to take a longer-term perspective.

Consultation should not stop at introducing the job, salary and location.

Workers need clear information about the actual job duties, working conditions, living costs, Japanese language requirements, skills needed and potential career development after the internship period.

This provides a basis for workers to make decisions that are appropriate to their abilities and personal goals.

11. From “Internship Period” to “Professional Value”

The key issue when discussing long-term career development is not simply how many years a person can remain in Japan.

What matters more is what the worker has accumulated at each stage:

Experience → Skills → Japanese Language → Qualifications → Income → Ability to Choose the Next Job

When these elements are developed step by step, time spent working in Japan can become part of a broader professional development process rather than simply a fixed period of employment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT STUDY AND WORK PROGRAMMES IN JAPAN

When considering employment in Japan or the Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker programmes, it is important to look beyond the information stated in a job advertisement and consider the actual duties, working conditions, living environment and potential career development.

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